Moon
has been for a long time the center of attraction in art,
literature, poetry, prose, and music. We have always associated
Moon to a cool, calm, beautiful female. Moon happens to be
a general term for any natural satellite of a planet. However,
we normally use the adjectives"lunar" derived from
Latin Luna and "selenic" derived from Greek Selene.
Many of the ancient calendars 200-300
decades back used the waxing and waning of the moon as the
basis. Our 30-day month itself is based on an approximate
lunar cycle.
William Shakespeare in his famous
play "Romeo and Juliet" says, "Do not swear
by the moon, for she changes constantly. then your love would
also change.” Though Moon has several changing phases
within a lunar cycle, we happen to see the same face of the
Moon all the time! So what? Have we not grown up seeing a
rabbit or an old woman on that face? Have we not admired the
beauty of the solitary full moon and bathed in the white light?
How correctly high tides are caused on earth on full and new
moon days when the Earth, Moon, and the Sun come in a straight
line!
When something spectacular undergoes
a sudden change, it is bound to create a concern or panic
among the viewers. Same happened during eclipses. A lunar
eclipse occurs when Earth comes between the Sun and Moon,
on a full-moon night. The Earth blocks the sunlight except
some bent light through the earth's atmosphere causing a coppery
glow to the Moon for sometime. This is just a scientific phenomenon
and anybody living in the night part of the Earth could visualize
this. Now thousands of people view this awesome occurrence
with naked eyes again and again.
However, in the distant past eclipse
terrified the viewers. They thought it was an evil omen. The
Chinese thought a dragon swallowed the Moon and spit blood
all over, but they were speculating as to how the Moon came
out again every time! In the arctic area still people turn
down their utensils to avoid contamination! Astrology always
connects Moon as the ruler of instincts and emotions. According
to Hindu mythology, the two "grahas" namely the
Rahu and Ketu swallow the Sun and Moon causing eclipses. In
Hindu astrology, the full moon/new moon days and the eclipse
days are considered inauspicious since tantric practitioners
consider these days apt for their paranormal activities. That
is why astrologers advise children, old people, sick and pregnant
women to stay indoors and not to eat anything during the eclipse.
Also, it is considered best to take bath after an eclipse
and worship at temples to ward off the evil effects.
Anyway, one person tricked on this
lunar eclipse to save himself, yes that was our famous explorer
Christopher Columbus. It was his fourth and final voyage during
1503, when his crew landed in the North coast of Jamaica.
The natives there at first generously supplied food and other
supplies, but after several months, they became discontented
with the stealing, raiding, and criminal offenses of the crew
and stopped the supply. Luckily for the crew, Columbus had
certain astronomical tables and an almanac that predicted
a total lunar eclipse on February 29, 1504. He still more
calculated and got the exact time of occurrence and the period
of eclipse. With these details, he called the chiefs of the
tribe and said that God was angry with them for stopping the
supplies and he will be taking away the moon from them and
also punish them. As predicted, the lunar eclipse did take
place at the exact time given by Columbus. What next, the
frightened natives agreed to resume their food and other supplies.
People
with mental illness are referred as lunatics, that comes from
the word Luna or moon. Again from time immemorial, it is a
belief that mentally sick people behave more violently and
are aggressive during a full moon day. Crime rate is believed
to go up on a full moon day. Full moon is also thought to
affect the clotting of blood during surgeries. Even fevers,
rheumatism, epilepsy and some diseases are believed to get
acute on a full moon day. These beliefs, however, are not
100% proven.
So, let us recollect what Confucius
has said, "The faults of a superior person are like the
sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them;
they change and everyone looks up to them."
Watch our video on the "Effects
of moon on human behavior"
Effects of moon on human behavior.
A tribute to Tendulkar: What's going on in
my mind?
Image credit:allzinfo.com
"I don't know how
they can figure out what's going on in my mind when
sometimes I myself can't figure that out."
- Sachin Tendulkar quips about Journalists and their
predictions about him
Disclaimer: The above content is provided
for information and awareness purpose only. It is not prescriptive
or suggestive or meant to replaces your qualified physician's
advice or consultation.