Total Solar Eclipse of July 2, 2019: Can Pregnant Women Step Out During Surya Grahan or Sutak Kaal? List of Dos and Don'ts
Ancient wisdom warns pregnant women against stepping out during a solar eclipse since is believed to cause birth defects. Expectant mothers shouldn't eat certain foods or look directly at the sun during a surya grahan. But science doesn't support the beliefs.
A total Solar Eclipse will be witnessed today on July 2, 2019, which will last for approximately four minutes. The partial eclipse is supposed to take place at 10:25 pm. Following which, the full eclipse will commence at 11:31 pm and go on till 12:53 am the next day July 3, 2019. Known in India as the Surya Grahan, the solar eclipse will take place when the sun will be occluded by the shadow of the moon. According to ancient wisdom, it’s prohibited to perform certain activities during the eclipse. There are stringent rules and dos and don’ts to be followed during the eclipse. Some of these rules also extend to pregnant women. Let’s understand the effects of the solar eclipse or sutak kaal on pregnancy. Total Solar Eclipse 2019: Foods You Should Avoid During Solar Eclipse or Surya Grahan (Watch Video).
Solar Eclipse and Pregnancy – What Does Ancient Wisdom Say?
Solar eclipse in the ancient ages wasn’t properly understood. But it was explained in astrological terms. Surya grahan was the result of the sun being overshadowed by grahas Rahu or Ketu. Since these grahas are extremely powerful, eclipses caused by the planets can have grave consequences on life on earth. The surya grahan is said to impact the human body and mind.
Pregnant women and their unborn children are believed to be particularly at risk. The sun disappearing even for a few minutes can cause birth defects like cleft lip and other congenital deformities. So pregnant women should follow some rules during the surya grahan or solar eclipse:
Do Not Step Outside: Stepping outside the house during solar eclipse can harm the unborn child and cause cleft lip, unwanted birthmarks and congenital abnormalities according to ancient accounts. So pregnant women should stay indoors. Solar Eclipse 2019: When And How to Watch Live Streaming of Surya Grahan in India.
Do Not Look at Eclipse: Looking at the solar eclipse with naked eyes can expose the woman to harmful rays. But that piece of ancient wisdom is relevant even today and is applicable to all, not only pregnant women.
Block the Sun Rays: Pregnant women should shelter themselves from the sun during solar eclipse.
Don’t Eat Certain Foods: Foods that are fermented, spicy or oily should be avoided by pregnant women since it can overload the digestive system during the eclipse. Also, no non-veg food.
Meditation and mantras: Pregnant women should meditate during the solar eclipse while following some basic pranayama exercises. They should also chant mantras such as the Santana Gopala or Mahamrityunjaya mantra.
Keep the Body Clean: Pregnant women should take two head baths – one before and one after the solar eclipse to counter the negative effects of the grahan.
What Does Science Say About Solar Eclipse and Pregnant Women?
While people do value ancient wisdom, it’s important to note that there’s no scientific evidence to prove the ill effects of the solar eclipse on pregnancy or the foetus. That being said, there’s no harm in following some of the rules as long as it doesn’t inconvenience the pregnant woman.
However, pregnant women are required to keep their eyes shielded from the rays of the sun during the eclipse. Staring at the solar eclipse with naked eyes can cause damage to the retina.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 02, 2019 01:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).