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22
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
A third explanation of the eclipse is that of charity during the actual period of an the sun and the moon revolve round the eclipse are the lowest classes only, such as Meru mountain, and the shadow of the bhangis, mahärs and mänge. When an inountain falling upon either of them causes eclipse is at its full, these people go about an eclipse, 1
the streets giving vent to such cries as apó It is believed amongst Hindus that eclipses dan chhuté chand (give alms for the relief of occur when too much sin accumulates in this the moon 1).5 world. Most Hindus regard an eclipse a's Among the gifts such people receive are ominous, and consider the eclipse period to cotton clothes, cash, grain such as sesamum be unholy and inauspicious. The contact of seeds, udad, pulses, and salt. The gift of the demon Rāhu with the rays of the sun a pair of shoes is much recommended. and the moon pollutes everything on earth. Sometimes a figure of the celipsed sun or Great precautions therefore become neces- moon is drawn in juari seeds and given away sary to avoid pollution. A period of three to a bhangi. pohors' (prakars) in the case of the moon, Although the period of an eclipse is consiand of four in the case of the sun before dered inauspicious, it is valued by those who the actual commencement of an eclipse, is profess the black art. All mantras, incantaknown as vedha, i, e., the time when the tions, and prayogas, applications or experilaminaries are already under the influence of ments, which ordinarily require' a long time the demon. During this period and during to take effect, produce the wished for result the time of an eclipse people ubserve a without delay if performed during the prostrict fast. Anyone taking food within the cess of an eclipse. prohibited period is considered antaki or If a man's wife is pregnant, he may not ceremonially impure, as if a death had smoke during the period of an eclipse lest happened in his family.. An exception his child become deformed, 10 Ploughing & is, however, made in the case of children, farm on a lunar eclipse day is supposed to pregnant women and surkling mothers who cause the birth of chandra-children, i.e. cannot bear the privation of a strict fast. children afflicted by the moon, 20 From the beginning of an eclipse to its end, After an eclipse Hindus bathe, perform everything in the house is believed to be ablution ceremonies and dress themselves in polluted, it touched.
clean garments. The houses are cleansed As the sun and the moon are believed to by cowdunging the floors, vessels are rubbed be in trouble during an eclipse, people and cleanred, and clothes are Washed, in offer prayers to God from the beginning order to get rid of the pollution caused by of the vedha for their release. It is
the eclipseli. Unwashed clothes of cotton, the custom to visit some holy place on an
wool, silk or jute, according to popular belief, eclipse-day, to take a bath there, and to do not become polluted, 11 The placing of read holy passages from the Shastras, Some darbha grass on things which are otherwise people, especially Brähmans, sit devoutly on liable to pollution is also sufficient to keep river-banks and offer prayers to the sun. them unpolluted,1 Much secret as well as open charity is given Brahmans cannot accept anything during at the time of an eclipse. But the receivers the impious time of an eclipse, but after it
* Mr. K. P. Joshi, Limbdi. * Mr. Laxmichand Hemji, Vasa wad. • Mr. D. K. Pandya, Dhbank. • The Schoolmasters of Jodia and Songad'.. • Mr. N. D. Vors, Rajpara. 20 Mr. K. D. Desai. 13 Mr. D. K. Pandya, Dhhank,
* Mr K. D. Desai. • A pohor or prahar is equal to three bours, • Mr. Khan Bahadur Fazlullah. * Mr. K. D. Desai.
Mr. G. K Bhatt, Songadh. 11 The Schoolmaster of Jodia.
