Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Vol. 13(4), October 2014, pp. 716-724

Vedic mythology of solar eclipse and its scientific validation

S Santhosh Kumar1* & R Rengaiyan2
1
Department of Physics, Avvaiyar Government College for Women, Karaikal–609 602, UT of Puducherry, India;
2
Department of Physics, Aringar Anna Government Arts College, Karaikal – 609 605, UT of Puducherry, India
*E-mail: santhosh.physics@gmail.com

Received 21.10.13, revised 21.04.14

Rig Veda, the oldest one among the four Vedas, pronounces the phenomenon of the Solar eclipse in a mythical language.
During the eclipse, the eclipse induced gravity waves causes a reduction in Ozone layer concentration in the stratosphere
which allows more cosmic radiations of different wavelengths, to the surface of the earth. The research carried out about the
radiations received during the past eclipses and its influence on seawater reveal the scientific knowledge behind Rishi Atri’s
dispelling of darkness by the four Rigs, given in Pancavimsa Brahmana. Hence, for the first time, the eclipse event is
differentiated into a four stage process, as per our recent findings on the change in Oceanic pH. The influence of solar
eclipse on living organisms, especially, the erratic behaviour of animals, birds and marine organisms to eclipse is addressed.
This new scientific finding supports strongly the Vedic predictions of eclipse and the traditional practices of Indians
especially Hindus, which differ from region to region.

Keywords: Solar eclipse, Cosmic radiation, Seawater, Rig veda, Traditional practice

IPC Int. Cl.8: G01, G05, G21, G01T, G21H 7/00, F26F 3/28, C02F, B63J 1/00

Recent scientific explorations in Astronomy are different events, for example, humidity change before
wrapped up with the predictions of Rishis in the rain is felt by animals /birds. Similarly the death rate
Indian Vedic period. India is rich in its tradition and is low for animals /birds compared to humans during
culture and is known for its traditional values. India’s Tsunami or earthquake, which indicates the capacity
rich Vedic scripts pronounce the process of eclipse in to identify/feel the forthcoming event, i.e. they are
the language of metaphor. Among the four Vedas getting disturbed due to the atmospheric or earth’s
namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva, in the oldest magnetic field change. In the event of eclipse also the
Vedic text, Rig Veda, Rishi Atri dispelled the darkness erratic behaviour of such organisms are reported
caused by eclipse, by chanting four mantras. Since the many. The marine organisms are also hide themselves
ancient Vedas are written in the language of metaphor from the exposure to Sun. All studies, past and
the process of eclipse is connected with Lords, present, concluded that these changes are similar to
demons, etc. In the scientific view, the eclipse is a night time chemistry. But in Rig Veda, Rishi Atri
celestial process happening often and which helps the pointed out that this is entirely different than the night
scientists to gather information regarding the time behaviour. Hence, we conceived the concept of
astronomic and climatic changes, and even the radiational cause to the behavioural changes of living
influence of cosmic radiation on earth’s surface. organisms during eclipse. This paper tries to answer
Investigating the solar radiation changes during the the questions arise regarding the cause of behavioural
process of eclipse will explore even the present changes of living organisms and explains how our
understanding of eco-balance since the world is scientific findings coincides with the predictions of
composed of matter and light. Vedic Astronomy.
The animals/birds can identify the natural
calamities/events even before its occurrence, it is Astronomy in Indian Veda
Ancient India's contributions in the field of
believed so. The reasons are said to be different for
astronomy are well known and well documented.
—————— The earliest references to astronomy are found in the
*Corresponding author Rig Veda, dated 2000 BC-5000 BC. The ancient
 SANTHOSH KUMAR & RENGAIYAN: TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF SOLAR ECLIPSE 717

Indian astronomy emerged in 500 AD and culminated by chanting four Rik mantras (Rigveda 5.40.5-6),
in original findings like, the calculation of which is in harmony with our findings of four stages
occurrences of eclipses, Earth’s circumference, of the eclipse process in context with its radiation
theorizing about gravity, determining the Sun as a effects.
star, determining the number of planets in the Solar
System, etc. The earliest concept of a heliocentric Eclipse in Vedic Period
model of the solar system, i.e. the Sun is at the centre Almost all scripted wars witnessed an eclipse,
and the Earth is orbiting it, is found in several Indian either solar or lunar eclipse. Few of them are, (i) The
Vedic Sanskrit texts. For example, according to final battle of a 5 yr war between Alyattes II
Aitareya Brahmana (c. 9th–8th century BC), of Lydia and Cyaxares of the Medes, ended abruptly
"The Sun never sets nor rises", which indicates that due to a total solar eclipse on May 28, 585 BC
the Sun is stationery (hence the Earth is moving according to Herodotus (1.74)1 (ii) In the
around it) and Yajnavalkya (c. 9th–8th century BC) Peloponnesian War between the Athenians and
also recognized that the Earth is round and believed Syracusans2, a lunar eclipse was witnessed on August
that the Sun is "the centre of the spheres and is much 28, 413 BC. (iii) In 2159 BC, the Chinese emperor
larger than the Earth". Chun King put to death the royal astronomer brothers
Many Indian astronomers like Aryabhata and Hsi and Ho when they failed to predict the eclipse of
Bhaskara had formulated ideas about gravity and October 22, 2134 BC3 (iv) The European Emperor
gravitation in the early middle ages. The cosmological Louis was so perplexed by the five minutes of totality
time cycles have been explained in the Surya he witnessed during the eclipse of May 5, 840, and he
Siddhanta. The Indian astronomer-mathematician died shortly thereafter. The fighting for his crown
Aryabhata (476–550), in his work Aryabhatiya, ended three years later which divided Europe into the
propounded a mathematical heliocentric model in three major areas, as we know today, France,
which the Earth was taken to be spinning on its axis Germany, and Italy4.
and the periods of the planets were given with respect The date of an eclipse referred to in the Bible is
to a stationary Sun. After that, Bhaskara (1114-1185) known for certain: "`And on that day,' says the Lord
explained more about it and mentioning in his treatise God, `I will make the Sun go down at noon, and
Siddhanta-Shiromani, about the law of gravity, and darken the Earth in broad daylight'." (Amos 8:9)
different planets orbit the sun with different "That day" was June 15, 763 B C and which was
velocities. The ancient Indian astronomers had also confirmed by an Assyrian historical record known as
recognized that stars are same as the Sun, that the Sun the Eponym Canon. On the day of Ibrahim's death, the
is center of the universe (solar system) and that the sun eclipsed and the people said that the eclipse was
circumference of the Earth is 5,000 Yojanas. (one due to the death of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet).
Yojana = 7.2 km), which is close to the actual figure But Allah's Apostle said, "The sun and the moon are
obtained by the modern scientific methods (40,075 two signs amongst the signs of Allah. They do not
km), which is only 10% difference. eclipse because of someone's death or life. So when
In the original version of the Valmiki Ramayana, a you see them, invoke Allah and pray till the eclipse is
vivid description of a total solar eclipse is given in the clear". Similarly India’s greatest Idhikasas, namely
first 15 slokas of the 23rd sarga of the Aranyakandam, Valmiki Ramayana and Mahabharatha also quoted
and mentioned as Rahu is the cause, but in the the description of eclipse and the tradition and
Atharvaveda, (13.2.16-18, 28) the description of Ketu practice in those days.
is found and is more suited for a comet, but Rahu is A solar eclipse occurred on June 15, 763 B C
nowhere mentioned in the Rig, Sama and Yajurveda. allowed Thiele to fix every other name in the
In those days, the Full Moon and the New Moon complete Assyrian lists of rulers from 891 to 648 B C
were referred to as Raka and Sinivali, respectively and he was able to double check his accuracy with the
(Sayana Bhasya, and Rigveda 2.33.8). The cause of canon of Ptolemy (70-161 A D)5. Ptolemy provided a
the eclipses (in Sanskrit - grahanam) is ascribed to a large number of solar, lunar and planetary positions
demon, called Svarbhanu, striking the Sun with with their dates, and over 80 of these have been
darkness. It invoked Rishi Atri (the human son of verified by modern astronomers6. Thus the calculation
Lord Brahma, as per Veda), who repelled its darkness of predated eclipse events helps to trace the old
718 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2014

historical events and the rulers’ period. Even though When the shadow starts receding from the sun the
many more eclipse events were witnessed in early reddish effect is again seen. Finally when the eclipse
scripts, almost all of them are from 600 B C onwards. is completely over the sun is restored to its original
The first Chinese report of eclipse is dated around bright luster, which Rishi Atri calls the colour of
2134BC. It is very important to note here that the white sheep. The fifth stanza of the hymn says that all
eclipse event is witnessed and scripted in India during the creatures were frightened and were in a terrible
Vedic period itself. condition during the total solar eclipse. Also he said
Rig Veda is a very old Sanskrit language text of that the darkness at the time of full solar eclipse is
religious and historical significance in India. The totally different from what the normal darkness is.
dating of Vedas has been a matter of major Only birds and animals get distracted by such kind of
controversy but many astronomical observations in darkness.
the Vedic texts, suggesting that some parts of Vedas Astronomy was quite advanced in Vedic era. The
are between 2000 BC to 5000BC. Rishi Atri was the event of solar eclipse was described as Svarbhanu, a
first to predict solar eclipses and calculate their demon, had trapped the Sun and the whole earth was
durations; the Rig Veda and the Pancavimsa dark. Rig Veda also says that Svarbhanu was not from
Brahmana witness this. the heaven but he was from the earth. It itself explains
Vedas are compilation of suktas or hymns from two concepts: (i) Svarbhanu (Moon) is associated
many different Rishi’s over a vast span of historical with earth, i.e. it is the natural satellite of the earth
time as evidenced by different astronomical and (ii) it does not have its own brightness and only
references there in. Vedavyasa, long time ago, reflects the light of sun (‘bhanu’ – Sun; ‘Swarbhanu’
bundled various thousands of Vedic hymns, generated – lighted by Sun). Thus Rishi Atri says the truth about
over long periods previous to his time, into different the Moon and the solar eclipse that Swarbhanu
groups called Rig, Yajur, and Sama etc much after (Moon) comes between the sun and the earth and
their creation. Rig Veda, as we now know, because of that the solar eclipse takes place.
1017 suktas consisting of nearly 10800 ‘Rik`s’ or
hymns. Many of Rig Veda chapters or Mandalas are Science of Solar eclipse
associated with one Rishi or his family, clearly The solar eclipse being a rare natural phenomenon
suggesting a period of many generations of gives an opportunity to investigate how the ionising
contributors to the texts. Fifth Rig Veda Mandala radiations react to the material surface of the earth due
called Atri Mandala is associated with Rishi Atri. to the fast solar radiation changes. A huge quantity of
In this chapter, the 40th sukta and 5th Rik, Rishi Atri shorter wavelength radiations are expected to reach
describes a total solar eclipse, as follows: the earth’s surface during solar eclipse since the
disturbance of the heat balance along the supersonic
travel of the trajectory of the Moon’s shadow could
generate eclipse-induced gravity waves8-10, which
results a reduction in the stratosphere ozone layer
concentration8,11-13. Several measurements of solar
radiation were carried out since 1960; recent works of
Zerefos et al.13,14 focussed on the study of eclipse-
induced changes in the spectral solar irradiance at the
earth’s surface, the effect of multiple scattering on sky
Rig Veda- HYMN XL. 5. brightness, and the wavelength dependence of the
limb darkening effect, etc. The radiations in shorter
As per the translation in English by Ralph T H wavelengths (350 nm) are generally influenced more
Grifith, in the first verse, as the shadow of the moon by the eclipse, and at large eclipse percentages
starts covering a large part of the sun the red tinge of (>85%), it slowly decreases as the eclipse approaches
the solar chromosphere becomes visible and Rishi Atri its maximum compared to that of the longer
describes this as the color of red sheep7. When the full wavelengths14. Hence, one can expect more shorter
solar eclipse takes effect and only the corona can be wavelength radiations during partial eclipse, which is
seen, he describes this as the color of silver sheep. less studied. The environmental effects of solar
 SANTHOSH KUMAR & RENGAIYAN: TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF SOLAR ECLIPSE 719

eclipse had been mainly focussed on meteorological total ozone on the day of eclipse, 29 March 2006, than
parameters, photochemistry15, boundary layer physics, the day before at Athens14. Such a reduction in surface
total columnar ozone, gravity waves, and ionospheric O3 may be due to decreased efficiency of the
parameters. Zerefos et al. pointed out a characteristic photochemical O3 formation15.
artificial decrease of total ozone during solar eclipse13, The seawater from Bay of Bengal, the eastern coast
which allows more radiations to pass through. of India, with pH 8.1 (which is the average oceanic
India had a total solar eclipse on 22 July 2009, which pH) is subjected in this study to find the influence of
was visible over the central India, while a partial solar radiation on the pH( power of Hydrogen) of
eclipse in southern part, and an annular eclipse on 15 seawater under the exposed condition since major part
January 2010, and the study conducted on seawater of the earth is covered by sea. pH is a measure of the
during these events is analysed giving emphasis to acidity or alkalinity of a substance and is one of the
solar radiation and Vedic concepts. The influence of stable measurements in seawater. Ocean water has an
solar eclipses on cloudiness, i.e. ‘eclipse clouds’, has excellent buffering system with the interaction of
been observed just before the beginning of the total carbon dioxide and water so that it is generally always
solar eclipse, as reported by Hanna16 and remains at a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. In this context, a three stage
dissipated up to the maximum eclipse period. experiment is conducted: (i) Sample at exposed
Kolev et al. observed a continuous decrease in wind condition during solar eclipse, (ii) normal days and
speed without any significant change in direction (iii) Sample at non-exposed condition.
during the solar eclipse of 11 August 199917. Founda Simultaneously, the changes in the meteorological
et al. also reported a similar effect of observations parameters are also recorded for better understanding
during the solar eclipse on 29 March 200618. As per of other influencing parameters. Since the said
our observations recorded at the study location location had a partial eclipse on July 22, 2009, we
Karaikal, (latitude 10o 55' N and longitude 79o 52' were able to detect the abrupt change of solar
E),U T of Puducherry, India, during the past annular radiation and its effect on sea water. The change in
eclipse, there was a shift in wind direction 20o pH value is recorded accurately with a calibrated
towards south (from 250o to 230o SW) but no change pH meter containing a glass electrode with
in the wind speed. This shift in wind direction may be temperature compensation controls, during the eclipse
mainly due to the change in pressure gradient force event and a few days prior to and after the eclipse, but
during eclipse. on 15 January 2010 (annular), it was recorded well
before the beginning of the eclipse, at 30 sec.
Experiment resolution. The DI-PH101 model (Deep) pH meter
Emphasis was given on the response of seawater to with resolution ±0.01pH of operating voltage
the abrupt changes of solar radiation during eclipse. 230VAC is used in this experiment. A two-point
This work also aims at delineating the different types calibration procedure is followed. The electrode is
of radiations reaching the earth’s surface and the rinsed with distilled water and placed it in the pH=7.0
possible effects on seawater. buffer solution. After showing a stabilized value it is
Earlier studies on the ozone concentration reveal adjusted to read pH of 7.0. The electrode is removed
that considerable reduction in ozone concentration and rinsed it again with distilled water and then
during partial eclipse and total eclipse11-13, which is placed in pH=4.0 buffer solution, and adjusted to read
the major phenomenon for the observation of more pH of 4.0. Then it is placed again in the pH of
radiations of shorter wavelength on the earth. Many 7.0 after rinsing, and noted weather the reading is
observational evidences on the formation and 7.0. Until it shows the pH of 7.0 this procedure is
propagation of eclipse-induced gravity waves at repeated and thus calibrated the equipment. The
different atmospheric heights were reported9,10. temperature control knob is set at 25oC.
Zerefos et al. pointed out that the eclipse-induced The percentage of solar disk covered by the moon’s
cooling of the ozone layer in the stratosphere is the umbral shadow was calculated using a high resolution
main source of gravity waves propagating both telescope with curved grid lines. The meteorological
upwards and downwards19. Measurements of total factors like air temperature and the light intensity are
column of ozone using Brever Spectrophotometers recorded continuously during the eclipse period. The
have revealed that there was a reduction of 30-40 DU wind speed and wind direction are recorded using
720 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2014

anemometer and wind wane respectively, of Cyclone

Detection Radar Station, Karaikal.

Discussion
It is obvious to mention here that the study of
celestial events is not only the modern scientific
interest but from the Vedic period (2000 BC), since
exploring the truth behind the natural events is a noble
quality of human being in all time.
Most of the traditional practices in India had
originated from Vedas. Due to the difficulty in
providing proof to the mantras/hymn in Veda, it is
pronounced as Myth. Hence, Vedic myth became
ancient Indian tradition.
Water appears to act as the Earth's sensory organ
Fig. 1—Comparison of solar radiation induced H+ ion activity in
for the cosmic cycles. Dr. Theodor Schwenk has seawater during (a) normal day and (b) partial solar eclipse event
investigated the subtle effects of the cosmos on water, on 22 July 2009. The reduction in pH value during eclipse is
and has clearly showed the variations in water around 20% of the difference between the ordinary water (pH 7.5)
response to changes in planetary constellation and and seawater (pH 8.5). The vertical dotted line is the time of
maximum eclipse occurrence, at which the ionisation of seawater
also found that moving water acts as a receiver, while started due to the shorter wavelength rays reaching the earth’s
still water preserves the received information20. In his surface.
experiments he vibrated water at regular intervals,
before, throughout and after a solar eclipse. The moon’s umbral shadow on the solar disc was 45% and
wheat grains that used water shaken during the eclipse when the eclipse percentage was maximum, the
had a stunted growth, whereas the growth was normal decrease in pH value is minimum. A second minimum
to the water shaken before and after the eclipse, and is recorded when the solar disc was released around
which was confirmed afterwards using other 40% during the end of the eclipse event. Hence, the
techniques. effect of solar eclipse on radiation exists even well
Lawrence Edwards had also carried out fascinating before the beginning of the eclipse and the drastic
work on how the shape of tree and flower buds decrease of pH value observed during partial
change their shape to the planetary alignment maximum prolonged even after the end of the eclipse.
change20. For example the planet Mars influences the It is stated in Vedas that the inauspicious period of
oak, Venus the birch, the cherry is influenced by the eclipse actually begins about four praharas before a
Sun, etc. Thus water is receptive to cosmic influence solar eclipse and three praharas before a lunar
and conveys its information to all living organisms, eclipse, (prahara being the unit of time equivalent to
because they are all largely composed of water. one-eighth of a day). This entire period of an eclipse
The experiments performed during the past two was represented as the parvakala. Indian Hindus take
eclipses at the said location, Karaikal in India offered bath both before and after this parvakala as a belief
an interesting result of significant decrease in pH of that which will erase the unholy shadow of Rahu and
seawater on the day of eclipse than normal days. On avoid its ill-effects. During the complete process of
the day of total solar eclipse, 22 July 2009, the eclipse a raise in pH value between the two minima
observed value of pH reveals a considerable reduction [Fig. 2, (iii)] is observed and hence the full process is
of 20% of the difference between the normal and divided into four stages namely, normal to first
seawater, which is plotted in Fig.1. This observed minimum (N1M), first minimum to central maximum
change in pH value raised the curiosity and interest of (1MCM), Central Maximum to second minimum
continuous assessment of this study and hence the (CM2M) and second minimum to normal (2MN).
experiment is repeated on the day of annular eclipse, Atri's dispelling of the darkness by the four Riks in
15 January 2010. Even an hour before the eclipse four steps (Sec.3): the first part of the darkness he
event the pH value seems decreased from normal day repelled became a reddish sheep (solar
value and reached its maximum reduction when the chromosphere), the second part he repelled became a
 SANTHOSH KUMAR & RENGAIYAN: TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF SOLAR ECLIPSE 721

silvery sheep (solar corona), the third part again

became a reddish one, and the fourth a white sheep
(regaining the original colour). Thus the coincidence
of our results [Fig. 2 (iii) & (iv)] as a four stage
process of eclipse is in excellent agreement with the
Vedic prediction, first time in this field.
The higher plasma frequency of the profilogram,
i.e. the Total Ozone Concentration (TOC) in the
ionosphere during eclipse21 [Fig.2 (i)] and the change
in stratosphere, particularly, the O3 concentration
during the eclipse event22 [Fig.2(ii)] are compared
with the effect of recorded pH value of seawater23
[Fig.2(iii)] and the Vedic predictions [Fig.2(iv)], and
are in good agreement among each other, i.e. the
change in ionosphere, stratosphere, seawater and
Vedic predictions respectively (The first part (i) of
Fig. 2 is taken from Ref. 21 and the second part (ii) if
from Ref. 22).
The O3 concentration is decreased or a depletion
region is formed at the partial maximum (≈ 45% of
eclipse) due to gravity induced waves, and at the
eclipse maximum the O3 layer becomes wider/thicker
than the normal level [Fig.2 (i)] in the shadow region8-
13
. Hence the penetration of short range cosmic rays
are reduced to a maximum level and the reduction in
pH value is minimum14,23, and, thus the prediction of
Rishi Atri that a silvery sheep, (close to the normal
emission of the Sun - corona) matches well with our
results. At the partial maximum, i.e. around 45% of
the eclipse both at the beginning and end of the event,
the reduction in pH is maximum due to the formation
of depletion region in the O3 layer, which was
pronounced in Rig Veda as a Reddish Sheep (inner
atmosphere of the burning globe - chromosphere)
which is far away from the normal emission. Such
Fig. 2—pH variation of seawater with respect to the stratospheric
formation of depletion region in the O3 layer allows
change and the Vedic prediction, (i) Ionospheric change during
more short range cosmic radiations to reach the solar eclipse (reproduced with permission from Ref. 33),
surface of the earth and hence causes a maximum (ii) Stratospheric change during solar eclipse (reproduced with
reduction in pH value of seawater. permission from Ref.34), (iii) Comparative plot of Variation of
pH in seawater during (a) normal day and (b) annular solar eclipse
After an hour of the eclipse, the seawater started under exposed condition on 15 January 2010 (dashed line shows
regaining its original state. This may be due to the fact the % of eclipse; (+) symbol for approaching eclipse maximum
that the influence of decrease of shorter wavelength and (-) symbol for towards the end of process) (hrs refers IST),
radiations as the eclipse approaches its maximum (iv) Pictorial representation of four stages of solar eclipse as per
Rig Veda.
compared to longer wavelengths. This is in
correlation with Tzanis et al. that the solar radiation incident on the earth’s surface per unit area) of 10,000
started to increase after the eclipse totality, while the Lux and a decrease in surface air temperature of 6oC
surface ozone concentration started to increase about are recorded during the annular maximum.
one hour later and returned to its ordinary behaviour Search for the scientific reason of decreasing pH
several minutes after the end of the eclipse12. A value perceived the influence of ionising radiations
decrease in light intensity (the total luminous flux reaching the surface of the earth during eclipse.
722 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 13, NO. 4, OCTOBER 2014

Zhaobing et al. observed that irradiation of drinking As per NASA TP 2001-209990 report on the total
water using gamma rays reduces its pH value24. solar eclipse of 2002 December 04, ships and boats
During the partial solar eclipse of Oct. 1995, we have offer an opportunity for considerable mobility during
detected huge gamma counts at the eclipse maximum the critical moment of the eclipse, which supports our
by gamma ray spectrometric experiments with findings of reduction in pH. The very recent report of
NaI(Tl) scintillator. By comparing our earlier Sharma et al., states that the change in meteorological
detection and measurements with the report of parameters and the photochemical ozone formation
Zhaobing et al., it is obvious that among the shorter during eclipse are more or less similar to the
waves, gamma rays influences more in the reduction behaviour of night time chemistry15. As a conclusion
of pH value in seawater24. These gamma rays are of our study, the darkness effect due to eclipse is not
reaching the earth’s atmosphere due to the gravity similar to the night time darkness, instead
wave induced reduction in ozone concentration, as predominant short range radiations are also reaching
explained before. The low energy gamma rays (≈ 1.24 the surface of the earth, particularly gamma rays.
MeV) reaching the surface of the earth are not passing Studies concerning behavioural changes of animals,
through matter, as such these will not penetrate deep such as fishes, birds, rodents, and chimbanzees
into the sea, instead are absorbed by the upper layer of responded rapidly during total solar eclipse26-29. The
the seawater and the particles get excited25. Due to the studies on fresh water fishes during the 1980 solar
close association of pH value with salinity, this eclipse in India reveals that all the studied species
reduction in pH value of seawater in the surface layer almost stopped gulping air, became sluggish, and
during solar eclipse causes a critical change in the sheltered to the bottom, and such changes during solar
behaviour of marine organisms that they move to eclipse are related with the activities appropriate for
deeper region during this period. After few hours of sunset26. It is known that, pH can affect the ionization
the eclipse event these organisms come to their of the amino acid side chain which in turn change the
normal behaviour since the seawater regains its secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of the
original state after few hours of the end of the eclipse. protein molecule. This will alter the active site and
Hence the effect of the solar eclipse started before few consequently its action. The change in pH of the
praharas of the eclipse event and lasts for few medium or environment leads to alteration in the
praharas after the end of the process, as stated in shape of the enzyme since each and every enzyme is
Vedas. characterized by an optimum pH, at which the
Sudden Ionospheric disturbances (SIDs)' can be specific enzyme functions most actively30,31. Such
generally caused by either GRBs or Solar eclipse structural changes in enzyme have an effect on ionic
events. When the Earth lies in the path of the tightly binding which is necessary to drive chemical reaction.
beamed burst of energy, the atmosphere is slammed In biological systems an unexpected change in pH can
with massive doses of radiations and a sudden have a major effect downstream. Hence, as per our
increase in ionisation occurs due to GRBs, while the findings, it may be viewed in the context of radiation
obscuration of Sun by moon causes an opposite effect and pH change during eclipse32. It was described by
and hence a decrease in critical frequency (Total Rishi Atri also in Rig Veda that the darkness at the
Electron Content) is expected. The Total Ozone time of full solar eclipse is totally different from the
Concentration (TOC) in the ionosphere during normal darkness. Hence this new finding may probe a
eclipse21 also showed a similar effect to that of new gateway to the study of behavioural changes of
pH change in seawater, that is, the higher plasma marine organisms during eclipse, in the context of
frequency of the profilogram [Fig. 2(i)] is in vertical change in pH. Hence the traditional practices of India,
line with the depletion regions of Ozone layer in the from Vedic period to today, that is taking bath before
Stratosphere [Fig.2(ii)] and which also corresponds to and after eclipse, fasting during eclipse, covering
the dip in pH curve [Fig.2 (iii)], which provide a link food, well and drinking water, etc. are scientifically
between ionosphere-stratosphere and biosphere. Such valid practices.
effects are now interrelated with the Vedic predictions
of Rishi Atri, who enchanted four mantras (Riks) Summary and conclusion
during eclipse [Fig. 2(iv)], may be to protect the India’s rich Vedic tradition has a powerful
people from the harmful radiations. influence in the field of astronomy and the eclipse
 SANTHOSH KUMAR & RENGAIYAN: TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF SOLAR ECLIPSE 723

events are well documented. Finding the truth of such 7 Griffith & Ralph T H, The Hymns of the Rigveda, 2nd edn,
predictions explored new findings in the context of Kotagiri, Nilgiri, 1986.
8 Eastman John A & Stedman Donald H, Variations in the
eclipse causing radiation effects. During solar eclipse, ambient ozone concentration during the 26 February 1979
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gravity waves due to the change in pressure gradient 9 Seykora E J, Bhatnagar A, Jain RM & Streete J L, Evidence
force. The ozone depression allows ionizing radiation of atmospheric gravity waves produced during the 11 June
1983 total solar eclipse, Nature, 313 (1985) 124-125.
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eclipse. These rays have a wide range of effects on Dabas RS, Loganandham B, et al., A multi-station satellite
humans and aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. radio beacon study of ionospheric variations during solar
However the role of ionizing radiation, such as eclipses, J Atmos Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 51 (1989)
gamma rays, during this process is less studied. Here, 271-278.
11 Chudzynski S, Czyzewski A, Ernst K, Pietruczuk A,
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Acknowledgement 3567-3584.
The permission granted by Dr. Petra K Knizova to 18 Founda D, Melas D, Lykoudis S, Lisaridis I, Garasopoulos E,
reproduce the 1st part of Fig. 2 and Dr. E. et al., The effect of the total solar eclipse of 29 March 2006
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Gerasopoulos to reproduce the second part of the Fig. 7 (2007) 5543-5553.
2, is greatly acknowledged. 19 Zerefos C S, Garasopoulos E, Tsagouri I, Psiloglou B E,
Belehaki A, et al., Evidence of gravity waves into the
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