Solar Eclipse & Fear, Superstition, Violence

Astrological Worries Supercede Rational Wonder

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NASA Solar Eclipse - NASA
NASA Solar Eclipse - NASA
In spite of the Internet, satellite TV, world-wide education and advances in science, millions of people globally still fear the natural phenomenon of a solar eclipse.

Scientific measurement and observation have educated the public about the dangers of ultraviolet light and soft x-rays from the sun’s corona during a total eclipse for decades; however, millions from around the planet still believe in solar myth. These convictions lead to fear, superstition and violence. Passed from one generation to the next, certain beliefs permeate many parts of the world in a continuing chain.

Fear and Superstition

In Ward Keeler’s 1988 report to the Indonesian government, Sharp Rays: Javanese Responses to a Solar Eclipse (Journal Storage) he says, “People stayed inside their houses…thoroughly intimidated….Sleeping late… is not a Javanese form of luxury. It is instead a rather common response to fear….People felt no compunction about saying that they had lain in bed because they felt afraid.”

Dennis Mathew wrote in the October 4th, 2005 issue of The Hindu that on the last eclipse from Hyderabad, India, “Housewives were busy before the eclipse placing darbas and tulsi leaves on food items….Pregnant women too were tense, sitting tight for fear of hurting their babies. Some grandmas prevented them from scratching for the fear that the newborn would have scars!”

Dr. T. V. Venkateswaran of the Dept of Science and Technology at the National Centre For Medium Range Weather Forecasting (India) said in his article The Inauspicious Eclipse, “Superstition about Eclipses is a worldwide phenomenon. Many cultures believed that a demon or dragon swallowed the sun.... superstitions cut across cultures and countries.”

Two of those cultures are China and Ancient Greece. Feng Shui master Peter So told Polly Hui in Hong Kong during an Agence France-Presse (AFP) article interview on July 29th, 2008, "In ancient times, Chinese people believed that a celestial dragon or dog was devouring the sun during an eclipse.” In the Odyssey, Homer states that, “the Sun vanished out of heaven and an evil gloom covered all things about the hour of the midday meal.”

Violence

In March 2006 Alli Hakeem of Monsters & Critics Africa News reported, “Against the backdrop of dangerous superstitious beliefs, the Nigerian government has embarked on massive public enlightenment…to educate Nigerians about the upcoming solar eclipse…A partial eclipse in 1989 led to massive violence…where buildings were set ablaze by fanatics to 'atone for the sins of infidels’… [and] 28 persons were killed in the mayhem….”

Mak Ling-ling, one of the most renowned Feng Shui and astrology experts told Polly Hui in the AFP article, the Chinese Olympic Solar Eclipse, “might bring small-scale political turbulence. Protests and chaos on the street are very likely…” she said.

In India, the July 30th, 2008 headline of The Hindu magazine shouted, “8,000 Security Personnel for Solar Eclipse Fair…to ensure the event passes off smoothly” without violence.

Regardless of these beliefs, science says a solar eclipse is an awe inspiring event. "It's so rare and unusual; it's unfortunate to pass up any chance [to view,]" says NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak to Fox News on July 28th. Nevertheless the power of myth exists in many societies with millions of people responding by fear, superstition or violence.

Captain Frank , Frank Hardy

Frank W. Hardy - Frank has 36 years of airline experience navigating every ocean & continent. Flying 25,000 hours in 42 years presents a rare historical ...

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Jul 17, 2009 4:15 AM
Guest :
it was very useful for me. thanq yahoooo.
YAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jul 21, 2009 11:57 PM
Guest :
Indian astrologers and indians of india and elswhere always associate violence and turmoil with Solar eclipse because the first time
ever an eclipse was recorded was in the Mahabharata War . Lord Krishna to stop the bloodshed and violence for the first day holds
up a disc covers the sun .By so doing it semmed like nightfall so all the warriors and soldiers went back home . part of the rule was to
stop the fight at nightfall . Mahabharata war was fought for many many months and all were relatives of Lord Krishna
This war caused the the greatest doom all over india and eleswhere

Surya Grahan or Solar eclipse, is widely mentioned in the Hindu puranas . One such Purana "samudra manthan " churning of the ocean
is a an interesting myth which includes the occurrence of a solar eclipse Surya Grahan.
Rahu (Demon) and Mohini, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, are the main characters in this purana
The Amrit (honey ) that was obtained from churning the ocean was cunningly stolen by Ausras (Demons). Lord Vishnu took the form
of Mohini, a beautiful damsel, to win back the Amrit.Mohini got back the stolen honey by seducing the Asuras, they fell for her beauty
and handed over the Amrit to her. ' Mohini returned to the Devas[gods] and distributed the honey .
The gods [ Devas] sat in a line and mohini gave a portion to each one of them.
Rahu, the demon [ Asura], found out that they were tricked by Mohini . Rahu quickly took the form a Deva[god] and sat in the line
between Chandra (Moon ) and Surya (Sun ).
When Mohini approached Rahu, Chandra and Surya realized that Rahu was a imposter not a god and recognised Rahu as ASURA
. Mohini severed the head of Rahu in anger and his head flew into the sky.
Rahu’s, head is. in the form of a Snakes head occasionally,seen in the moon as he continues to live and avenge Surya [SUN []
and Chandra[Moon] forever .
Thus periodically Rahu engages in a war with Surya and Chandra. The Chandra Grahan (Lunar eclipse) and
Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse) takes place when Rahu gobbles up Moon and Sun respectively. Surya and Chandra then fights to
free themselves
So the Hindus have had these stories in their libraries for centuries and the myths passed down for generations

.Today we know about atoms and solar flares we know about the poisnous gases that the surrounds the sun .
Assume all these atoms and gases are trapped in a zone i.e between sun and moon and suddenly after 30 mins the trapped gases
atoms and solar flares chain react .The by product of such a activity has to be harmful to the space, the enviroment; as RADITION
and the removal of oxygen from the atmosphere. This chain reaction could cause the imbalances in nature ,i.e high Tides ,tidal waves
, typhoons, cyclones,,a dent in the gravational forces, etc, etc, so if this was evil centuries ago to day they can be proven thru
chemistry or Physics equations even Einsteins equations .


Hindus do not eat food that is exposed because of the Radiation ,food ,water and anything in the open during a eclipse will be contaminated
. The oxygen in the atmosphere is carbonised throughout the eclipse
.Pregrant women and babies cannot cope with radition the way others do .Some strange scienceby itself but this causes deform
and babies have cells get affected . Again radation is not a unknown subject ,neither the ions ofthe human body ,Does this sloar eclipse
radation affect the ions on our skin , or do we breathe it in and it creates a reaction in the blood
We have to look for answers and we have to take precautions ,it may come from soothsayers, astrologers, scientist , the lay man has
always been hungry for knowledge of the unknown
Jan 15, 2010 12:24 AM
Guest :
keep it up
Jan 15, 2010 12:26 AM
Guest :
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Jan 16, 2010 4:55 PM
Guest :
I see No One has mentioned the disasters in Port Au Prince, Haiti.....So we know its TRUE, don't we??? And the high tides during a full moon, those don't happen either huh? All the crazies come out, even the police know that.............
Feb 5, 2010 3:10 AM
Guest :
Its good one to overcome from these mis beliefs
Mar 2, 2010 3:46 PM
Guest :
okidoki then didnt know some of that stuff. thanks
Nov 12, 2010 11:48 PM
Guest :
well,i guess it's ok............
Nov 30, 2010 3:26 AM
Guest :
wala
Dec 4, 2010 9:06 PM
Guest :
wow this article is so much help for my studies.....
:)
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