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Showing posts from December 26, 2009


Lunar Eclipse Mythology in Hindu Religion – The story of Chandra Grahan in Hinduism

Chandra Grahan or Lunar eclipse in Hinduism is also known as Kethugrasta Chandragrahana. Kethu is one among the nine grahas or planets in astrology. There is an interesting story in Hindu religion that talks about how Chandra Grahan takes place. This mythology is related to the Samudra Mathana or the Churning of the ocean. At the end of the Samudra Mathana, when the Amrita, or elixir of life, was retrieved devas (demi gods) and Asuras (demons) fought for it. Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Mohini, a beautiful damsel, and promised to equally share the Amrut with Devas and Asuras. The Devas and Asuras sat in two different rows. Mohini started serving the Amruta to Devas first. An Asura who thought that there was something fishy in the whole episode took the appearance of a Deva and sat near Chandra (moon) and Sun (Surya). At the point when Mohini served the Asura the Amrut, Chandra and Surya found out that the one sitting near them was not a Deva and shouted that he