October of
this year (2005) bears witness to two eclipses. We have dispensed with
the solar event called Eclipse Elmo that passed on the 2nd in our
letter to Shriman Hansadutta das Prabhu published yesterday. Since the
month continues to remain overshadowed by one more untoward event,
Eclipse Eleanor on the 17th, I shall dilate a little on the
ramifications of that event.
First the
details for the astronomers amongst us: According to Trivedi's
American
Panchang, Eclipse Eleanor will be a partial eclipsing of the
Moon, visible in central and western North America, Central America,
Eastern Asia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and in most parts of
the Pacific Ocean. Eleanor will begin early in the morning at 2:51 AM
(PDT) [9:51 UT/GMT], the center point
will occur at 5:03 AM (PDT) [12:03 noon UT/GMT],
and the Moon will forego the influence of Rahu,
that is
leave the arc of penumbra, at 6:15 AM (PDT) [14:15
UT/GMT]. The Moon will be in Pisces, or Meena rashi,
at the commencement of Eleanor, but will move into Aries while the
eclipse is ongoing, an omenous portent. To make things worse, the
change into Aries occurs at 5:46 AM (PDT) [12:46
PM UT/GMT], just forty-three
minutes after the
dead center point of the event. It should also be pointed out that the
Sun will have just entered into debility, that is into the sign of
Libra, only 4 hours prior to eclipse commencement. The event will begin
with Sun-ruled Leo rising over San Francisco.
What does
this strange mix of stellar influences foretell? First of all, it
should be pointed out that eclipses—and indeed the effects of Rahu and
Ketu—can be beneficial. When our Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu advented
Himself in the divine tirtha of Nadia in the year 1486, it was
during an eclipse. Furthermore, a study of thousands of horoscopes
belonging to Western devotees reveals a strong Rahu in play in an
overwhelming number of them which made them ripe for devotional
service. Actually Rahu, who causes eclipses, is a mleccha (or
outcaste). The very Kali Yuga society we live in is founded upon the
fourfold pillars of sin (meat-eating, illicit sex, gambling and
intoxication), and is a Rahu society. Hence he who is a Rahu in the
society of Rahus actually may turn to a life of Godliness. That is,
being ejected from the association of demons, he searches for the
loving company of devotees, and takes shelter of the Lord's Holy Name.
Astrologically, those who are born under rashis Makara, Tula or
Mithuna may actually be benefited by Eleanor.
And this
brings up the second point of Rahu. Sinful deeds are like seeds whose
reactions overtake entire countries as much as they vex individual
sinners. America has for the most part held painful reactions at bay
for decades through the charitableness of her people. Add to that
innate American altruism the devotion of Prabhupada's American soldiers
performing the invaluable service of sankirtana yajna upon the
streets of every town and village in America and, like magic, entire
populations received protection. With the waning and ultimate eclipse
of sankirtan which coincided with the sad departure of our
spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, the sankirtan movement received a terrible blow. No
one has come forth who can adequately bear the title of
acharya of the Hare Krishna Movement, as did so elegantly His
Divine Grace, though many have tried. The post of spiritual master is
open, but no qualified person is there to occupy the throne.
Hence, in
these dark days, it can be understood that the untoward effects of
eclipses will be magnified. Since yesterday, the death toll in Pakistan
has soared to 45,000 souls by one general's estimate, but it could
easily double and triple. Further, heavy rains in the mountainous areas
have impeded rescue efforts, and many survivors will succumb due to
exposure to the elements.
I have given
a bit of thought to the forthcoming days. The influences of the
"eclipse field of influence" (or EFI) will continue for at least one
and one half lunar cycles (or about 45 days onwards) from the 17th. If
your Moon sign is either Pisces or Aries, then keep a very cool head
indeed, over the next month and a half, and remain very, very
circumspect. In our science of Vedic astrology, there are 27 minor
constellations called nakshatras. In most situations, these nakshatras
form a bridge that connects signs; that is, part of the nakshatra
is in one sign and the remaining fraction lies in the next. However,
just as there can be no affinity of water for fire, or vice versa
(since either one will destroy the other) there is no "nakshatra
bridge" that joins any water sign to a following fire sign. This means
that at 4:46 PM (PDT) on the early morning of Monday the 17th, the Moon
will be dreadfully compromised. The lunar sphere will be both eclipsed
and near a limbo state of "no man's land", a terrible augury for us
people of the earth who depend upon and are nourished by the Moon's
rays of beneficence.
In Vedic
astrology, the Moon's position constitutes one's "sign", not the Sun
sign as has been erroneously concluded by misguided, speculative and
ill-informed adherents of so-called "Western Astrology". This makes
perfect sense when reading Shrila Prabhupada's illuminating purports to
the verses of the Bhagavatam that describe the
organization of the Universe. In the fifth canto of the Bhagavata
Purana, His Divine Grace Shrila Prabhupada points out that the
Moon is called "Jiva" because through his gentle influence he supplies
the "juice of life"
(and one's individuality as well) to all entities living in this
material world. Remember that Lord Shri Krishna Himself, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, points out in Bhagavad Gita
(15.12): yach chandramasi yach chagnau: "The splendor of
the Moon is from Me". The Lord then adds (in His discussion with His
devotee Arjuna) in the next verse: somo bhutva rasamakah:
"I become the Moon and supply the juice of life to all vegetables." At
this point in their conversation, which we revere as Bhagavad
Gita As It Is, Arjuna has already been shown by Bhagavan Shri
Krishna that the Sun and Moon are His eyes (verse 11.19). So we must
conclude that the darkening through eclipse of those two eyes of God
that maintain and watch over us is a very inauspicious augury indeed.
What events
will follow? Who can predict with accuracy except those who, like
Sanjaya narrating the events of the Battle of Kurukshetra to the blind
Dhritarashtra, could see a mystical "television screen in the heart"?
However, the sign of Aries, the second eclipsed sign of the 17th Oct.
event, is a well-known ruler of the United Kingdom. It can be
speculated with some assurance that Great Britain will feel a hefty
brunt of the effects of Eleanor. They must be on guard as ever against
terrorist attacks, as should America. Eclipses that occur in Martian
signs in general foretell of increased wartime hostilities, so Iraq
will continue to be a battlefield, as will other key points of Africa.
Battles will break out all over the world, which get ignored by the
grinning news anchors of American media.
As the Sun
will move into Libra (an air sign) just hours prior to the event, there
is the strong possibility of several air disasters occurring over the
next two weeks, perhaps a few occurring over or near water. A disaster
involving a seagoing vessel may grab the headlines. The fate of
Indonesia will continue to remain in jeopardy, as if this unfortunate
nation has not seen enough hardship this year. Guerilla insurgency may
raise its head in the Philippines, another island nation. Furthermore,
the peace of a paradisiacal island nation of the Pacific may be
shattered. Eclipses are like smoky rooms, and thus it is becomes very
difficult to pinpoint with accuracy specific forthcoming events.
Problems in
California might scorch the headlines, with a small- to medium-sized
quake, but probably not much bigger. In the business world, surprise
bankruptcies will grab attention as precious metals continue their
climb. The Royal Family of England is highly susceptible to all sorts
of problems, and all family members are advised to keep a low profile.
Mass riots or political dissent may be predicted in some Latin country
over the next two months. Terrorist "liberation fronts" which the
Western newscasts consider themselves too elite to mention will strike
unsuspecting villagers in India and Nepal. America is already
experiencing dreadful flooding in New England, even before the Piscean
(water sign) lunar event.
For those
countries holding elections now, such as Iraq or Liberia, my advice is
to postpone them until the effects of EFI lessen. Oceania may face a
political problem, or there could be fires in Australia.
Now, more
than ever, the sankirtan movement is urgently needed to turn
back the dark tide of Kali Yuga. Congregational public chanting of:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
is the sole
panacea capable of chasing away the Rahu of Kali Yuga. The real tragedy
of sinful activity is not the physical pain we cause to our physical
bodies in the form of natural and man-made disasters through callous
transgressions of material Nature, but the loss of the real opportunity
of human form of life (surrender to Krishna in loving devotional
service) here upon the planet whose dust was purified by the lotus feet
of Shrila Prabhupada, Lord Chaitanya and Lord Shri Krishna. For those
who seek a way out of this dark out this material existence, there is
no other way but heartfelt surrender at Prabhupada's lotus feet.
