On Eclipses

On Eclipses

Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet
Aeon Centre of Cosmology
23 July 2009
(Originally appeared in Bhavan’s Journal, Vol.56, No.2 – August 31, 2009 )

The recent eclipse has profound meaning as all eclipses do. But for India it is especially meaningful due to the timing of the event and its visibility over a very important section of the country. Precise indications can be left for another time. The important point is to understand the phenomenon itself, but in its Vedic sense.

The eclipse is exactly what is ‘seen, a darkening of the light. But what is missed is the opportunity the happening presents. We become submerged in the surface phenomenon, in this case in the spreading darkness. All sense of what stands behind the darkening is lost. That is – the Sun of Knowledge, of Truth. This is the Vedic understanding of an eclipse. In fact, the entire Rig Veda deals with nothing else but this special phenomenon. It is the entire purpose of the Warrior’s quest: to slay Vritra, coverer of the Sun of Truth-Consciousness.

The phenomenon, so exquisite for its stunning beauty and majesty, indicates a profound moment for the countries where it is visible; or for the individual in whose horoscope a particularly sensitive and important position is highlighted by the eclipse. It is a profound moment because at last the time has come to deal with the adversity indicated. Yes, there is adversity to be expected, but the indication is that precisely because of the Darkening of the Light in this special way, the time has come to remove that obstruction from one’s life for good. The same holds for a nation.

However, removal is not a simple matter. First, one has to maintain before one’s consciousness the Sun of Truth and Knowledge that has been temporarily – and only temporarily – obscured. Without concentration on that factor, that underlying Sun of Truth and Knowledge, one gets simply lost in the surface phenomenon – in this case represented by the Moon which acts as the coverer – and therefore the moment is missed.

            The importance of the eclipse is that finally the underlying obstructive forces are brought into orbit, as it were. They are given a decisive form, an orb, and this consolidation that the eclipse presents is the indication that the time is ripe for confronting those forces and eliminating them. If this consolidation does not happen, they remain an elusive influence in one’s life or the nation’s life. And they can therefore continue with their acts of undermining and negation, –unrestricted, unhampered.

            To be borne in mind is that the Sun of Truth and Knowledge is always there, always behind and in a sense upholding the phenomenon. The changing Moon passes in front of IT, but IT is permanent, even as the Sun is permanent in our lives, the life of Earth. We are discussing the ‘Music of the Spheres’ whenever we dwell on any aspect of the cosmic harmonies. To illustrate, this very same underlying factor is present in music itself, and for the same purpose: the shruti, the drone is that ever present, underlying Truth out of which the raga emerges.

One cannot miss the moment because decades may pass before it is repeated, and never in exactly the same way. In the Rig Veda the Warrior can only slay the Coverer Vritra with Knowledge and Truth. These are his or her only weapons, because this is what the Sun is in the Veda. There are aids in this labour, Brihaspati and his Thunderbolt, Brihaspati of the Word, and all the cosmic forces so clearly defined in the Veda. But best of all is Time, for it is Time that carries out this splendid happening, right before our eyes. Time’s cycles have values and measures – and hence purpose.

            This is the true Vedic understanding of eclipses, the profound theme of the Rig Veda, the world’s oldest documentation of precisely this sacred event. But we have lost this knowledge, this understanding of true values and measures. It is time indeed to uncover the Sun of Knowledge and Truth once again.

            Science probes into phenomena, the how of things. That is its brief which it cannot exceed. The ancients knew the phenomenon of eclipses thoroughly and kept accurate records of their timings. Science calls their interest merely superstition and thus throws the baby out with the bath water. A far better approach would be to try and understand just why so much importance was given to eclipses in all ancient civilisations. But to reach that understanding a profound shift in consciousness must take place. The world in the eyes of the Rishis was simply a display of unity, of oneness. But as the Ancient Ones wisely questioned, Who can understand it? (RV, AV)

            Today we have lost the capacity to see the human species as part of an interconnected whole. And if we are spectators of this marvellous Darkening of the Light and can dwell in awe at the wonder of it all – then we should reflect on our good fortune to have taken birth on this planet and no other, and that from here alone we can ponder over the fact that the Moon must be just the size it is and placed just where it is so that it can neatly cover the Sun’s disk, while at the same time offer us the opportunity to reach deeper mysteries of this intricate Oneness that unites Spirit and Matter in a single embrace.

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