Eclipse is a phenomenon that has been well studied and forecasted. An eclipse happens whenever there’s a change in the planetary positions of the earth. To make the people aware of celestial events we associated various practices with these. Not eating food during eclipse, avoid going out and involve in prayers, etc are some of the practices. A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth moves between the sun and the moon. Due to the change in position the shadow of the earth appears on the moon causing a dark effect. But can we eat food during solar eclipse? One should avoid food during the period. Have a look at the scientific reason for not taking food during eclipse.
Mentioned in scriptures
The scriptures say that the eclipse period is unlucky and one should avoid eating food. As it leads to many diseases. In the holy Skanda Purana, it mentions that those who even serve food during this period, suffer from bad health afterwards.
Is it bad for your health?
The debate regarding eating food during an eclipse is bad or not is endless. But a large percentage of the population avoids food during the eclipse. As a preventive measure, add basil leaves to protect the food from bacteria.
Harmful effects of eating food during Eclipse
We believe that when the moon, comes between the sun and earth, it releases radiation which is not good for the human body. These radiations badly affect the food and give birth to bacteria, which when consumed may cause disorder and may lead to diseases. Experts say these radiations are so powerful that they may have after-effects in the next birth too.
Easting Food during eclipse causes indigestion
We believe that the rays of a solar eclipse can affect cooked food, which when consumed during the eclipse period may cause indigestion and an upset stomach. A few researchers have accepted the fact that eating during the eclipse period causes indigestion.
The tradition of keeping basil leaves in cooked food pots
Since you won’t be eating food during eclipse and if you have large amounts of cooked food and you do not want to waste it, add a few basil leaves to it before the eclipse begins. Basil has anti-bacterial properties that prevent the growth of bacteria.
There is a scientific and rational reason for every custom/ritual that our Rishis prescribed. It was from their intuitive experience/understanding of the cosmos, a scientific analysis of the laws governing it, the energy levels, the planetary influence that affects the human body (as the human body is ever under the influence of nature and its laws) …etc they prescribed not to consume food during those hours.
- Do you know that why do people especially scientists, astronomers, and others too not see the solar eclipse without the protection of eyes? Because it can damage our eyes. Same where some food can cause damage to the stomach.
- We also say because of changing UV radiations and gravitations issues.
In those days, in India, there were no toilets near the house. So, no provision for quick urination and defecation. To carry out that business, one has to walk some distance on a farm or near a forest. It’s advised to not see the eclipse with the naked eye and now that we know the scientific reason behind that phenomenon, it wasn’t known back then.
To avoid going out for these reasons, avoid food and beverages during an eclipse. Because the more you eat/drink, the chances of nature’s call increase. Essentially, stay inside, avoid looking at the eclipse with the naked eye and since people had to spend time doing something good and useful, men advised to chant, to sing hymns.
Why is it important?
Here we will look at another important reason for not eating food during eclipse is because of astrology although eclipses are an astronomical phenomenon, it impacts every aspect of life as explained by astrology. As we believe that an eclipse can majorly impact life in terms of geographical events and can also affect health due to the energy shift. According to astrology, an eclipse can govern the happenings of your life depending on your zodiac signs. There is a plethora of beliefs associated with both solar as well as lunar eclipse and one such belief is that eating during the eclipse is harmful to health.
Why eating food during eclipse is harmful?
Eclipse brings with it a wave of energy, which affects almost everything present on the surface of the earth. Interestingly, it doesn’t impact anything raw, but anything which is cooked or processed from its raw form. And this due to the change in the environment and emission of UV rays.
For ages, men believed that eating during an eclipse is harmful to health and this is simply because the eclipse leads to the emission of strong ultraviolet rays, which impacts cooked food prepared with water, which further attracts emissions, which turns the cooked food into poison. Men believe that putting a holy basil leaf on cooked food can save the food from contamination, but this has not been backed by science. Hence, this remains an age-old belief.
Scientific Reason for Not Taking Food During Eclipse
Another major reason why eating during this phenomenon is not appreciated is because, during the eclipse, many say that the radiation leads to the death of several microorganisms, and this why its suggested to not perform essential activities during eclipses such as eating or bathing.
It has always been advised that one should take care of hygiene at the same time. If you still want to preserve the food, keep a holy basil leaf as it is known to repel the radiation and save the food from turning into poison.
- Common beliefs during the solar eclipse propagate shielding pregnant women and avoiding food and avoid travel.
- While these superstitions may be popular, they are not backed by scientific reasoning.
Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse are astronomical events that leave most people in awe and wonder. But, centuries ago when people could not explain the origin of such an event, it was a bad omen.
Don’t eat anything!
Art of Living recommends not cooking or eating food during the eclipse. They claim that since the Sun’s blue and ultraviolet radiation is a natural disinfectant, “the rays do not perform their usual role of cleansing our food” during an eclipse. A few people throw away pickled food as they believe that eclipse can “spoil” it.
The Astronomical Society of India (ASI) doesn’t agree. “It’s just a play of shadows, the sun, moon, and earth don’t change their basic nature. There is no change in the rays of suns; it is the same thing if a person stood in the shadow of a building,” Aniket Sole during an outreach program. Food does not go bad and if you’re having indigestion, you shouldn’t be blaming the Sun for your burps and farts.
