Grahaṇa Snāna Vidhi
Grahaṇa Snāna Vidhi, “the rite of bathing at an eclipse”
The Grahaṇa Snāna Vidhi is the rite of purifying bath at a solar eclipse (sūrya-grahaṇa) or a lunar eclipse (candra-grahaṇa). The Matsya Purāṇa (Chapter 67) gives it. Four kalaśas (pots) stand for the four oceans. They are filled with holy earth and cleansing substances. Ten devatās are called into them, from Indra to Śiva, to remove graha-pīḍā (the harm of the eclipse). The yajamāna bathes with mantras of the Ṛgveda, Yajurveda and Sāmaveda, and at the end gives cloth and a cow.
The Agni Purāṇa (Chapter 121) adds the greatness of the solar eclipse itself: when Rāhu seizes the Sun, every gift is a gift of gold, every brāhmaṇa is equal to Brahmā, and all waters are equal to the water of the Gaṅgā.
Before the eclipse
When a lunar or solar eclipse has been announced, the yajamāna first has four brāhmaṇas perform svastivācana (the rite of blessing). The four brāhmaṇas are honoured with white garments and white perfumes. All the darbha grass, oshadhis (herbs) and other things needed are gathered before the eclipse comes. (Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 67)
Four whole kalaśas, with no cracks, are set up in four separate places. Each stands for one of the four oceans. They are filled with mṛttikā (holy earth) gathered from:
- places where elephants, horses, chariots and cattle stand
- anthills (valmīkas)
- the meeting of two rivers
- the meeting of rivers with the ocean
- wide open spaces
- rājadvāra (the gateways of royal courts)
These are put into the kalaśas:
- pañcagavya
- fine pearls
- gorocana
- lotuses
- śaṅkha (conch)
- pañcaratna (five gems)
- sphaṭika (crystal)
- white candana
- tīrtha waters
- white sesame
- elephant ivory
- blue lotuses
- vaṭa roots
- guggula
(Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 67)
The ten invocations
With these invocations the ten devatās are called into the four kalaśas to remove graha-pīḍā:
- All rivers, oceans and tīrthas: come to remove the yajamāna’s dosha (fault).
- Indra, bearer of the vajra, lord of the Ādityas, with a thousand eyes: remove graha-pīḍā.
- Agni, the mouth of all the devatās, of boundless radiance: remove the pīḍā of the lunar eclipse.
- Yama, witness of the karmas of all beings, on his buffalo (mahisha): remove graha-pīḍā.
- Nirṛti, lord of the hosts of rākshasas, sword in hand, terrible, like the fire at the end of the world (pralayāgni): remove graha-bādha (the trouble of the eclipse).
- Varuṇa, who holds a sword and a noose (pāśa), rides the makara, lord of waters: remove the graha-pīḍā of the lunar eclipse.
- Vāyu, in the form of prāṇa, guardian of the worlds, fond of the black antelope (krishṇa-mṛga): remove graha-pīḍā.
- Kubera, lord of the nidhis (treasures), who holds a sword, a spear (śūla) and a mace (gadā): remove graha-pīḍā.
- Śaṅkara, who wears the moon, holds the Pināka bow, rides the bull (vṛshabha): remove the graha-pāpa of the lunar eclipse.
- All moving and unmoving beings in the three worlds, Brahmā, Vishṇu, Sūrya and all the devatās: remove the pāpa of the eclipse.
(Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 67)
The bath
When the kalaśas have been fully consecrated with these mantras, the yajamāna bathes with the water of all four kalaśas, together with mantras of the Ṛgveda, Yajurveda and Sāmaveda. After the bath he honours the brāhmaṇas and his ishṭa-devatā (chosen deva) with white flowers and white saugandhikas (fragrant flowers). He gives cloth (vastra-dāna) and a cow (go-dāna). (Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 67)
The grahaṇa mantras are also written on cloth and put in a karakaṃ (clay pot) with gold and gems. The karakaṃ is set on the yajamāna’s head while he sits facing east on a cloth. It stays there for the whole time of the eclipse. (Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 67)
After the eclipse
When the eclipse ends, the yajamāna:
- has go-dāna done, an auspicious act that includes head-tonsure
- bathes again
- gives to the officiating brāhmaṇa the cloth he sat on during the eclipse
At a solar eclipse the names of Sūrya (Sūrya-nāmas) are recited as well as the usual mantras. At solar and lunar eclipses one who has the means may also give padmarāga gems and a fine kapilā cow. (Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 67)
The phala
One who does this Grahaṇa Snāna Vidhi rightly is freed from graha-pīḍā, and no harm comes to his kinsmen either. He gains śuddhi (purity), kshema (well-being) and ārogya (health). Those who read or hear this account are freed from all pāpa and live in Śivaloka. (Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 67)
Per Agni Purāṇa
In the Agni Purāṇa, Agnideva gives the essence of the jyotiḥśāstra (the science of the heavenly lights) to the Mahāmuni. Among its teachings on the times for gifts, he says that when the Sun is seized by Rāhu, in a solar eclipse, all gifts given are gifts of gold (suvarṇa-dāna), all brāhmaṇas are equal to Brahmā, and all waters are equal to the water of the Gaṅgā.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 121
Sources
- Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 67
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 121