Chandra Grahan 2023: What Should We Not Eat During Lunar Eclipse And Why?

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Grahan period comes with a more elaborate set of instructions for ritualistic observance on this day. More restrictions and more mantra japas and more of all rituals characterise this period of eclipse. Let us understand why food restrictions are laid for us on this day.

Though the reason why they are observed has not been divulged, or is forgotten down the generations, we follow the injunctions carefully every time, every grahan. Also, any eclipse for that matter, usually carries unfavourable connotations for most of the people born under the 12 zodiac signs.

Every grahan aims, as it were, a few groups of people born under a certain zodiac, and metes out disappointments and strife to these unsuspecting people. Probably this period is considered very ominous as long as worldly purposes are concerned, and that is why probably people follow the Grahana prescriptions very carefully with respect to everything.

This period is deemed unlucky generally and hence eating is avoided at this juncture. Skanda purana says that people who serve food or those who eat suffer malefic results of the act.Basil leaves are added to the food to purify the content or to protect the food from bacterial contamination.

These radiations from the Grahan are supposed to carry over to the next birth too, as per the shastras. The radiation that emits from this celestial occurrence is so bad that it affects the food, causes bacteria and may lead to diseases.

The food eaten during this time may upset the stomach and cause indigestion as per some researchers. In case you have prepared large amounts of food the early morning on the day of the eclipse, add a few basil leaves so that it fights the contamination in an effective way.

Our sages of ancient times, were also called seers as they had seen the movement of stars and planets in clear terms. There is a reason why our seers prescribed rituals and that bore results as per the seers' predictions.

If the radiation from the eclipse harms the eyes, does it harm, in a similar way, the food we take in and the organs of our stomach. Here is a very practical reason why food was not eaten during eclipse during ancient times. But somehow the same reason does not appear in the list of reasons given by shastras.

Hence the origin of this theory is debatable. In those days, in India, one has to walk some distance upto a farm land or near a forest to urinate and defecate as there were no toilets inside the house. So there is a need to use the toilets after drinking or eating.

During eclipse, it is difficult to walk up to the forest or the farm land due to the eclipse emitting its harmful radiations. Hence the ancients did not encourage eating, drinking, urinating or defecating during eclipse.

Since people had to spend time doing something , men advised to chant, and sing keertans. There are several ways to spend time, why only keertans? And why only men were chosen for the chanting?

Grahana mantras can be recited and mastered by women also as long as they are not menstruating during Grahan. Those who are used to chanting mantras, or initiated into it can certainly chant mantras during eclipse.

The age old belief says that eclipse carries a wave of energy that adversely affects all that is present on earth. Due to the change in environment and uv rays, it attacks only cooked food and not raw food. Cooked food has traces of water which attracts the emissions from the sky and infuses toxins into the food.

Pregnant women, young children and old people are allowed to consume something in meagre amounts. It is also believed that vrats and rituals are not mandatory for the sick, very young kids, and very old people as all these three are unable to conduct any ritual.

These categories can consume prescribed foods in prescribed amounts during any time of the grahana day. Elderly and the sick need medication time to time and hence they should not be kept waiting for the eclipse to end so that they can have something to eat and then consume medicine.

Pregnant women can eat and drink in a regular fashion. Let the kids also eat during grahan as they cant control their hunger cravings. But basil leaf must be added in the food they take. Cooked meals and diced fruits should not be taken during grahan.Stay strictly away from meat on this day.

These three categories of people can drink milk that is boiled with basil leaves. Other allowed foods are dry fruits, coconut, banana, pomegranate, and mango as they provide energy for expecting mothers.

Cooked foods get contaminated and rot very quickly during eclipse as any food that has changed its natural state will disintegrate very quickly during this time.

But astrologers have a different view when it comes to the diet of the pregnant women during eclipse. They say drinking or eating during this time increases the possibilities of giving birth to kids with birth defects whicg is due to the defects in Moon sun and Rahu Ketu in the horoscope of the child.

Disclaimer: The information is based on assumptions and information available on the internet and the accuracy or reliability is not guaranteed. Boldsky does not confirm any inputs or information related to the article and our only purpose is to deliver information. Kindly consult the concerned expert before practising or implementing any information and assumption