*🌘POORNA CHANDRA GRAHANA /TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE ON MIDNIGHT OF 27th JULY 2018*
*RULES AND OBSERVANCES AS PER SANATANA DHARMA SHASTRA📚*
Namaskaram. A Poorna Chandra Grahana (total lunar eclipse) is occurring on midnight of *27th July 2018* which will be visible in most parts of India and in different countries abroad. An eclipse has a very high significance in Hindu Dharma Shastra. Anything you do during Grahana/Eclipse multiplies by many folds. A good deed you do will multiply by many times. And Dharma Shastra says this is the best time to earn and multiply your Punya (merits) in your spiritual karmic account. Our Vedic Rishis have clearly layed out the rules and observances which we have to follow during Grahana/Eclipses. *Veda Ghosham* a *Center for learning Vedas, Nithyakarma and Dharma Shastra* describes these rules in minute details for you. These are *Snana* (Bath beginning of eclipse), *Mantra Japa* (mantra chanting), *Tarpana* (oblations to ancestors) and *Dana* (Charity) and again a complete *Snana* / bath at the end of eclipse.
As per Dharma Shastras, during Chandra Grahana (Lunar Eclipse) perfoming Mantra Japa (repetition of mantras) will fetch you immense benefits. Dharma Shastra mentions 1 japa/jap of a mantra you do in Grahana period will be equal to chanting the mantra 1,00,000 times. 1 time = 1,00,000 times. For all people who have undergone upanayana/janeu/munj, since they have been given Gayatri mantra upadesham/updesh at time of upanayana sanskar, they should use this time for japa (repetition) of Gayatri Mantra. For all others including women, if your Guru has given you upadesham/updesh of any other moola mantra, you should repeat it as much as possible. If no particular upadesham/updesh is given then you can chant “Om Namaha Shivaya” or “Om Vishnave namaha” or “Om Narayanaya Namaha” or any other mantra of your Ishta devata/Kul devata (the god you adore/your family god), or stotras or Sahasranamas etc and then after Japa offer tarpana (offering til and water to ancestors, only if you don’t have your father) and Dana (charity/donation) which will fetch punya (merit) equal to 1,00,000 times. Grahana is a good time to attain Mantra Siddhi and perform Purascharana.
I am writing down in detail what you should do on midnight 27th July 2018, so that you won’t have any doubt in performing the anushtanas (rituals) and thus obtaining the phal/merits of all the rituals as prescribed by our Dharma Shastras by our Vedic Rishis.
The *longest* Poorna *Chandra Grahana* (Lunar eclipse) of *21st century occurs on 27th July 2018* in the midnight which will last for a total duration of 03 hours and 54 minutes. A huge time to attain Siddhi of a mantra. The timing of onset of Grahana in India, across all places/cities is *11:54pm* on the midnight of 27th July 2018 which is Friday night and it will get over at *03:48am* on 28th July 2018 which is Saturday early morning. People who stay abroad which is in London, Sri lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi, Australia and Singapore where this eclipse will be visible and hence all the mentioned rituals would be applicable. You may please download the drikpanchang app on your phone or log on to www.drikpanchang.com and you need to go to settings and set your city name. Once you have done it you will get the time of onset and end of the Eclipse in your cities when you click the tab Hindu calendar.
During Chandra Grahana all of us will get an impurity which is also called as Asoucham/Theetu/Sutak/Ved which is 9 hours before the Prahar/Yamam in which the Grahana occurs. So from this time, that is 9 hours before, from the Prahar/Yamam of Grahana you should not eat anything, and you should remain fasting till the Grahana ends in your city. For the elderly, sick, children and pregnant women there is a relaxation given by our Rishis, that they can start their fast little late than the others as they cannot stay fasting for long hours. The fasting start time for children, elderly, sick and pregnant women will be 3 hours before the Prahar/Yamam in which the Grahana starts. The general Asoucham/Theetu/Sutak for all, except children, elderly, sick and pregnant women starts from 12:30pm afternoon of 27th July 2018 (Friday) and the Asoucham/Theetu/Sutak for children, elderly, sick and pregnant women starts from 7:00pm on 27th July 2018 (Friday). This means that all people (except children, elderly, sick and pregnant women) should finish eating your food before 12:30pm on 27th July 2018, after this no meal should be cooked or eaten till next day morning breakfast on 28th July 2018. Children, elderly, sick and pregnant women should finish eating maximum by 07:00pm on 27th July 2018 and should have the next meal on 28th July 2018 after Grahana is over. On 27th July 2018 no cooking should be done after 12:30pm in the afternoon. The kitchen should be closed and should be opened for cooking only next day morning on 28th July 2018 after 4:30am. All food cooked before the impurity/Asouch/Sutak/Theetu start period should be discarded and should not be consumed. No stove should be lit to cook anything (no tea/coffee too). For feeding children, elderly, sick and pregnant, the already cooked food which is before 12:30pm in the afternoon should be given (it can be kept in hot case). Milk/Tea/Coffee can be kept in a flask and given to these special category of people only till 7:00pm on 27th July 2018. Next day morning fresh food should be cooked and had and no leftover food from previous day cooking and food kept in fridge should be had. All has to be thrown out, not to be given to anyone.
Now the question is what about certain food items which we keep for days of months. Like pickle, Ghee, butter, curds, milk, rice, atta, dals etc. On these items you should put 2-3 Dharba grass/kusha/tulsi to protect it from the negative effects of Grahana and you can use them, and they need not be thrown. This same Dharba/Kusha/tulsi should be used for covering the food items which has been kept for children/elderly/sick/pregnant as they will consume food later on that day which is before 7:00pm on 27th July 2018. So in a nutshell, in my example, healthy adults should not consume food from 12:30pm on 27th July 2018 and children, sick, pregnant and elderly should not consume food after 7:00pm till end of Grahana on 28th July 2018 which is at 3:48am. You should cover all long term food items with Dharba/Kusha/tulsi to prevent harmful radiation from the Grahana entering these items. Even drinking water 2-3 blades of Dharba/Kusha/tulsi should be put. During Grahana period even water should not be drunk.
As soon as the Grahana starts at 11:54pm in the night of 27th July 2018 all should have a head bath and during the bath each person should chant the *Chandra Grahana Peeda Parihara Mantras (Protection mantras from ill effects of Grahana)*. The mantras are as below which should be chanting while taking a bath.
*|| चन्द्रग्रहण पीडा परिहारा मन्त्रः ||*
योऽसौ वज्रधरो देव आदित्यानां प्रभुर्मतः ।
सहस्रनयनश्चन्द्र ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
मुखं यस्सर्व देवानां सप्तर्चिरमितद्युति : ।
चन्द्रोपरागसंभूतामग्नि: पीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
यः कर्मसाक्षी लोकानां यमो महिषवाहन: ।
चन्द्रसूर्योपरागोत्थां ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
रक्षोगणाधिपस्साक्षात् प्रलयानिलस्सन्निभः ।
करालो निरृतिश्चन्द्र ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
नागपाशधरो देवो नित्यं मकर वाहनः ।
सालिलाधिपतिश्चन्द्र ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
प्राणरूपोहि लोकानां वायु: कृष्णमृगप्रिय: ।
चन्द्रोपरागसंभूतां ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
योऽसौ निधिपतिर्देव: खड्गशूलधरो वर: ।
चन्द्रोपरागसंभूतां कलुषं मे व्यपोहतु ।।
योऽसौ शूलधरो रुद्रश्शड्करौ वृषवाहन: ।
चन्द्रोपरागजं दोषं विनाशयतु सर्वदा ।।
*||Chandra Grahana Peeda Parihara Mantra ||*
Yosou vajradharo deva aadityanam prabhurmataha I
Sahasra nayanaschandra-graha peedam vyapohatu II
Mukham yassarvadevanam saptarchiramitadyutihi I
Chandroparaga sambhootam agni peedam vyapohatu II
Yah karma saakshi lokaanam yamo mahisha vaahanaha I
Chandra suryoparaagothaam graha peedam vyapohatu II
Rakshoganaadhipa saakshaat pralayanila sannibha I
Karaalo nirutishchandra grahapeedan vyapohatu II
Naga pashadharo devo nityam makaravahanaha |
Saliladhipatish-Chandra grahapeedam vyapohatu II
Pranaroopohi lokaanam vayu Krishna mrugapriyaha I
Chandroparaga sambhootam grahapeedam vyapohatu II
Yosou nidhipatir devaha kadgashooladharo varaha I
Chandroparagasambhootam kalusham me vyapohatu II
Yosou shooladharo rudra-shankaro vrushavahanaha I
Chandroparagajam dosham vinashyatu sarvada II
*||சந்திர கிரஹண பீடா பரிஹார மந்த்ரம்||*
யோஸௌ வஜ்ரதரோ தேவ ஆதித்யாநாம் ப்ரபூர்மதஹா |
சஹஸ்ரநயனஸ்ச்சந்திர கிருஹபீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
முகம் யஸர்வ தேவானாம் ஸப்தர்ச்சிற மிதத்துயுதிஹி |
சந்த்ரோரபராக ஸம்பூதாம அக்னி : பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
யஹ கர்ம சாக்ஷி லோகாநாம் யமோ மஹிஷவாஹனஹ |
சந்த்ர சூர்யோபராகோத்தாம் கிருஹ பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
ரஃஷோ கணாதி பஸ்சாஃஷாத் பிரளயானில ஸந்நிபஹ |
கராலோ நிர்ருதிஷ் சந்த்ர கிருஹ பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
நாகபாஷதரோ தேவோ நித்யம் மகர வாஹனஹ |
சலிலாதிபதிஷ்சந்திர கிருஹ பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
ப்ராண ருபோஹி லோகாநாம் வாயுஹு கிருஷ்ணம்ருகப்ரியஹா |
சந்த்ரோபராக ஸம்பூதாம் கிருஹ பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
யோஸௌ நிதிபதிற்தேவஹ கட்கஷூல்தரோ வரஹ |
சந்த்ரோபராக ஸம்பூதாம் கலுஷம் மே வ்யபோஹது ||
யோஸௌ ஷூலதரோ ருத்ர ஷங்கரோ வ்ருஷ வாஹனஹ |
சந்த்ரோபாரங்கஜம் தோஷம் வினாஷயது ஸர்வதா ||
You can also see these mantras on my *www.facebook.com/vedaghosham* page post on this eclipse. After bath quickly change to dry clothes (wear dhoti/panchakaccham and Uttareeya/angavastra/uparna for men/boys and Sari for women), sit on a mat and start Mantra japa as highlighted earlier. Each Japa Phal/Punya will get multiplied by 1,00,000 times here. The people who have their Janma Nakshtra (birth star) as *Shravana* (Thiruvonam), *Uttarashada* (Uttaradam) are severly affection by this Grahana. Others who are partially affected by this Grahana are people whose Nakshatra is *Rohini, Hastam, Krithika* (Karthigai), *Uttaraphalguni* (Uttiram), *Poorvaphalguni* (Pooradam) and *Dhanishta* (Avittam). So all these people born in these stars should, after their 1st bath at start of Grahana should change to dry clothes and do one more additional ritual for protection. This is only for people born in the above birth stars and not for all. They should take fresh white piece of cloth and they need to write the below *“Janma Nakshatra Raksha Mantra/slokam”* with preferably haldi or kumkum on it and tie it around their head (like tennis players tie a sweat band around their head).
*|| जन्म नक्षत्र रक्षा श्लोकम् ||*
इन्द्रो अनलो दण्डधारश्च रूक्षा: ।
पाशायुधो वायु कुबेर ईशाः ।।
कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम् जन्म रक्षा ।
राशिस्थ चन्द्रग्रहण दोष शान्तिम् ।।
*|| Janma Nakshatra Raksha Sloka ||*
Indra analo dandadharascha Rukshaha |
PASAyudho vAyu kubera Eshaha ||
Kurvantu sarve mama janma raksha |
Rashistha Chandra grahana dosha ShAntim ||
*|| ஜன்ம நக்ஷத்ர ரக்ஷா ஸ்தோத்திரம் ||*
இந்த்ரோ அனலோ தண்ட தாராஸ்ச ருக்ஷஹா |
பாஸாயுதோ வாயு குபேர இஷஹா ||
குர்வந்து ஸர்வே மம ஜன்ம ரக்ஷா |
ராசிஸ்த சந்திர கிரஹன தோஷா ஸாந்திம் ||
This is called *Paripattam* in Sanskrit and we call it head band in English, displaying this mantra outside on their forehead. They should also chant this Janma Nakshatra Raksha sloka minimum 11 times and upto 108 times and then they have to keep this Paripattam/head band till end of Grahana and not remove it. At the end of Grahana when we take the second bath, after that we can remove this paripatta (head band) and discard it either in water or under a tree. After 11 to 108 times chanting of this Janma Nakshatra Raksha Mantra, they can now start Mantra Japa of their ishta (favourite/likeable) mantra as highlighted earlier. This will give you Mantra Siddhi.
Two more very important rituals during Grahana is giving *Danam/Dan* (charity/donation) and *Tarpana/Tarpan* (offering oblations to ancestors). Please note that this danam should be done during the Grahana period for earning countless punya as Grahana has multiplying effects of whatever you do. Shastras say that any Danam you give during Grahana is equivalent to Bhoomi danam (gifting at least 1 acre of land). Shastras mention you can give gold/silver/rice/clothes/money to a needy brahmin. If it is a difficulty for you to find someone in Grahana time to give Dana/charity in person you could do a simple online money transfer through netbanking, keeping in mind that Grahana time is so crucial for multiplying benefits and not to waste a key chance of earning punya. Now a key note for danam/dan here is whatever you decide to donate in the morning of 27th July 2018, doubles during Grahana, and if the danam is missed during Grahana period it again doubles further (Grahana has an amplifying effect). Let me give you an example. Let us say you decide to do Danam/donate/net transfer Rs. 1000/- during Grahana, in the morning of 27th July 2018, when you give this danam during the Grahana period in midnight before 3:48am either personally or make an online transfer you have to give double of what you thought in the morning i.e, Rs. 2000/- now. If you miss this Grahana time for donating which is actually during the actual Grahana period from 11:54pm on 27th July 2018 to 3:48am on 28th July 2018 then in case you are donating early morning after this Grahana time this amount will become Rs. 4000/- to be donated then. So my advice is if you personally don’t get any Brahmin to donate during the Grahana period then do an online transfer of money to a Vedic Brahmin whom you know. Performing this Dana few minutes before Grahana ends let’s say by 03:30am will be ideal as before this you will be busy in Mantra Japa or Tarpana.
There other important karma/duty to perform during Grahana which is for men who do not have father or father and mother, is *tarpana* with til and water with sesame seeds. Doing a tarpana during the Grahana period satisfies our ancestors for 1000s of years, and more merits/punya is added to your spiritual account. This tarpana should be started just before end of Grahana. For this July 2018 Grahana the tarpana can be done any time after *02:14am* till the end of Grahana at 03:48am on 28th July 2018. If you finish tarpana earlier then you can do the Danam or vice versa. After 03:48am you should go out and take Chandra Darshana (sighting of the moon) then come inside home and take head bath with whatever clothes you are wearing for the Japa which as I said earlier was Dhoti/Panchakaccham with Uttareya/Angavastra/Gamcha and ladies in Sari as they were doing Mantra Japa in this dress code. Men should avoid wearing shirt/Kurta//baniyan/vest/short/Bermuda etc during Mantra Japa. Dhoti and Angavastra is important to maintain purity of the Japa, and Sari/madisar/traditional dress for women. Please note in India the Grahana end time is 03:48am for all cities. Performing this second bath with whatever clothes you are wearing is important after Grahana and is compulsory and here too you need to once again chant the Chandra Grahana Peeda Parihara Mantras as given in this post above. Then the question is what to do after Grahana is over at 03:48am after you have finished the second bath ? You should not sleep. You should wait till early morning of 28th July 2018, clean up/wash the house floor, take usual bath, perform your Sandhyavandanam, regular Pooja etc then have breakfast in the morning on 28th July 2018.
Pregnant women should not venture out during Grahana period and they should remain indoor only, and they should not see the eclipsed moon. They should not handle any sharp items like needle, knife and should not indulge is any stitching or cutting activity as this can affect the unborn baby. During the Grahana period the pregnant lady should remain in center of their room away from all doors and windows of the house. All windows, curtain should be drawn close, so that moon rays do not enter inside the room. For additional protection she could cover her full stomach with darbha grass (darbha is scientifically proven to block radioactive Xrays) and cover herself with blanket and can perform mantra japa either sitting or lying down. Avoiding sleep is also recommended during Grahana.
Women who have their periods/menses during Grahana period are also allowed to perform Mantra Japa as this is a rare opportunity (Naimittika). But here the rule is that they have to take bath at beginning of Grahana and without changing to dry clothes, with full dripping wet clothes only they should perform Mantra Japa for these 4 hours. Then they should take second bath after end of Grahana.
During Grahana period you also need to follow few more rules. No eating, no drinking water, no sleeping, no going to toilet to pass urine or stools, and no wasteful talking, no sex, no revengeful thoughts and you should have compulsory bath at beginning and end of grahana. Failing to have bath will lead to being born as a leper for next 7 janmas as per Dharma Shastras. Failing to have a head bath with full clothes on at the end of Grahana will lead the person remaining impure/in Sutak till the next Grahana.
Knowingly or unknowingly in Kali Yuga all of us do lot of sins. This eclipse is a golden opportunity to increase your spiritual karmic punya account/merit account by fasting, 2 times bath (beginning and end of Grahana), Mantra Japa, Tarpana and Dana. Do not miss this celestial opportunity at any cost.
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*Om Somaya Namaha !!!*🌕
*RULES AND OBSERVANCES AS PER SANATANA DHARMA SHASTRA📚*
Namaskaram. A Poorna Chandra Grahana (total lunar eclipse) is occurring on midnight of *27th July 2018* which will be visible in most parts of India and in different countries abroad. An eclipse has a very high significance in Hindu Dharma Shastra. Anything you do during Grahana/Eclipse multiplies by many folds. A good deed you do will multiply by many times. And Dharma Shastra says this is the best time to earn and multiply your Punya (merits) in your spiritual karmic account. Our Vedic Rishis have clearly layed out the rules and observances which we have to follow during Grahana/Eclipses. *Veda Ghosham* a *Center for learning Vedas, Nithyakarma and Dharma Shastra* describes these rules in minute details for you. These are *Snana* (Bath beginning of eclipse), *Mantra Japa* (mantra chanting), *Tarpana* (oblations to ancestors) and *Dana* (Charity) and again a complete *Snana* / bath at the end of eclipse.
As per Dharma Shastras, during Chandra Grahana (Lunar Eclipse) perfoming Mantra Japa (repetition of mantras) will fetch you immense benefits. Dharma Shastra mentions 1 japa/jap of a mantra you do in Grahana period will be equal to chanting the mantra 1,00,000 times. 1 time = 1,00,000 times. For all people who have undergone upanayana/janeu/munj, since they have been given Gayatri mantra upadesham/updesh at time of upanayana sanskar, they should use this time for japa (repetition) of Gayatri Mantra. For all others including women, if your Guru has given you upadesham/updesh of any other moola mantra, you should repeat it as much as possible. If no particular upadesham/updesh is given then you can chant “Om Namaha Shivaya” or “Om Vishnave namaha” or “Om Narayanaya Namaha” or any other mantra of your Ishta devata/Kul devata (the god you adore/your family god), or stotras or Sahasranamas etc and then after Japa offer tarpana (offering til and water to ancestors, only if you don’t have your father) and Dana (charity/donation) which will fetch punya (merit) equal to 1,00,000 times. Grahana is a good time to attain Mantra Siddhi and perform Purascharana.
I am writing down in detail what you should do on midnight 27th July 2018, so that you won’t have any doubt in performing the anushtanas (rituals) and thus obtaining the phal/merits of all the rituals as prescribed by our Dharma Shastras by our Vedic Rishis.
The *longest* Poorna *Chandra Grahana* (Lunar eclipse) of *21st century occurs on 27th July 2018* in the midnight which will last for a total duration of 03 hours and 54 minutes. A huge time to attain Siddhi of a mantra. The timing of onset of Grahana in India, across all places/cities is *11:54pm* on the midnight of 27th July 2018 which is Friday night and it will get over at *03:48am* on 28th July 2018 which is Saturday early morning. People who stay abroad which is in London, Sri lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi, Australia and Singapore where this eclipse will be visible and hence all the mentioned rituals would be applicable. You may please download the drikpanchang app on your phone or log on to www.drikpanchang.com and you need to go to settings and set your city name. Once you have done it you will get the time of onset and end of the Eclipse in your cities when you click the tab Hindu calendar.
During Chandra Grahana all of us will get an impurity which is also called as Asoucham/Theetu/Sutak/Ved which is 9 hours before the Prahar/Yamam in which the Grahana occurs. So from this time, that is 9 hours before, from the Prahar/Yamam of Grahana you should not eat anything, and you should remain fasting till the Grahana ends in your city. For the elderly, sick, children and pregnant women there is a relaxation given by our Rishis, that they can start their fast little late than the others as they cannot stay fasting for long hours. The fasting start time for children, elderly, sick and pregnant women will be 3 hours before the Prahar/Yamam in which the Grahana starts. The general Asoucham/Theetu/Sutak for all, except children, elderly, sick and pregnant women starts from 12:30pm afternoon of 27th July 2018 (Friday) and the Asoucham/Theetu/Sutak for children, elderly, sick and pregnant women starts from 7:00pm on 27th July 2018 (Friday). This means that all people (except children, elderly, sick and pregnant women) should finish eating your food before 12:30pm on 27th July 2018, after this no meal should be cooked or eaten till next day morning breakfast on 28th July 2018. Children, elderly, sick and pregnant women should finish eating maximum by 07:00pm on 27th July 2018 and should have the next meal on 28th July 2018 after Grahana is over. On 27th July 2018 no cooking should be done after 12:30pm in the afternoon. The kitchen should be closed and should be opened for cooking only next day morning on 28th July 2018 after 4:30am. All food cooked before the impurity/Asouch/Sutak/Theetu start period should be discarded and should not be consumed. No stove should be lit to cook anything (no tea/coffee too). For feeding children, elderly, sick and pregnant, the already cooked food which is before 12:30pm in the afternoon should be given (it can be kept in hot case). Milk/Tea/Coffee can be kept in a flask and given to these special category of people only till 7:00pm on 27th July 2018. Next day morning fresh food should be cooked and had and no leftover food from previous day cooking and food kept in fridge should be had. All has to be thrown out, not to be given to anyone.
Now the question is what about certain food items which we keep for days of months. Like pickle, Ghee, butter, curds, milk, rice, atta, dals etc. On these items you should put 2-3 Dharba grass/kusha/tulsi to protect it from the negative effects of Grahana and you can use them, and they need not be thrown. This same Dharba/Kusha/tulsi should be used for covering the food items which has been kept for children/elderly/sick/pregnant as they will consume food later on that day which is before 7:00pm on 27th July 2018. So in a nutshell, in my example, healthy adults should not consume food from 12:30pm on 27th July 2018 and children, sick, pregnant and elderly should not consume food after 7:00pm till end of Grahana on 28th July 2018 which is at 3:48am. You should cover all long term food items with Dharba/Kusha/tulsi to prevent harmful radiation from the Grahana entering these items. Even drinking water 2-3 blades of Dharba/Kusha/tulsi should be put. During Grahana period even water should not be drunk.
As soon as the Grahana starts at 11:54pm in the night of 27th July 2018 all should have a head bath and during the bath each person should chant the *Chandra Grahana Peeda Parihara Mantras (Protection mantras from ill effects of Grahana)*. The mantras are as below which should be chanting while taking a bath.
*|| चन्द्रग्रहण पीडा परिहारा मन्त्रः ||*
योऽसौ वज्रधरो देव आदित्यानां प्रभुर्मतः ।
सहस्रनयनश्चन्द्र ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
मुखं यस्सर्व देवानां सप्तर्चिरमितद्युति : ।
चन्द्रोपरागसंभूतामग्नि: पीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
यः कर्मसाक्षी लोकानां यमो महिषवाहन: ।
चन्द्रसूर्योपरागोत्थां ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
रक्षोगणाधिपस्साक्षात् प्रलयानिलस्सन्निभः ।
करालो निरृतिश्चन्द्र ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
नागपाशधरो देवो नित्यं मकर वाहनः ।
सालिलाधिपतिश्चन्द्र ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
प्राणरूपोहि लोकानां वायु: कृष्णमृगप्रिय: ।
चन्द्रोपरागसंभूतां ग्रहपीडां व्यपोहतु ।।
योऽसौ निधिपतिर्देव: खड्गशूलधरो वर: ।
चन्द्रोपरागसंभूतां कलुषं मे व्यपोहतु ।।
योऽसौ शूलधरो रुद्रश्शड्करौ वृषवाहन: ।
चन्द्रोपरागजं दोषं विनाशयतु सर्वदा ।।
*||Chandra Grahana Peeda Parihara Mantra ||*
Yosou vajradharo deva aadityanam prabhurmataha I
Sahasra nayanaschandra-graha peedam vyapohatu II
Mukham yassarvadevanam saptarchiramitadyutihi I
Chandroparaga sambhootam agni peedam vyapohatu II
Yah karma saakshi lokaanam yamo mahisha vaahanaha I
Chandra suryoparaagothaam graha peedam vyapohatu II
Rakshoganaadhipa saakshaat pralayanila sannibha I
Karaalo nirutishchandra grahapeedan vyapohatu II
Naga pashadharo devo nityam makaravahanaha |
Saliladhipatish-Chandra grahapeedam vyapohatu II
Pranaroopohi lokaanam vayu Krishna mrugapriyaha I
Chandroparaga sambhootam grahapeedam vyapohatu II
Yosou nidhipatir devaha kadgashooladharo varaha I
Chandroparagasambhootam kalusham me vyapohatu II
Yosou shooladharo rudra-shankaro vrushavahanaha I
Chandroparagajam dosham vinashyatu sarvada II
*||சந்திர கிரஹண பீடா பரிஹார மந்த்ரம்||*
யோஸௌ வஜ்ரதரோ தேவ ஆதித்யாநாம் ப்ரபூர்மதஹா |
சஹஸ்ரநயனஸ்ச்சந்திர கிருஹபீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
முகம் யஸர்வ தேவானாம் ஸப்தர்ச்சிற மிதத்துயுதிஹி |
சந்த்ரோரபராக ஸம்பூதாம அக்னி : பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
யஹ கர்ம சாக்ஷி லோகாநாம் யமோ மஹிஷவாஹனஹ |
சந்த்ர சூர்யோபராகோத்தாம் கிருஹ பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
ரஃஷோ கணாதி பஸ்சாஃஷாத் பிரளயானில ஸந்நிபஹ |
கராலோ நிர்ருதிஷ் சந்த்ர கிருஹ பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
நாகபாஷதரோ தேவோ நித்யம் மகர வாஹனஹ |
சலிலாதிபதிஷ்சந்திர கிருஹ பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
ப்ராண ருபோஹி லோகாநாம் வாயுஹு கிருஷ்ணம்ருகப்ரியஹா |
சந்த்ரோபராக ஸம்பூதாம் கிருஹ பீடாம் வ்யபோஹது ||
யோஸௌ நிதிபதிற்தேவஹ கட்கஷூல்தரோ வரஹ |
சந்த்ரோபராக ஸம்பூதாம் கலுஷம் மே வ்யபோஹது ||
யோஸௌ ஷூலதரோ ருத்ர ஷங்கரோ வ்ருஷ வாஹனஹ |
சந்த்ரோபாரங்கஜம் தோஷம் வினாஷயது ஸர்வதா ||
You can also see these mantras on my *www.facebook.com/vedaghosham* page post on this eclipse. After bath quickly change to dry clothes (wear dhoti/panchakaccham and Uttareeya/angavastra/uparna for men/boys and Sari for women), sit on a mat and start Mantra japa as highlighted earlier. Each Japa Phal/Punya will get multiplied by 1,00,000 times here. The people who have their Janma Nakshtra (birth star) as *Shravana* (Thiruvonam), *Uttarashada* (Uttaradam) are severly affection by this Grahana. Others who are partially affected by this Grahana are people whose Nakshatra is *Rohini, Hastam, Krithika* (Karthigai), *Uttaraphalguni* (Uttiram), *Poorvaphalguni* (Pooradam) and *Dhanishta* (Avittam). So all these people born in these stars should, after their 1st bath at start of Grahana should change to dry clothes and do one more additional ritual for protection. This is only for people born in the above birth stars and not for all. They should take fresh white piece of cloth and they need to write the below *“Janma Nakshatra Raksha Mantra/slokam”* with preferably haldi or kumkum on it and tie it around their head (like tennis players tie a sweat band around their head).
*|| जन्म नक्षत्र रक्षा श्लोकम् ||*
इन्द्रो अनलो दण्डधारश्च रूक्षा: ।
पाशायुधो वायु कुबेर ईशाः ।।
कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम् जन्म रक्षा ।
राशिस्थ चन्द्रग्रहण दोष शान्तिम् ।।
*|| Janma Nakshatra Raksha Sloka ||*
Indra analo dandadharascha Rukshaha |
PASAyudho vAyu kubera Eshaha ||
Kurvantu sarve mama janma raksha |
Rashistha Chandra grahana dosha ShAntim ||
*|| ஜன்ம நக்ஷத்ர ரக்ஷா ஸ்தோத்திரம் ||*
இந்த்ரோ அனலோ தண்ட தாராஸ்ச ருக்ஷஹா |
பாஸாயுதோ வாயு குபேர இஷஹா ||
குர்வந்து ஸர்வே மம ஜன்ம ரக்ஷா |
ராசிஸ்த சந்திர கிரஹன தோஷா ஸாந்திம் ||
This is called *Paripattam* in Sanskrit and we call it head band in English, displaying this mantra outside on their forehead. They should also chant this Janma Nakshatra Raksha sloka minimum 11 times and upto 108 times and then they have to keep this Paripattam/head band till end of Grahana and not remove it. At the end of Grahana when we take the second bath, after that we can remove this paripatta (head band) and discard it either in water or under a tree. After 11 to 108 times chanting of this Janma Nakshatra Raksha Mantra, they can now start Mantra Japa of their ishta (favourite/likeable) mantra as highlighted earlier. This will give you Mantra Siddhi.
Two more very important rituals during Grahana is giving *Danam/Dan* (charity/donation) and *Tarpana/Tarpan* (offering oblations to ancestors). Please note that this danam should be done during the Grahana period for earning countless punya as Grahana has multiplying effects of whatever you do. Shastras say that any Danam you give during Grahana is equivalent to Bhoomi danam (gifting at least 1 acre of land). Shastras mention you can give gold/silver/rice/clothes/money to a needy brahmin. If it is a difficulty for you to find someone in Grahana time to give Dana/charity in person you could do a simple online money transfer through netbanking, keeping in mind that Grahana time is so crucial for multiplying benefits and not to waste a key chance of earning punya. Now a key note for danam/dan here is whatever you decide to donate in the morning of 27th July 2018, doubles during Grahana, and if the danam is missed during Grahana period it again doubles further (Grahana has an amplifying effect). Let me give you an example. Let us say you decide to do Danam/donate/net transfer Rs. 1000/- during Grahana, in the morning of 27th July 2018, when you give this danam during the Grahana period in midnight before 3:48am either personally or make an online transfer you have to give double of what you thought in the morning i.e, Rs. 2000/- now. If you miss this Grahana time for donating which is actually during the actual Grahana period from 11:54pm on 27th July 2018 to 3:48am on 28th July 2018 then in case you are donating early morning after this Grahana time this amount will become Rs. 4000/- to be donated then. So my advice is if you personally don’t get any Brahmin to donate during the Grahana period then do an online transfer of money to a Vedic Brahmin whom you know. Performing this Dana few minutes before Grahana ends let’s say by 03:30am will be ideal as before this you will be busy in Mantra Japa or Tarpana.
There other important karma/duty to perform during Grahana which is for men who do not have father or father and mother, is *tarpana* with til and water with sesame seeds. Doing a tarpana during the Grahana period satisfies our ancestors for 1000s of years, and more merits/punya is added to your spiritual account. This tarpana should be started just before end of Grahana. For this July 2018 Grahana the tarpana can be done any time after *02:14am* till the end of Grahana at 03:48am on 28th July 2018. If you finish tarpana earlier then you can do the Danam or vice versa. After 03:48am you should go out and take Chandra Darshana (sighting of the moon) then come inside home and take head bath with whatever clothes you are wearing for the Japa which as I said earlier was Dhoti/Panchakaccham with Uttareya/Angavastra/Gamcha and ladies in Sari as they were doing Mantra Japa in this dress code. Men should avoid wearing shirt/Kurta//baniyan/vest/short/Bermuda etc during Mantra Japa. Dhoti and Angavastra is important to maintain purity of the Japa, and Sari/madisar/traditional dress for women. Please note in India the Grahana end time is 03:48am for all cities. Performing this second bath with whatever clothes you are wearing is important after Grahana and is compulsory and here too you need to once again chant the Chandra Grahana Peeda Parihara Mantras as given in this post above. Then the question is what to do after Grahana is over at 03:48am after you have finished the second bath ? You should not sleep. You should wait till early morning of 28th July 2018, clean up/wash the house floor, take usual bath, perform your Sandhyavandanam, regular Pooja etc then have breakfast in the morning on 28th July 2018.
Pregnant women should not venture out during Grahana period and they should remain indoor only, and they should not see the eclipsed moon. They should not handle any sharp items like needle, knife and should not indulge is any stitching or cutting activity as this can affect the unborn baby. During the Grahana period the pregnant lady should remain in center of their room away from all doors and windows of the house. All windows, curtain should be drawn close, so that moon rays do not enter inside the room. For additional protection she could cover her full stomach with darbha grass (darbha is scientifically proven to block radioactive Xrays) and cover herself with blanket and can perform mantra japa either sitting or lying down. Avoiding sleep is also recommended during Grahana.
Women who have their periods/menses during Grahana period are also allowed to perform Mantra Japa as this is a rare opportunity (Naimittika). But here the rule is that they have to take bath at beginning of Grahana and without changing to dry clothes, with full dripping wet clothes only they should perform Mantra Japa for these 4 hours. Then they should take second bath after end of Grahana.
During Grahana period you also need to follow few more rules. No eating, no drinking water, no sleeping, no going to toilet to pass urine or stools, and no wasteful talking, no sex, no revengeful thoughts and you should have compulsory bath at beginning and end of grahana. Failing to have bath will lead to being born as a leper for next 7 janmas as per Dharma Shastras. Failing to have a head bath with full clothes on at the end of Grahana will lead the person remaining impure/in Sutak till the next Grahana.
Knowingly or unknowingly in Kali Yuga all of us do lot of sins. This eclipse is a golden opportunity to increase your spiritual karmic punya account/merit account by fasting, 2 times bath (beginning and end of Grahana), Mantra Japa, Tarpana and Dana. Do not miss this celestial opportunity at any cost.
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*Om Somaya Namaha !!!*🌕