Lunar eclipse on July 27/ July 28, 2018

Dear All:

There is a lunar eclipse on July 27/ July 28, 2018.  It is named Blood-Moon eclipse because Moon will give a red-hue during this eclipse.

In India, the partial phase of the eclipse will begin at 11:54 p.m. on July 27th, totality of the eclipse is around 1 a.m. on July 28th - maximum of eclipse is at 1:51 a.m. on July 28th; totality of eclipse ends at 2:43 a.m,, and the partial phase of the eclipse also ends at 3:49 a.m. on July 28th. (All timings are given in IST).

This eclipse is also visible over much of Europe, most parts of Asia, Australia, Africa, Southern parts of North America, entire South America, Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean territories, and Antarctica. You may refer to astronomical dispatches related to your region to understand the nature of the eclipse phenomenon and visibility in your region.

For performing eclipse related austerities, the duration of the eclipse may be considered to be between 11:54 p.m. on July 27th and 3:49 a.m. on July 28th.

STARS THAT ARE AFFLICTED: Those born in the stars Poorvaashaada (Pooraadam), Uttaraashaada (Uttiraadam), Sravana (Tiruvonam), Krittika, Uttaraphalguni (Uttiram), Hastam, Rohini, and Dhanishta (Avittam) and living in areas of visibility of the eclipse must ideally perform eclipse remedies to avoid malefic impact of this eclipse on their charts.  You may get in touch with vedic pandits in your area or approach trusted spiritual persons whomsoever you consult regularly for spiritual remedies in this regard.

REMEDY DONE AT OUR PLACE: For close clients of mine whose stars are afflicted by the eclipse, I do the eclipse-remedial chant personally and do the other austerties in this regard during the eclipse.  The recommended offering for the same is Rs.375 (rupees three hundred and seventy five only) PER person whose star is afflicted by the eclipse.

ALTERNATIVE REMEDY FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A PERSONAL SPIRITUAL MENTOR/ ACCESS TO VEDIC PANDITS:

Those who don't have personal spiritual mentors or knowledgeable vedic pandits to help them in the performance may do this remedy:  Donate 1/10th of your body-weight of good quality rice (like if you are 50kg. in weight, donate 5 kg. of good qualitiy rice) AND 1/100th of your body-weight ghee (like if you are 50kg in weight, donate half kg. of ghee) to any charitable organization or temple on July 28th (i.e. the next day after the eclipse has ended).

Even those stars are not directly impacted by the eclipse can gain by performing austerities during the duration of the eclipse; per mantra shastra principles, any mantra recited during the duration of the eclipse becomes "siddh" and gives intense positive results.  My personal experience is that I have mastered most of the rare works that are in my command in spiritual realm only during major eclipses, and can vouch for the fact that learning activities are very productive during eclipse periods.

This lunar eclipse is a significant one in that its duration is very long (due to the fact that on the day of the eclipse Moon is farther away from the earth and so the angular distance it has to cover to come out of the earth's shadow is more - which means that we get more time to perform austerities and attract occult energies!).

PRECAUTIONS DURING THE ECLIPSE (not applicable to those living in regions where the eclipse is not visible).

a) Try to finish off your last meal before the eclipse about 6 hours prior to the onset of the partial phase; for those in India, ideally finish off your supper by 6 p.m. IST and don't have any solid food after that time (infants, nursing mothers, pregnant ladies, and very old persons may be exempt this; but it is generally preferable to avoid having heavy food in our system when the eclipse is on).  Limit even liquids/ water after 8 p.m. IST.

b) Those who wish to perform austerities or indulge in occult/ metaphysical/ spiritual experiments must take bath once during the onset of the partial-phase (11:54 a.m. IST on July 27th) and again another bath after the eclipse ends (3:49 a.m.IST on July 28th).

c) Pregnant ladies must avoid venturing out during the duration of the eclipse (this is per traditions - the same traditions that have given us wisdom regarding many occult/ spiritual things that are left untouched and unexplainable by current levels of scientific knowledge - so there must be something in this!; I am not even getting into the argument of what will happen if they venture out! Each one to their own wisdom/ discretion - and my guideline is for those who wish to benefit by traditional views on this matter where it is said that avoiding exposure to the outer atmosphere or the eclipsed Moon's rays is recommended for the welfare of the child in the womb).

d) Avoid negative thoughts or unnecessary brooding during the eclipse.  You may indulge in healthy introspection even if you don't wish to chant mantras or perform intense austerities.....BUT, don't cultivate guilt feelings/ unnecessary hang-overs...be a neutral observer and evaluator of events in your life to make the best of this period.  Of course, those who wish to chant mantras or strengthen protective shields in occult matters will benefit most during this period.  Countless are the persons who have got siddhi of their mantras during eclipses; so for spiritual persons or those inclined to occult experiments, this is a "must not miss" period.

e) Those who have lost parents may offer tarpanam in Honour of ancestors during this period.  Shastras say that the merits of offering tarpanam to parents during eclipse are infinite.

May our members derive the best benefits of this celestial phenomenon.

Best regards,

Blessed be.

Pandit R DAKSHINA MOORTHI