Bad moon rising?

It was not just another day. It was a day of jubilation, the day Murugan defeated the asura Suryapadman. Coincidentally, it was also the day of the blue moon showed it fiery side after being engulfed by the dragon. When my mother was a little girl, people devoid of scientific knowledge used to tell that it was a transient event when Mother Nature, tired of holding the Earth all these while, decided to switch hands. Now we know it is the lunar eclipse. If the Supreme Mother is indulged in such gravity-defying task, it is inappropriate for mortals in merrymaking activities including eating and enjoying the outdoors.

In those days, and even now, the event is marked inauspicious. These days, in spite of our technological know-how, the society has somehow paradoxically have re-discovered the splendour of the age-old lost wisdom. They have combined it with current knowledge and try to give it a rational explanation to our ancestors' practices. Substantial changes in the electromagnetic charges restrict people to stay indoors.

With that in mind, all activities were kept to a minimum. Dinner was served, and the kitchen was closed before the onset of the eclipse. Everyone was forced to remain indoors, no TV, no loud music; possibility hallmarks of abstinence from merrymaking. While waiting for the time to pass, what do I receive? A phone call from the hospital of an imminent arrival of a baby. Apparently, the stork had been diligent in his duties. Keeping up my dharma, he rushed to the scene. If everything is pre-determined and happens under the watchful eyes of the Almighty, surely He would not be amused if one shirks his duties on the Makers' account.

Despite all the hullaballoo surrounding the turns of events surrounding the child's delivery amongst a specific circle of people, the mother was ignorant of its significance. As far as she can see it is a joyous event. Her nine months' wait is over, and joy spills in abundance in her young family.

For one group of people (Hindus), there had been a lot of debates and arguments about the lunar eclipse. They were arguing on the merits and appropriateness of keeping the temple open at this time as it was also Thaipusam on that day. Self-proclaimed pandits with their half-baked certainly kept life interesting as the suspense built up to the event with their 'discoveries'. For others, it was just another marvel of the world we live in. They just tell themselves that they are happy to be alive. They humble themselves by immersing themselves in the splendour and beauty of Nature. Still some stare in awe at the ability of the human mind to calculate and predict so accurately that such an event will happen and precisely at a specified time. Splendid!