‘Capital’ superstition gulps Sun in city

Vijay Deo Jha / Shilpi Ranchi Saturday, January 16, 2010

Pix by Malay Kumar

A little past 12.07 pm and the sky became theatre of pure black magic of celestial sun. Sun was no fire ball today. From fire ball to an apple's bite, then a mere half ring and finally into the crescent it had many shapes.

Thin gray cloud curtain dropped many a times, but it was visible in most of the part of Jharkhand with several celestial breaks. Longest ever sun eclipse of this millennium - three and half hours - and the next could be possible only on December 23, 3043 AD. And nobody wanted to miss this rare sight.

Superstition grabbed the minds of the locals for the whole day. "Ah. Devil is trying to devour Sun god. Ominous but beautiful. It will be repeated thousands years later only. Oh do not miss it," Sashikant Tiwari acclaims with mystique note standing on the top of Pahari Temple.
Best high sites of the town Tagore Hill, Pahari Temple and skyrocketing apartments were occupied by rationalist, theist, astrologer, scientist and devotee with their earthy, sophisticated equipments and arguments: seeking science and salvation.

Some were seen at river Swarnarekha standing in the muddy water of the river seeking salvation and watching reflection of solar eclipse on the quivering surface of the water body.
Sun eclipse got an unalloyed infamy - inauspicious evil - when you should not cast an eye on your near and dear, you should remain in home till Rahu and Ketu release the Sun from its custody.
Yet there were thousands men, women, children, old, chased out by a human desire to observe tryst with the devil--first hand--with lips mumbling some mantras. Manoj Mishra priest of Pahari Temple said what sun eclipse of Friday exactly meant. "Evil and propitious at the same time. Today is Mauni Amavasya also. Prayer and chant of mantras is the best antidote to counter ill impact of the eclipse. Even Gods are not immune from it." So was the reason Gods were confined in the safe custody, even Lord Shani, by their earthy guardians on Thursday evening for due precautions and parents too, kept their children inside the homes till the solar eclipse ended.

Pahari Temple of Lord Mahadeva, Jagannathpur Temple of Lord Krishna and all other temples remained close. And those who were there were poor, destitute and leapers to receive doles from the devotees to keep the ill at way. "In form of dole we also take misfortune of the people. We are sons and daughters of God. Solar eclipse does not affect us," a leaper named Binda near the temple of Lord Shani at Gadikhana exhibited another side of the story.

Far from city's hustle-bustle was BIT Mesra. A bay of scientists, professors, and students of Applied Mathematics Department had tilted their sophisticated telescope towards the sky. "Such celestial phenomenon is an opportunity to understand impact on temperature, level of radiation during and after eclipse and the impact on other members of the solar family," said the head of the department NC Mohanti. The entire project was funded by NASA. There are many Mohanti's who did not believe in superstition and infamy attached to solar eclipse. "No harm, you can watch it with due precaution," he said.

It was for the local and national news channel that devoted prime time telecast debate between rationalist and theist over spiritual prophecy and scientific prediction: often stonewalled.

Rationalists' awareness campaign quoting NASA's report had no impact on expected mothers and grandfathers/ mothers. Many of them kept expected mothers away from surgical knife for a Cesarean. "I am praying Lord Hanuman so that my daughter does not suffer from labour pain at least today. I have seen instances when disfigured child has taken birth on the day of solar eclipse," Sumitra Devi standing outside the temple at RIMS said fearfully.

The big show was over by 3.26 pm. Sun emerged insipid yet full-bodied, like the swill of good tea. Life resumed again, people came out of their home, same traffic chaos all around. All back to the business, shops, office, and mundane drudgery.

Temple's doors were cranked opened to offer Gods bath to purify. "Oh. Sun God is back again. Devil has gone," Phulo Devi, 80 years old frail widow heaved a sight of relief. Scientist of BIT and BAU were assessing data.


http://www.dailypioneer.com/229681/‘Capital’-superstition-gulps-Sun-in-city.html