Partial Solar Eclipse - 11 September 2007

Warning: Another Eclipse on the Horizon

Rasanandadas Prabhu of Hyderabad, A.P. discusses some of the horrible and strange results that has followed in the wake of Rahu's latest mischief. Regarding the lunar eclipse of 27 Aug., Shriman Rasanandadas writes:

I'm sure it will interest you to note that two days ago in Hyderabad (where I reside) there were two simultaneous bomb blasts in the city that killed 40+ persons and injured dozens more. See Deccan Chronicle, "36 Killed in Twin Blasts": Half an hour or so before the explosions, one family left the site where one was to occur, a laser show place, and went to a restaurant - the very site of the other blast. The entire family was killed. (See the next day's edition of the above newspaper.)

Regarding diminishing world sankirtan, Rasananda asks: "Why only every ISKCON temple (should be performing regular sankirtan)? I would say every group that claims to be devotees of Krishna..."

Pavan's Press replies: Of course in a perfect world you are correct. Yet it is foremost the responsibility and sacred duty of the temples, more than individual devotees, to reinstate sankirtan, because that is why Shrila Prabhupada founded these centers. Sure, it can be said that "one man brought the Hare Krishna movement to the West". True, but that "one man" was Shrila Prabhupada. He came as an empowered "super-devotee". We can never hope to achieve a fraction of his glory. The purpose of Shrila Prabhupada's ISKCON temples is not only to house sankirtan devotees, but to also have a venue to bring back candidates for further engagement in Krishna consciousness. Our centers are supposed to be places where devotees can bring future sankirtan devotees to "shave 'em up and ship 'em out". Sure it's a nice thought. However, it is impractical to expect individual devotees to reinstate sankirtan alone and without any support. This should not be the excuse of the temple managers: "Well, the individual householders aren't doing sankirtan, so why should we?" Shrila Prabhupada did not create his ISKCON temples to become centers of eating, sleeping, and gossiping where Krishna-katha from the books of Shrila Prabhupada is seldom heard. Yet this is the common complaint that we hear echoing from visitors from one center to another.

Regarding your first point, viz. eclipses, another event (this time a partial eclipse of the Sun) will occur on the 10th of Sept. 2007. The Sun will be traversing his own sign of Simha-rashi at 23 degrees Leo at the time of the solar darkening. It will leave Leo for Virgo on the 16th of Sept. The Sun's transit through Virgo will not be a good one, because Virgo is the sign wherein Surya is neechabhilasi, or "in the sign prior to debility." Furthermore, world tensions and hostilities tend to increase when the Shraddha of Mahalaya ("great destruction") begins after an eclipsed Sun. As the leaders' fingernails lose grip on their control over their governments, and intimate associates distance themselves or are sent away in shame, a response of increased violence through official sanction is the usual path chosen by asuras. Now, Rasananda Prabhuji, please see the following article for more details.

Rahu and Republicans

The interlude between two eclipses is called the "Abyss of Two Eclipses". To be sure, we are now running in a dark and overshadowed period during which there is much tension in the air, and the world is under a constant threat from demonic elements. These elements often take the form of little Rahus in the guise of public leaders. As Shakespeare noted "Eclipses foretell the fall of kings." It looks like this particular eclipse is being especially unkind to the Republican administration of the now-unsalvageable President Bush. This is a political party in which every member is a liability to the others. First, the Atty. General Gonazles, who has been groomed by Bush for decades, resigned under the shadow scandal. Next a Republican senator from Idaho has been exposed to paying a fine for solicitation of an undercover policeman in an airport toilet in June. Like Rahu moving on the Moon, a cadre of Repub "heavies" flew out to Idaho and put the lights out on Craig. Even Republicans know that when the faeces of a stray dog sticks to a shoe it must be 100% forcefully extricated. Senator Craig tendered his resignation soon after the press became aware of his faux pas. It is interesting to note that Craig's scandal occurred in June, yet the incident did not come to light until the present shadow between two eclipses crossed the earth two months later. The lunar eclipse occurred in the socio-democratic Saturnine sign of Aquarius, a rashi which stands for all the "people's revolutionary" principles that are far removed from any sort philosophy (which means philos-"love" and sophia-"wisdom") that can be tied to the name of Bush. So the bottom line is that an eclipse cycle that involves the Aquarius (masses) and Leo (kings) is going to ruin any prayer the Republicans have of coming out of their closets, political or otherwise. The eclipse also has produced mixed results for Idaho. It has cast a shadow over the region, and yet it did get rid of a predatorial politician. So this is an eclipse cycle of mixed results, some good some bad. It is noteworthy that Senator Craig's scripted statements to the press simply denied his being a homosexual. He said nothing to the fact that sex with a member of one's own gender in a public toilet is disgusting and repulsive. According to the police statements, Craig's advances were obvious, and the judge agreed. And so did Craig, because he pleaded guilty. What kind of being has sex with its own gender in a toilet area? A worm? A rat? Are these the kind of people who are using the American process of vox populi to take leading positions and mislead society? Now, more than ever, we need Vaishnava public officials who will lead the world to a Golden Age through chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Please be warned that the indignity suffered by the Sun god Vivaswan in his "own house" ("swa-rashi") is a poison for the life-giving solar rays of the Universe. Hence, for the time being, prolonged periods of exposure to the Sun, especially in the afternoon, are discouraged. Wait until the last week of Sept. to visit beaches, etc. And to be sure, a number of disasters are certain to rock the headlines from now until some weeks following the solar event. Expect some news involving a huge explosion, either industrial or planned or both, reflecting the Sun's anger at the predicament. Will more heads roll? If that's what it takes to clean up politics and throw the rascals out, then these results are welcomed. Written: 1 Sept. 2007-Ed.

Final Words from Dasdasanudas Devi Dasi of Malaysia

Dear Patita Pavana Prabhu,

All obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Looking forward to the next Pavan's Press. Busy with preparations for Janmastami right now, but will keep an eye out for it, and put up what I can in between the cooking, cleaning, and setting up for the festival.

Yesterday Sita (our maid from Kalimantan, Borneo) remembered that when she was small everyone in her village became very excited one night when the full moon appeared to be brighter and fuller than usual. The village elders all gathered together to observe. Everyone stayed up very late, but she finally went to sleep, only to wake up in the middle of the night to a great din. The villagers were all beating on drums and gongs, even pots and pans. She ran to her mother and asked her what was going on, and her mother explained that a demon was trying to engulf the moon, and that if they did not chase away the demon, the world would turn upside down.

And hasn't it? Upside down and inside out! Hope you're well.

Your servant, Das devi dasi

Pavan's Press replies: To set the world aright we can either stand on our heads or we can chant: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.