The Eclipse on 21.6.2020

The lunar eclipse on 6.6.2020 and solar eclipse on 14.12.2020 will not be seen in Singapore. There will be a partial solar eclipse in Singapore on 21.6.2020 (Sunday) for one hour and fifty minutes. Partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon partially covers the Sun’s bright light. Normally, it is virtually unnoticeable because of the Sun’s brightness. On 21.6.2020, the eclipse will start at 3.04 pm, and will end at 4.55 pm. Its maximum eclipse time will be at 4.04 pm.

In the Hindu scriptures, certain times of the day, and certain days of the month, and some months of the year are designated as suitable and unsuitable for some actions and activities. Occurrences of some events in one's life during these times, too, in this regard, have immense impact on us and on the people around us. For instance, when a birth or death occurs in a family, or when there are solar and lunar eclipses, an inauspicious period surrounds the event: it is called Sutak Kaal (=inauspicious time). Any action or activity performed during this time will have negative effects on it, and will yield only adverse results. The scriptures have said that this happens because of the contamination that occurs to the earth's atmosphere during eclipse. During Sutak period, therefore, certain actions are forbidden.

Of course, people who are enamoured of the western science, which borrows its ideology from “empiricism”, the philosophy of science that emphasises evidence, especially as discovered in experiments, would be quick to pooh-pooh such a postulate as claptrap, consigning such beliefs to the bins of western science.

As we all know, empiricism requires all hypotheses and theories to be tested against observations of the natural world, as against resting solely on a priori reasoning, intuition, or revelation. And, in the same way, we also know that not everything in the world has, however, been subject to tests in this way to prove either its existence or non-existence.

Because the scriptures’ assertion of the earth’s contamination during eclipse has yet to be rigorously tested by modern science, that does not invalidate the scriptures’ incontrovertible proofs.

During solar eclipse, Sutak is observed for 12 hours before the eclipse. The following actions are forbidden during these 12 hours:

1. Embarking on a new venture, activity or task.
2. Cooking.
3. Eating.
4. The use of sharp objects like knives or scissors.
5. Answering nature's call.
6. Handling deities at home or in the temple in any way.
7. Engaging in any sexual activity.
8. Doing one's toilet like brushing the teeth, combing hair, etc.

On 21.6.2020, in Singapore, Sutak starts at 1.06 am, and ends at 4.55 pm the same day. For children , aged and people who are not well, Sutak begins at 10.04 am and ends when eclipse ends. People who cannot observe Sutak for 12 hours should, at the minimum, observe it for the period recommended for the young and the old.

Swami Sivananda give more details about eclipse in the following article:

WHEN THE gods and the demons churned the milky ocean in days of yore, nectar came out of it.  Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini, a charming lady, deluded the demons and distributed the  nectar only among the gods. But Rahu had disguised himself as a god. The sun and the moon pointed this out to Mohini who immediately slashed off the demon’s head. Since the nectar had by then  already reached up to the neck, he did not die. Thus the head came to be known as Rahu and the body as Ketu. To avenge this betrayal, Rahu and Ketu periodically eclipse the sun and the moon.

Astronomically speaking, when the sun, the moon and the earth are all in line, with the moon or the earth at the centre, a solar or lunar eclipse takes place respectively. At the time of the eclipse, people bathe in the sacred rivers. They do charitable acts. They give cows, money and gold. The day after the eclipse they feed the poor, the Brahmins and the Sadhus. After the eclipse they clean their houses, vessels, etc., and take a bath before they start cooking.

One should not take food during the eclipse. When the eclipse begins the food should by then have been digested. One should take food only after seeing the sun or the moon free from the eclipse. When the clear sun or the moon is not seen before sunset or sunrise, in the case of the solar and lunar eclipse respectively, food can be taken only after the sun or the moon is seen the next day.

Pregnant women should not see the sun or the moon during the time of the eclipse. If they do the child born may have some kind of defect. He may be born deaf, dumb or blind. Householders are forbidden from sexual intercourse on the day of the eclipse, for the same reason. At this time one should take great care in avoiding bleeding, scorpion stings, etc. These have disastrous results. Even an earthworm has a poisonous effect when it bites one during an eclipse. Those who do Japa at the time of the eclipse derive great benefits. The effect of Japa and Sankirtan during the eclipse
contributes towards relieving the suffering of humanity and also of the planets. These people receive the blessings of the gods. They attain perfection quickly. Those who wish to tap the subtle force locked in the Mantra that will cure scorpion stings should stand in water and repeat the appropriate Mantra.

The little intellect cannot understand many things in this universe. Hence, have faith in the words of sages.

Ignorance has eclipsed Self-knowledge. However, this eclipse will disappear. You will shine in your own glory. This is the spiritual significance of the eclipse.

Source: pgs 160-162, Hindu Fasts and Festivals by Swami Sivananda