Many youngsters ask the question, “What is the significance of full moon for meditation?”
I wonder whether this is a result of living life, considering us humans separate from the Universe. When
we think we are higher than the natural forces, there comes a tsunami or earth
quake to make us realise our vulnerability.
We exist in the solar system and we need to live in
accordance with the sun’s movements to have a balanced life. Sun has a major
role in balancing the Melatonin/ serotonin production in the body. These
chemicals regulate our sleep and feel good factor. Getting up before sun rise
and going to sleep at a reasonable time is important from this aspect. Of
course it is impossible to get up at sun rise and go to sleep at sun set, which
our ancestors did, in today’s life style.
Influence of the Earth and planets
It is because of earth’s gravity that we can stay on its
surface, or we all will be just thrown off into the atmosphere. Similarly, each
planet has an influence on our lives.
Have you noticed how the sea water behaves on new moon and
full moon days? Tides are highest during the new moon (when moon and sun pull
in the same direction) and during the full moon (when they pull in opposite
directions). When we remember that the average adult human body is 50-65%
water, it is easy to understand that new moons and full moons affect our body too.
Siddhars and Siddha medicine
Siddhars are a type of saints in India who are said to have
had many powers and achieved a ‘god-like’ state through specific secret
practices that were known only to them. These powers spanned from controlling
time and space, to transforming the body, manipulating matter at the molecular
level and achieving immortality. They were endowed with ashta siddhis and
ten secondary siddhis.
I had the opportunity to do a course on Siddha medicine and
got very important information from the course. They say that the lunar region
or the ‘Chandra Mandalam’ is in the head. There are 30 places which are the seats
of nectar in the human body, and they are influenced by the waxing (growing)
and waning (decreasing) of the moon in the sky.
The seat of nectar in the human body for both in men and
women stands in the toe of the right foot on the New Moon day. It passes on to
the toe of the left leg on the first day after the new moon and goes up rising
to the head. The position on each day can be viewed in the following pictures:
It is better to avoid surgeries on the body parts when the
nectar is present on the area as there may be delayed healing.
The lunar eclipse
The lunar eclipse takes place when the shadow of the earth
falls on the moon and the three celestial bodies - the sun, the earth, and the
moon - fall in a line and plane. The physical phenomenon involving the three
celestial bodies does have some impact on human health. It may affect sleep as
the intensity of moonlight will be seemingly more during the night because of a
lunar eclipse. The increased presence of light outside can cause a disturbance
in our sleep pattern, which can manifest itself as feeling lethargic and
stressed on the following day.
In the medical science, a man is called a ‘lunatic’, and the
hospital where they are treated is called a ‘Lunatic Asylum’. Again the word ‘lunacy’
means a kind of madness, which aggravates on full moon days, proving that the
lunar region is the head on full moon days.
Practices to follow
The increase in the subtle basic Raja-Tama in the atmosphere
during the period of an eclipse affects food as well as the digestive
processes. Hence it is advisable to avoid food during the period of the
eclipse, or have light meals.
Due to the potent energy released by an eclipse, emotions
(both positive and negative) can be heightened and mishaps can happen. So it is
important to be mindful of our thoughts, words and actions.
There is an inward pull on our consciousness during eclipse,
making it ideal time for spiritual practice. People who make the effort to do
intense spiritual practice during the time of an eclipse will benefit up to 30
% more spiritually. It is a good time to do chanting and meditation.
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