15 June 2011

Lunar Eclipse from India

The Lunar eclipse on June 16th which will be partially visible in India, is a rare central eclipse where the Moon passes in front of the center of the Earth's shadow. The timing of this eclipse in India is as follows:

June 15th, 2011 23.56 IST – June 16th, 2011 03:04 IST







During a lunar eclipse, the moon moves through the shadow of the earth. Which means, that the earth is positioned quite exactly between the sun and moon and casts its shadow onto the moon. This is only possible at full moon and if some other requirements are met, depending on whether the moon passes the partial or the core shadow of the earth, we speak of a partial or total lunar eclipse.

When the moon touches the core shadow of the earth, the first parts of the moon surface begin to darken. If one was to stand on the moon, one would experience a total solar eclipse. As soon as the moon immerses completely in the core shadow, the surface of the moon begins to glow copper red. Towards the centre of the core shadow, the light fades and turns dark red to brownish grey.







To read the legend of the eclipse in Indian mythology, and for more information about what to do and what not to do on these days go to this link here.


3 June 2011

The Monkey God


I have written many times about the beautiful Langur Monkey residing around Arunachala. To find out more about the Langur go to this link here and to read about the lovely Anjaneya Temple off the Girivalam Roadway, check out this link here.

The Langur monkey is held in high regard because of its historic association to the God Rama, so was particularly enchanted with the following story and video about a special event at a Temple in North India between the God Rama and the Langur.

. . . . .

The photographs below are of an event that occurred in April (2011) at the Kalika Mata Temple in Ratlam M.P.






During a recital of the Ramayana (story of Rama, Sita and Hanuman) a Langur monkey appeared. As Langurs are regarded throughout India as manifestations of the monkey God Hanuman, the crowds believed that the Langur had come to bless the function.



The Langur first went and sat near the singers and listened to their singing, then moved amongst the Swamis, blessing them and thereafter sat in front of the painting of Rama. He thereupon took prasad in front of the picture (sitting in the same way as the Monkey God in the painting) and after left quietly.





To see the whole lovely event, view the below video.





Video of Langur at Temple Function