Mysuru: This evening, as we look towards the eastern sky, we will witness the dance of shadows that our Solar System regularly conjures up as our Earth and the Moon move in their cosmic orbits around the Sun. One can experience a Super Moon, Blood Moon and a Blue Moon total lunar eclipse — a very rare astronomical feat. The next time one gets to witness such an occurrence on Dec.31, 2028, and after that on Jan.31, 2037.

Eclipses have fascinated and also frightened the humanity. And as if to reflect this, people thronged various temples in city this morning to ward off any “ill effects” of the total lunar eclipse. On the other hand, people who believe in science and astronomy are enthusiastic to witness the rare occurrence.

Temples including Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hill, 101 Ganapathy Temple at Agrahara, Sri Lakshmi Venkataramana Swamy Temple and Chandramouleshwara Swamy Temple at Vontikoppal and Amrutheswara Temple on Dewan’s Road had a steady number of devotees since early in the morning.

Almost all the important temples had put up boards outside that said certain ‘Raashis’ will have adverse effects of the lunar eclipse. According to the priests, ‘Raashis’ like ‘Karkataka’, ‘Tula’ ‘Kumbha’ and ‘Mithuna’ will bear the maximum adverse effects of the eclipse while ‘Simha’, ‘Vruschika’ ‘Makara’ and ‘Meena’ Raashis will bear medium effects.

Priests have asked such people to go for remedial measures. Temples were seen collecting Rs. 100 from devotees for ‘Shanthi Pujas’ to ward off bad effects. Special ‘homas’ were performed at many temples. Devotees of ‘affected Raashis’ have been asked to donate rice, urad dal and ‘thamboola’.

While the devotees have been advised to go for remedial measures, the priests too are following strict rituals before and after eclipse. Normally when the eclipse occurs, priests do not have food and have bath before and after the eclipse.

As the total lunar eclipse occurs between 5.18 pm and 9:38 pm, there were no special pujas in the morning. Devotees, were, however allowed inside to pray. Pujas will be held only after ‘Sparsha’ (when the eclipse occurs) and ‘Moksha’ (when the eclipse ends).

Most of the temples will close at 7.30 pm till 8.30 pm for special pujas and once the eclipse ends, the temple and the idols will be washed. Abhisheka will be performed for all the Panchaloha idols and after the cleaning rituals, Mahamangalaarathi will be performed.

At the Chamundeshwari Temple, devotees were allowed inside from 7.30 am to 2.30 pm. It was closed from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm and again will be open from 3.30 pm to 5.45 pm. The shrine will be closed from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm and special rituals will be held inside the sanctum sanctorum. On normal days, the temple is open till 9.30 pm but today it will close at 8.30 pm, Temple Chief Priest Shashishekar Dikshit told SOM.

 

Details of Total Eclipse of Moon (in Indian Standard Time)

Astronomical event – Total Lunar Eclipse (Jan.31)

Eclipse begins – 17:18 (5.18 pm)

Visibility of full moon – 18:21 (6.21 pm)

Total eclipse begins – 18:21 (6.21 pm)

Maximum phase of the eclipse – 18:59 (6.59 pm)

Total eclipse ends- 19:37 (7.37 pm)

Partial eclipse ends – 20:41 (8.41 pm)

Moon enters penumbra – 16:21 (4.21 pm)

Moon leaves penumbra-  21:38 (9.38 pm)