Kethu Grastha Surya Grahanam(Solar eclipse) on 26th December 2019 in India -how to observe it.

Kethu   Grastha  Surya Grahanam(Solar eclipse) on 26th December 2019 in India (8.09  to 11.19 Am  according  to Indian Panchangam – (how  to observe  it along  with Tharpana Sankalpa)

Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander

(this  Grahana affects  those  born in ASvini, Maka, Kettai, Moolam  and Pooradam  and also  on Thursdaya)

This Surya  Grahana is not visible in North and South America , most part of Europe , Africa and Russia.

In some places in India it is visible as angular(like a ring of fire) and some others partial.

Annular(ring of fire)

Coimbatore, Dindigal , Kahnakad , Kozhikode, Thalasery Mangalore, Kasargode, ooty, Palakkad, Pudukottai, Tirupur, Trichy.

Partial
Agra, Bangalore, Chennai , Calcutta, cochin, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, C, Madurai , Mumbai , Pondicherrry, Trivandrum, Udupi

The Solar eclipse Tharpana has to be done after taking bath   as soon as   the solar  eclipse  starts(at least before the middle period)

 . The Sankalpa manthra for the Grahana  is

  Vikari  nama samvathsare ,Dakshinayane , Hemantha  rithou, Dhanur   mase , Krishna  pakshe, adhya Amavasyam    punya thidhou , guru  vasara yukthayam, moola    nakshatra yukthayam, shubhayoga, shubhaKarana evam guna viseshena, visishtayam asyam Amavasyam   punya thidhou,  Sooryoparaga  punyakale, darsa sradham , thilatharpana roopena adhya karishye  

(Amavasya up to  10.26 Am afterwards Prathama and moola  up to  4.50 pm)

The time of onset and release of the eclipse visibility  in various places where  is is visible    is given below. (from https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@7603116 .You can find out for other  cities   from this)

Place	Type of eclipse	Time  of beginning	Time of ending
Chennai	Partial	8.08 Am	11.19 Am
Bangalore	Partial	8.06 Am	11.11 Am
Mumbai	Annular	8.04 aM	10.55  aM
Coimbatore	Annular	8.06 Am	11.10 Am
Palghat	Annular	8.06 Am	11.09
Trichy	Annular	8.07 Am	11.16 Am
Trivandrum	Partial	8.07 Am	11.11 Am
Mangalore	Annnular	8.04 Am	11.03Am
Cochin	Partial	8.06 Am	11.09 Am
Delhi	Partial	8.17 Am	10.17  Am
Calcutta	Partial	8.27 Am	11.32 Am
Dubai	Partial	7.02 Am	8.54  Am
Hongkong	Annular	12.16 Pm	15.21 Pm
Singapore	Annular	11.27 Am	15.18 Pm
Kulalampur	Annular	11.20 Am	15.11 Pm
Sydney	Penumbral	4.07 Am	5.55Am

These  are some of the   customs observed  by  Hindus   during the eclipse:-

1.A women in periods should take the eclipse bath from water which is poured on her by others.
2.During eclipse all waters are equivalent to Ganges water and all Brahmins are equivalent to Vasishta.
3.Till the end of eclipse we should not sleep but keep on chanting mantras.
4.Pregnant women should not come out during eclipse.
5.If any left over food is there prepared before eclipse, it should not be eaten. Food should be freshly prepared after eclipse is over.
7.In case of curd or pickles , we have to put cut Durbha grass in them ,After the purifying  bath, this Durbha should be removed.
8.The charity given and meditation done, during the eclipse would give us huge benefits.

Tharpana can be done in sea water but Aachamana should not be done . Water taken from home after bath should be used for Aachamana.

Those in whose Nakshatra  or Anu Janma Nakshatra  and day (Asvini, Maka , Kettai, Moola, poorada   and Thursday)  the eclipse occurs, should write the following sloka in a palm leaf/card board  and tie it to their forehead. After the eclipse this palm leaf should be removed. Then they should give in charity one Ash gourd, coconut and coin to a Brahmin.

Solar eclipse sloka:-

Indro , analo  danda darasha  ruksha prachedhaso Vayu,

Khubera  , eesaa  , majjanma  , rukshe  mama raahisamsthe,

Arkoparagam   shamayanthu may.

All people   can also chant   this prayer  called “Surya Grahana  Peeda hara  Stotra”

1.Yosou   vajradharo   deva, aadhithyaanam   prabhurmatha,

Surya  Graho  paragotha graham   peedaam   Vyapohathu 

He who is God   carrying Vajra, The sun god  is of the opinion,.

That during the   time of solar  eclipse  would  remove  problems created by al planets

2.Yosou   danda dharo deva   , Yamo  Mahisha vahana,

Suryagraho  paraagotha  graham peedaam  Vyapohathu

The God     who is carrying the staff, Lord Yama   who rides on a buffalo,

During the   time of solar  eclipse  would  remove  problems created by al planets

3.Yosou  soola dharo  deva pinaki   vrusha  vahana,

Suryagraho  paraagotha  graham peedaam  Vyapohathu

The God  who carries     the soola and  Pinaka  and riding  on the bull,

During the   time of solar  eclipse  would  remove  problems created by al planets