Annular Solar Eclipse On Monday, October 3, 2005, in the sign of VIRGO

krsna · October 2, 2005

BY: DREW LAWRENCE

Oct 1, USA (SUN) — On Monday, October 3, 2005, we will experience an annular solar eclipse in the sign of VIRGO. The second solar eclipse of 2005 is confined to the Eastern hemisphere. It crosses the Iberian peninsula in Spain and stretches across the African continent. Europe, Western Asia, the Middle East and most of Africa will fall within the shadow of this eclipse.

The path of the annular solar eclipse begins in the North Atlantic at 08:41 am Greenwich Mean Time (this is not Daylight Savings Time). The maximum eclipse occurs at 10:31 am. The eclipse ends at 12:22 pm and lasts 3 hours and 41 minutes.

An eclipse is generally an inauspicious event since the planets which are the luminaries, the givers of light, are overshadowed or eclipsed by other celestial bodies. In Vedic mythology and astrological calculation, we always find the presence of either lunar node, Rahu or Ketu, in conjunction with the eclipsed planet. Rahu and Ketu are known as chaya-graha in Sanskrit which means 'shadow planets' since their purpose is to carry and project the shadow upon the other planets. This they accomplish both on the personal or individual level and the collective or world level. Rahu and Ketu reveal the force or nature of the shadow or negative behavior pattern and its consequences so that it can be recognized, exposed to the light of day, and subsequently resolved and removed. There will be only 3 degrees of separation between the Sun and Rahu during this eclipse.

The eclipse effects of October 3rd in the sign of VIRGO can be triggered around the time of eclipse but will also likely be experienced for the next 3 1/2 years.

EFFECTS OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE

(According to Classical Sanskrit Astrological Texts)

If the Sun sets while being eclipsed at the time, the autumn crops will fail and the kings in the land will suffer.

If the eclipse happens in the second division of the sky (12th house), farmers, heretics, traders, business people, merchants, governors, rulers, and military leaders will meet with destruction.

An eclipse which takes place while the Sun travels in his southern course will have an adverse effect on merchants, business profits, laborers and labor unions.

If the solar eclipse begins in the north it will devastate the intellectual class consisting of teachers, healers, counselors, doctors, lawyers, priests, writers, professors and scientists.

If the eclipse takes place in Virgo, it will afflict crops, countries abounding in rice paddy fields, poets, writers, journalists and musicians.

Since Mercury aspects the eclipsed Sun, the result will be that butter, honey or oil will become costly and hard to obtain. Kings, rulers and political leaders will suffer. Saturn also aspects the Sun which will cause rains to diminish and is likely to produce famine and thievery.

Since the Sun will be in the constellation of HASTA during the eclipse, we can expect the following effects:

Salespeople, traders, merchants, business people, commercial ventures, imports and exports, tariffs and trade agreements will be adversely affected.

The businesses of shipping, freight, delivery, communications, couriers and messengers will suffer setbacks.

Politicians, diplomats, ambassadors, and embassies will come under fire.

The price of textiles, fabrics, cloth and yarn will be driven upward.

We may see the collapse or structural failure of bridges, dams, canals, levees or tunnels. The cost of building or repairing such structures may outstrip original estimates.

The price of ink and printing will rise.

People who advocate on behalf of the forgotten and disenfranchised segments of society will endure greater difficulty in reaching their goals.

The market value of grains, such as corn, wheat, rye and barley will surge.

More thieves, robbers, burglars and swindlers will be caught and made to face justice.

VEDIC BACKGROUND

Thousands of years ago, the demons and the gods were instructed by Vishnu (God Himself) to churn the Ocean of Milk at the base of the universe in order generate the sacred soma, the nectar of immortality. When the nectar of immortality was produced, the problem was to distribute it between the gods and demons. To give it to the demons would mean to give infinite strength to those who would use it with poor judgment or from a limited, egotistical perspective.

To remedy the situation, Vishnu took the form of a beautiful damsel named Mohini (the bewilderer) and told the demons to arrange themselves in a row in order to be served their share of the nectar. In preparation for the intense experience of drinking the nectar, Mohini asked the demons to close their eyes and meditate. If anyone opened his eyes, he would lose his chance to share the nectar due to his impatience. The materialistic and self-involved demons waited and waited. Mohini distributed the nectar only to the gods.

It is generally a female divinity, a virgin, who protects and bestows divine knowledge or revelation to the lower beings. Mohini tried to teach the demons that one should not strive for physical immortality and its benefits but for the supreme knowledge that transcends all material enjoyment and sensory perception.

The demon Rahu who is thought to be a serpent-like character, had no intention of cooperating with Mohini's plan and hid himself in the row of gods, directly between the Sun and the Moon. The Sun god passed the jug of nectar over to him and he took a drink. At that time, the Sun and Moon gods recognized him and called out to Mohini, "This is Rahu, the demon, in the midst of the row of gods!" The nectar had only gone as far as his throat when Mohini threw Her discus at him, severing his head from his body. But since the nectar was already in his head, his head became immortal like the other gods. Rahu went on to perpetually eclipse the Sun and Moon as payback for their treachery toward him. Ketu is considered to be the tail of the serpent, since Rahu and Ketu are always exactly 180 degrees apart.

WHAT TO DO DURING AN ECLIPSE

In Vedic times, many thousands of years ago, it was the custom to enter a river, particularly a sacred river, such as the Ganges, or the ocean or other body of water and chant mantras and offer prayers for purification and to reduce negative karmic reactions for the duration of the eclipse. Solar and lunar eclipses are generally very inauspicious, with certain rare exceptions. It is nonetheless an advantageous opportunity for fasting, prayer and worship of God. Fasting should be observed for the whole period of the eclipse in order to nullify the reactions of past negative or egocentric activities.

It is also recommended to give in charity to the poor as much as possible during the time of a lunar or solar eclipse. If you cannot afford to give in charity, then simply give charity within your mind, that is, envision yourself doing it just the way you would on the physical plane. The spiritual benefit for you will be the same.

Pregnant women should never look at an eclipse since it is thought to have a potentially negative effect on the health of the foetus.

NOTE: For those of you who are currently in a major or minor period of RAHU, this is the optimum time to offer prayers, chant mantras, and perform rituals, such as offering incense, candles or flowers to the shadow planet, Rahu. Specific kinds of charity are recommended to be given in order to pacify Rahu. Donate one or more of the following: any black article; hessonite (cinnamon stone); coconut; coal; old coins or foreign coins to a diseased or homeless person.

Drew Lawrence

The Field

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Ballybetagh, Kilternan

Dublin 18

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In Ireland: (01) 294-6888

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www.drewlawrence.com

October 3, 2005

Oct 3, USA (SUN) — Lord Venkateswara famous temple at Tirupati will be closed today for the annular solar eclipse, as will nearby temples throughout the region. The temple closures are protective measures on this most inauspicious event. The temple which sits atop Tirumala hills, and at least eight other temples in the surrounding area, will close for the duration of the solar event. The closures will affect scheduled Brahmotsavam activities.

Temple authorities are particularly reactive to this eclipse because it will be quickly followed by a lunar eclipse. Having two eclipses occur in within a fortnight is relatively rare, and seen as inauspicious by many spiritual cultures around the world. In some European traditions, this astrological event is known as the 'dark night of the soul'.

Lord Venkateswara famous temple at Tirupati will be closed today for the annular solar eclipse, as will nearby temples throughout the region. The temple closures are protective measures on this most inauspicious event. The temple which sits atop Tirumala hills, and at least eight other temples in the surrounding area, will close for the duration of the solar event. The closures will affect scheduled Brahmotsavam activities.

Temple authorities are particularly reactive to this eclipse because it will be quickly followed by a lunar eclipse. Having two eclipses occur in within a fortnight is relatively rare, and seen as inauspicious by many spiritual cultures around the world. In some European traditions, this astrological event is known as the 'dark night of the soul'.

Many pilgrims at Kurukshetra will be taking a holy dip in Brahmsarovar during the solar eclipse. Mela officials have been making special arrangements to prevent pilgrims from drowning, deploying many boats and divers to locate and rescue pilgrims. At least three devotees were drowned here during the 2003 solar eclipse. This year, over 10 lakh pilgrims are expected to immerse themselves in the holy waters in Brahmsarovar and Sanhit sarovar at Kurukshetra.

Astrologers report that this solar eclipse has special importance because it is occurring on Somavati Amavashya after more than a century. Bathing during this period is said to give devotees the fruits of “Ashav Megh Yajna”.

In India, the eclipse will be partially visible in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Orissa.