Total Lunar Eclipse: Allopathy, Ayurveda & Vedanta differ in their approach on eclipse's implications on health

Pathies differ in their approach to the lunar eclipse. While allopathy is silent Ayurveda and Vedic text enumerate certain precautions said Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India.

A total and longest of 21^st century lunar eclipse will take place on June 15, 2011. It is the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2011, the second will occur on December 10th. It is a relatively rare central eclipse where the moon passes in front of the center of the Earth's shadow. The last lunar eclipse closer to the center of the earth's shadow was on July 16, 2000. The next central total lunar eclipse will be on July 27, 2018.

In India it will, be visible on night of June 15 to early morning of June 16 in Delhi, Jaipur Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Jammu, Jalandhar, Shimla, Srinagar and in other places in North India. The time in Delhi and other regions is from 11:53 PM on June 15 to 03:32 AM early morning on June 16, 2011 – as per Indian standard time, covering duration of 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Facts and Myths

1.     Watching lunar eclipse does not damage the eyes. On the other hand watching directly at the sun without appropriate protection, during a solar eclipse, can cause severe temporary retinal injuries.

2.      There is no mention about harmful effects of eclipse on pregnancy in Allopathy literature.

3.     In Mexico and in many parts of India there is a ‘belief’ that pregnant woman are in danger of having a baby with a harelip during a solar eclipse. No such belief is for lunar eclipse.

4.      Ayurveda mentions indirectly it under “air space vikrity” (disorders) and writes that the effect of these disorders on pregnancy can lead to blind child or a child with low body energy. It also says that the child may be born with dog and elephant characteristics. It does not mention the word “eclipse” anywhere.

5.      As both Ayurveda and Dharma Shastra  directs pregnant ladies to take precautions one should take them as otherwise the fear of giving birth to an abnormal child can cause abnormalities in the  child. Those who have faith or fear that eclipse can harm pregnant ladies should take precautions.

6.     Lunar eclipse may be associated with exacerbation of mental illnesses. In an Institute of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Goa study a significant trend was observed for greater numbers of patients with non-affective psychoses on full moon days and on days of visible lunar eclipse, but no pattern was observed for mania or depression. [Indian J Psychiatry. 1999 Jan; 41(1):60-5.

7.     There are some studies which talk about effects of full moon on rise in blood pressure, pulse and abnormal mental behavior and have linked them to high tides in the ocean.

8.     Traditional Ekadashi vrata (fast) 3 days before and fast on the day of full moon are  advocated in Indian mythology to tame or control the mind which is likely to get disturbed during full moon and lunar eclipse time.

9.     The ritual of observing Nirjala ekadashi 3 days before the current lunar eclipse on full moon day with vrata is also done with the belief that it prevents mental disturbances during full moon and during lunar eclipse by producing some dehydration in the body and the brain.

10.                         More mosquitoes may grow during lunar eclipse. In a study of mosquitoes in coastal marshland site in Chambers County, TX done in 1989 it was shown that the density of certain species of the mosquitoes Aedes,  Anopheles, Culex, and Psorophora increased during the lunar eclipse and decreased when the full moon was exposed. [J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 1994 Jun; 10 (2 Pt 1):222-4.

11.                         In another study Dr. Thornton has shown that dogs reject food while an eclipse was in progress.

12.                          There are also some Vedic beliefs on this subject:  There is mention of eclipse in Shikshapatri where Bhagwan Swaminarayan says that at the time of a solar or lunar eclipse in areas where it is seen one should stop all activities, meditate or chant the name of God in a purified state and after the eclipse one should take cold bath with the clothes they are wearing and then make donations ( especially cereals) according to their means. (Shik 86/87). One should also not eat 12 hours before the solar and 9 hours before the lunar eclipse begins. One can drink water. One should not offer meals to God during this pre-eclipse period but can perform arti and pray. One should get rid of extra cooked food after the solar or lunar eclipse.  One should not touch anything such as clothes, food, personal items, etc. during the eclipse.

13.                         The only scientific explanation for the above is in lunar eclipse the atmosphere behaves like amavasya (new moon) on purnima (full moon) day. Therefore one needs to take precautions of both purnima (observe fast to prevent mental disturbances) and of new moon or amavasya (to prevent causalities occurring due to darkness in the outside atmosphere). Also on the full moon day one can have windy and dusty air in the atmosphere. With a possible dark, windy and dusty atmosphere on lunar eclipse full moon day one may end with dust settling on the laid food or cloths and hence may be the reason of the ritual of not eating food laid over 9 hours before the eclipse and till the eclipse is over. Same is true for the dirt filled cloths which one is suppose to wash it after the eclipse is over.