Understanding why Vedic scriptures consider Rahu as the cause of Eclipses

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
combined together. Now, one of the things that people ask, that the modern understanding and the Vedic understanding of eclipses.
So, are eclipses caused by Rahu? And it seems like a childhood fairy tale that some monster comes and eats the sun or eats the moon. And then what happens? Does he excrete the sun or the moon? Or how does it come out? So, people make fun of this. But actually, if you look at the Vedic explanation, it’s much more sophisticated.
So, let’s try to understand this. So, this is the current scientific understanding of how eclipses happen. So, we have the sun, the moon, and the earth.
So, when the moon comes in between the sun and the earth, then the part of the moon where the moon’s shadow will fall, that will not see the sun. And that is called a solar eclipse. And now, those two images are brought together over here.
The moon cannot be at both places at the same time. But if the moon is on the other side, so, when the lunar eclipse will happen is that the moon we will not be able to see because the moon basically gets the reflection, reflects the light from the sun. And if the earth is blocking the moon, then the sun’s light doesn’t reach the moon.
And that’s why the moon, we can’t see it. So, that is how eclipses happen. And that’s the modern understanding.
And at least from a functional perspective, it’s accurate. We are able to predict eclipses with substantial level of accuracy using this model. So, now, what is the Vedic understanding? So, this becomes a little more subtle and sophisticated.
So, you will see the sun is in the middle and you see one big circle around it. That is the path of the earth going around the sun. That’s the big circle.
But now, if you see on the right side, let’s look at the right side, you see the moon and there is a circle going around the moon. So, the significant point is that the moon’s rotation is not, the moon’s motion is not in the same plane as the sun’s motion. So, if the sun’s plane is like this, sun’s motion is in this plane, the moon’s motion is in this plane.
So, there is an angular dimension over there. So, now what happens because of this is that only when, not only the three objects have to be in the same line, but the everything also has to be in the same plane. So, eclipses will happen only when all of them are in the same plane.
And you will see these two happen, they are called as nodes. You see in the top and below you will see there are two nodes. So, only when the objects are at that particular location and so when the earth is in a nodal point and then the moon comes in between the earth and the sun, then an eclipse will occur.
Now, to take this forward, that nodal plane or nodal point is significant because of a particular reason. So, now the Surya Siddhanta describes the location of Rahu and Ketu. So, Rahu and Ketu, they are non-light reflecting planets.
So, they are not visible to us. Just like we discussed, so much in the universe is not visible. So, Rahu and Ketu is also not visible.
But precisely their location is at the nodes. So, the place where the moon’s plane and the earth’s plane intersect, that is the place where Rahu and Ketu are there. So, in that sense, both Rahu and the alignment of sun, moon and earth, both happen at the same time.
So, the alignment of sun, moon and earth is, that cosmic explanation is not denied. But, when that happens, Rahu and Ketu also happen to be there at that time. So, now, that’s why both explanations can work in parallel.
Yeah. Okay. I’ll just explain this further, then we’ll have questions about it.
So, what happens is, the explanations here are not contradictory, they are complementary. Complementary means, both explanations can work at the same time. And now, somebody might say that, actually, then Rahu and Ketu are not needed only.
Anyway, the sun and moon and earth, they can come in one line, then automatically it will happen. Yes, from a physical perspective, yes, there is, the three coming together will cause the physical event, the eclipse. But, from a shastric perspective, eclipse is not just a physical event.
That physical event is associated with certain cosmic effects or certain malefic effects, certain inauspicious effects. And those effects are caused by Rahu and Ketu. So, when it is said that, okay, during eclipses we should fast or we should do some sacred activities, should avoid certain activities, that is not simply because in the past people were so superstitious.
Oh, suddenly it has become dark, suddenly we can’t see the sun, we can’t see the moon. Oh, that’s why we should pray now. It is not just that.
That is, because Rahu and Ketu are having an influence at that time, so, that creates an inauspicious effect. So, the eclipses are not just a physical phenomena. The physical cause of eclipse can be explained in terms of the sun, moon and earth being one line.
But the inauspiciousness associated with the eclipses is caused by Rahu and Ketu. And now, because Rahu and Ketu are strong negative influences, that’s why their location needs to be known. And as far as the Surya Siddhanta or other Siddhanta Jyotishastras are there, there is no other way described to know their location apart from their position at the nodes.
So, in that sense, the eclipses are the way to know when Rahu and Ketu influence, when Rahu and Ketu are going to have an influence. So, the location is known through the method of the eclipse. Now, the Bhagavatam’s language is a little more careful.
Sometimes, whenever any story is there in Sanskrit, when it’s translated into English, there are different ways it could be translated. And often the translator’s agenda or bias comes into the picture. So, the Bhagavatam, if we look at the Sanskrit, it doesn’t say it devours.
It says it covers. So, covering and devouring are two different things. And devouring can also be used in a metaphorical sense.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Mahasano Mahapapma. So, lust is all devouring, Prabhupada translates. Now, what does it devour? Even a lusty person is still existing.
It’s not like a crocodile or alligator that has devoured something. So, that devouring can also refer in a non-literal sense to lust devours the intelligence of a person. That means the intelligence stops functioning.
So, Rahu and Ketu, they devour the sun and the moon. That means their influence, in terms of their luminosity, stops manifesting. So, it’s not talking about a physical devouring.
It is talking about even when the word devouring is used, it is more in a metaphorical sense to refer to their influence being eclipsed, being overcome. They no