There's a solar eclipse today between 4:40 & 6:07 (that's 8am - 9 am EST). It's a 60%coverage here, more up north in China & Iceland (?)In Vedic (Indian) astrology besides the western planets there are two 'shadow planets' or nodes: Rahu & Ketu.
It seems that after the flood - yes, that flood - the gods needed help from the demons to churn up the oceans to retreive what was lost. Out of the churning oceans the Sun, Moon, many goddess, and magic things were produced along with Soma, the elixir of immortality.
Vishnu, disguised as a woman (how drag!) took charge of distributing the soma to the gods. While it was being passed out the demons started battling with the gods for a taste of the elixir and in the confusion a couple of the demons, Rahu & Ketu, disguised as gods instead of their usual snake forms, drank some of the elixir. The Sun (Surya) and Moon (Chandra) spotted the imposters and told Vishnu. Just as Rahu & Ketu were swallowing the soma, Vishnu sliced off their heads with his disk (chakra). Since the soma had passed into the throat the head of one and the tail of the other they had already become immortal and remained alive.
Because the Sun and the Moon were responsible for squeeling about their misdeeds, Ketu and Rahu chase the Sun and Moon across the sky and try to eat them. Occasionally one is caught and swallowed, causing an eclipse. But the victim quickly falls out of Rahu's throat and the eclipse ends. Let's not speculate too much about their passing through Ketu. Some believe that banging on drums or utensils during the eclipse helps to scare the demons into releasing the Sun or Moon.
Anyway, we had to have an early lunch, and they won't be serving coffee at the 5pm meeting (who has a meeting at 5 on Fridays!?!) because we should all be practicing austerities, praying during the eclipse, bathing and then going to temple when it's over. I'm hoping to skip out of the meeting and go watch!
No comments:
Post a Comment