Kartiki or Kartik Purnima

Tripurotsava

Kartikii or Kartik Purnima is also known as Tripurari Purnima or Tripurotsava. This was the day when Bhagawan Shiva destroyed Tripurasuras, the 3 sons of Tarakasura. Tripuri Purnima is only next to Mahashivaratri amongst festivals dedicated to Bhagawan Shiva. To commemorate the killing of Tripurasura, images of Bhagavan Shiva are carried in procession. Temple complexes are lit up throughout the night. Deepmalas or towers of lights are illuminated in temples. 



पौर्णमास्यां तु संध्यायां कर्तव्यस्त्रिपुरोत्सवः ।
दद्यात् पूर्वोक्तमन्त्रेण सुदीपांश्च सुरालये ॥
(भविष्यपुराण, दीपावली-माहात्म्य)

paurṇamāsyāṃ tu saṃdhyāyāṃ kartavyas tripurotsavaḥ |
dadyāt pūrvokta-mantreṇa sudīpāṃś ca surālaye ||

Meaning: On the evening (sandhyā) of the full moon day (Paurṇimā), one should perform the Tripurotsava — the festival commemorating Lord Śiva’s destruction of the three cities (Tripura-dahana). On that sacred occasion, lamps (dīpas)should be offered in temples and divine shrines (surālaya) while chanting the previously mentioned mantras.

This verse from the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa (in the Dīpāvalī–Māhātmya section) instructs that on Kārttika Pūrṇimā evening, devotees celebrate Tripurāri Pārva, marking Lord Śiva’s victory over the demon Tripurāsura. 

कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे यः कुर्यात् स्वामिदर्शनम् ।
सप्तजन्म भवेद् विप्रो धनाढ्यो वेदपारगः ॥ (Skanda Purāṇa, Kāśī–khaṇḍa)

kārttikyāṃ kṛttikā-yoge yaḥ kuryāt svāmi-darśanam |
sapta-janma bhaved vipro dhanāḍhyo veda-pāragaḥ ||

On the day of Kārttik Pūrṇimā, when the Moon is in the Kṛttikā nakṣatra (kṛttikā-yoga),
whoever beholds (has darśana of) Svāmī, that is, Lord Viśveśvara (Śiva of Kāśī),
becomes — for seven successive births — a brāhmaṇa endowed with wealth and complete mastery over the Vedas.

Why is it called Deva-Deepaavali?

On this day, the gods (devas) descended to the Earth (to Kashi) and took bath in the Ganga after the victory of Bhagavan Shiva; hence the lamps are lit in honour of the divine presence and triumph. Hence Kartik Purnima is also called Deva-Deepawali, the festival of lights of the gods. Chaturmas ends and worship of Gods/opening of temples starts on this day in some traditions. Further, Varanasi’s ghats are filled with rituals of bathing, lamp-floating, aarti and special processions. People gift lamps to priests. The lamps are kept throughout the night in houses and Shiva temples. This day is also known as "Kartik Diparatna" - the jewel of lamps in Kartik.

Tiruvannamalai Mahadeepam

Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam is also lit at around 6 pm at the top of 2668 ft high holy Arunachala mountain. The entire Mountain is generally worshipped as a Shiva Linga. The Maha Deepam will be visible around the Holy Mountain in a radius of 35 km. Lakhs of devotees will perform 16 km Girivalam (circumambulation of the holy mountain). 


Sadhanas on Kartik Purnima:

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Angiraa and Aditya etc. consider this a very auspicious festival. Any auspicious bath, charity, havan, yajna, upasana etc. have infinite results. 

One lights lamps in the evenings and places them in temples, houses, below trees, in water bodies etc. Bhavishya Purana mentions the following:



कीटाः पतंगाः मषकाः च वृक्षे।
जले स्थले ये विरचन्ति जीवा:।
दृष्ट्वा प्रदीपं न हि जन्मभागिनः।
ते मुक्तरूपा हि भवन्ति तत्र॥

kīṭāḥ pataṅgāḥ maṣakāś ca vṛkṣe |
jale sthale ye viracanti jīvāḥ |
dṛṣṭvā pradīpaṃ na hi janmabhāginaḥ |
te muktarūpā hi bhavanti tatra ||

Meaning: Having seen the lamps below trees, in water etc. even the insects, flies, mosquitoes (and other water creatures) attain liberation instantly(What to talk of Human then, who light the lamps on this sacred day?)

Auspiciousness of Kartiki

In the Padma Purāṇa (Uttara-khaṇḍa, Kārttika-māhātmya) and also cited in some manuscripts of the Yama–Saṃvāda section are the following beautiful shlokas about the significance of Kārttika

आग्नेयं तु यदा ऋक्षं कार्तिक्यां भवति क्वचित् ।
महती सा तिथिज्ञेया स्नानदानेषु चोत्तमा ॥

यदा याम्यं तु भवत्यृक्षं तस्यां तिथौ क्वचित् ।
तिथिः सापि महापुण्या मुनिभिः परिकीर्तिता ॥

प्राजापत्यं यदा ऋक्षं तिथौ तस्यां नराधिप ।
सा महाकार्तिकी प्रोक्ता सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी ॥

(Padma Purāṇa, Uttara–khaṇḍa, Kārttika–māhātmya)

āgneyam tu yadā ṛkṣaṃ kārtikyāṃ bhavati kvacit |
mahatī sā tithijñeyā snānadāneṣu cottamā ||

yadā yāmyaṃ tu bhavati ṛkṣaṃ tasyāṃ tithau kvacit |
tithiḥ sāpi mahāpuṇyā munibhiḥ parikīrtitā ||

prājāpatyaṃ yadā ṛkṣaṃ tithau tasyāṃ narādhipa |
sā mahākārtikī proktā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī ||

The verses describe the astrological conditions that make the Kārttikī Tithi even more auspicious. It says:
When the Moon’s nakṣatra (constellation) on the Kārttikī day happens to be Āgneya (belonging to Agni, i.e., Kṛttikā), that day is called Mahatī Tithi — supremely sacred, especially for holy bathing (snāna) and charity (dāna).
When the Moon is in a Yāmya nakṣatra (belonging to Yama, i.e., Bharanī), that day too is extremely meritorious and has been praised by sages.
And when the Moon occupies a Prājāpatya nakṣatra (belonging to Prajāpati, i.e., Rohiṇī), that day is known as Mahā–Kārttikī, the most sacred of all, capable of destroying all sins.

The festival has even more significance when the day falls in the Krittika Nakshatra and is then called Maha Kartiki Purnima. 

ब्राह्मपुराण — महाकार्तिकी योगः

पूर्णा महाकार्तिकी स्याज्जीवेन्द्वोः कृत्तिकास्थयोः ॥ (Brāhma–Purāṇa)

pūrṇā mahākārttikī syāj jīvendvoḥ kṛttikāsthayoḥ ||

Meaning:
The Mahā–Kārttikī (the supremely sacred Kārttik Pūrṇimā) or Mahā-Pūrṇimā occurs when both Jupiter (Jīva) and the Moon (Indu) are in the Kṛttikā nakṣatra.

This astronomical combination is regarded as the most auspicious form of Kārttik Pūrṇimā, producing immense merit when one performs bathing, charity, and lamp-offering on that day. 

Padmaka-Yoga: 

If the day falls when moon is in Krittika Nakshatra and Sun is in Vishakha Nakshatra, then it is called ‘Padmak-yog’. This is most auspicious in Pushkar, Rajasthan.

विशाखासु यदा भानुः कृत्तिकासु च चन्द्रमाः।
स योगः पद्मको नाम पुष्करे त्वतिदुर्लभः ॥
(Padma–Purāṇa, Uttara–khaṇḍa, Kārttika–māhātmya)

viśākhāsu yadā bhānuḥ kṛttikāsu ca candramāḥ |
sa yogaḥ padmako nāma puṣkare tv atidurlabhaḥ ||

Meaning:
When the Sun is in Viśākhā nakṣatra and the Moon is in Kṛttikā nakṣatra, that combination is called the Padmaka Yoga. It is said to be extremely rare, even at Puṣkara (the holiest of pilgrimage sites). The verse highlights the exceptional sanctity of this cosmic alignment, making any ritual on such a day — especially in Kārttika month — supremely meritorious. 

The Pushkar Fair or Pushkar mela commences on Prabodhini Ekadashi and continues till Kartik Purnima, the latter being the most important. This fair is held in honour of god Brahma whose temple stands at Pushkar. A ritual bath on Kartik Purnima in the Pushkar lake is considered to lead one to salvation.

Thus, the Purāṇas give a precise astronomical guide for identifying the most powerful Kartik Pūrṇimā, highlighting that the combination of tithi (Kārtikī) and certain nakṣatras greatly amplifies its spiritual merit.

Matsya Avatara:


Matsya Avataar of Lord Vishnu also took place on this day. Any act of charity, havan or japa done on this day is supposed to bring benefits and blessings equal to the performing of ten yajnas as per Padmapurana.

वरान् दत्त्वा यतो विष्णुर्मत्स्यरूपोऽभवत् ततः । तस्यां दत्तं हुतं जप्तं दशयज्ञफलं स्मृतम् ॥ (पद्मपुराण)

varān dattvā yato viṣṇur matsyarūpo ’bhavat tataḥ |
tasyāṃ dattaṃ hutaṃ japtaṃ daśa-yajña-phalaṃ smṛtam || (Padma Purāṇa)

On the sacred day when Lord Viṣṇu manifested as Matsya, the divine fish who saved the Vedas and the world at the end of the deluge, any act of piety—be it dāna (charity), homa (sacrificial offering), or japa (recitation of mantras)—bestows merit equal to performing ten great sacrifices. Thus, the Padma Purāṇa extols the Kārttika Pūrṇimā and related observances as occasions of extraordinary spiritual potency, linking them to Viṣṇu’s first avatāra and urging devotees to engage in acts of light, offering, and remembrance on that night.

Bhagavan Kartikeya Manifested:

Bhagavan Kartikeya manifested on Kartik Purnima.

Brahmapurana mentions the following verse:

ततःश्चन्द्रोदये पूज्यास्तापस्य: कृत्तिकास्तु षट्। कार्तिकेयस्तथा खड्गी वरुणश्च हुताशनः॥

धान्यैः सशूकैर्द्वारोर्ध्वं भूषितव्यं निशामुखे। माल्यैर्धूपैस्तथा…… दीपादिभिः पूजयेत्॥ 〔ब्रह्मपुराण〕

tataś candrodaye pūjyāḥ tāpasaiḥ kṛttikās tu ṣaṭ |
kārtikeyaḥ tathā khaḍgī varuṇaś ca hutāśanaḥ ||
dhānyaiḥ saśūkaiḥ dvāro rd hvaṃ bhūṣitavyaṃ niśāmukhe |
mālyaiḥ dhūpaiḥ tathā …… dīpādibhiḥ pūjayet ||

(Brahma–Purāṇa)

Meaning: At the moment of the moon’s rising on the Kārttika full-moon night (Pūrṇimā), the six Kṛttikā goddesses along with Kārttikeya, Khadgī, Varuṇa and Hutāśana (fire god) should be worshipped by ascetics/devotees. The entrance (dvāra) should be decorated upwards with grains and stalks in the evening, and at the door facing the night (niśāmukhe) one should embellish with garlands and incense and then offer lamps (dīpā – dīpādibhiḥ) and other worship items. The ritual emphasizes light, harvest produce, night worship and the purificatory power of Kārttika-month observances.

Worship of Hari

If one does upavaas on this day and remembers Lord Hari, then one gets the fruits of Agnishtoma Ritual and attains Suryaloka.

कार्तिके पौर्णमास्यां तु सोपवासः स्मरेद्धरिम् ।
अग्निष्टोमफलं विन्देत् सूर्यलोकं च विन्दति ॥
(Brāhma–Purāṇa, Kārttika–Māhātmya)

kārtike paurṇamāsyāṃ tu sopavāsaḥ smared dharim | 

agniṣṭoma-phalaṃ vindet sūrya-lokaṃ ca vindati ||

Meaning:

On the full moon day (Paurṇimā) of the month of Kārttika, whoever, having observed a fast (upavāsa), remembers or meditates on Lord Hari (Vishnu), obtains the merit equivalent to performing the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice and, after death, attains the radiant realm of the Sun (Sūrya-loka).

The Agniṣṭoma yajña is one of the highest Vedic sacrifices, symbolizing purification and ascent to the solar realm; thus, the verse declares that devotional remembrance of Hari on Kārttik Pūrṇimā yields the same fruit as that great sacrifice — attainable even without ritual fire-offerings, through bhakti (devotion) and discipline (upavāsa).

Birth of Vrinda(Personification of Tulsi):

On a full-moon day in the month of Kartika, Tulasi (Vrinda) was born. Because of that auspicious birth, Lord Vishnu (Hari) designated this day for her special worship. Therefore, many traditions regard Kartik Pūrṇimā as her day of appearance or birth, and accordingly, one who worships Tulasi on this day earns especial merit.

The Tulasi Vivāha ceremony — the symbolic marriage of the Tulasī plant (as Vrindā) to Lord Vishnu (in the form of Śālagrāma or Kṛṣṇa) — is prescribed in Padma Purāṇa, Uttara Khanda and other texts.

Example (Padma Purāṇa Uttara):

Kārttikasya site pakṣe dvādaśyāṃ madhusūdanaḥ |
tulasī-vivāhaṃ kuryāt sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || 

In the bright fortnight of Kārttika, on Dvādaśī, one should celebrate the marriage of Tulasī with Madhusūdana; he becomes freed from all sins.\ 

Thus, Prabodhini Ekādaśī–Dvādaśī (11th–12th day of bright Kartika) is fixed for the marriage, not the birth.

Thrikkarthika in Kerala:

In Kerala, a festival called “Thrikkarthika” (also spelled “Thrikarthika”) is observed in the Malayalam month of Vr̥ścikam(roughly November-December) on the day of the Kārttika nakṣatra.  The festival is described as one of lights (“vilakku”) with lamps lit in homes and temples, special decorations and so forth. 

At the Chottanikkara Temple (dedicated to Karthiyayeni Bhagavati), the festival of Thrikkarthika is mentioned among the temple’s festivals. For example, the temple site notes: “During this month Thrikkarthika festival comes. It is the birthday of the Goddess and the festival runs for three days, Kaarthika, Rohini and Makayiram.”

Shubh Kaartikii to everyone.

Advaitic Birthday Song

  

This is the world’s first Advaitic birthday song, written by Swami Swatmananda of Chinmaya Mission in 2025🙏✨

Advaita and Birthday are oxymorons.  Neither the entity celebrating the birthday is real, nor Birth is real, nor day(concept of time) is real in the Infinite Self or Consciousness.  Real is defined in Advaita Vedanta as that which is Changeless in the 3 periods of time: Past, Present and Future. 

Birth, change, death belong to the body. Not to the Self or Consciousness. An advaitin knows this and celebrates the Self every moment, not birthdays once a year. 

Yet, if the so-called Birthday is to be celebrated then the birthday song to be sung that day and every moment is

“I was never born. 

I am not born. 

I will never be born. 

Aham Brahmasmi”

(After singing the song, do the action of blowing away something from your hand.)

Forget blowing candles — Vedantins blow away ignorance of the Self(which does not really exist from Self standpoint. Can there be darkness for the Sun?).  

Let go of cutting the cake. An Advaitin, cuts the so-called ego, lives blissfully as Consciousness or the Self(Sat-Chit-Ananda or Existence-Consciousness-Bliss). 

The Bhagavad Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 20 mentions this:

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācit

nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ,

ajo nityaḥ śāśvato’yam purāṇo-

na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre. (20) 

He(Self) is not born, nor does He(Self) ever die; after having been, He(Self) again ceases not to be; Unborn, Eternal, Changeless and Ancient, He(Self) is not killed when the body is killed. 

Swami Chinmayanandaji in his commentary on the above verse says,”This stanza labours to deny in the Self all the symptoms of mutability that are recognised and experienced by the body. The body is prone to different changes and these modifications are the sources of all sorrows in every embodiment. These six changes are common to all and they may be enumerated as: birth, existence, growth, decay, disease and death. These changes are the common womb of all pains in a mortal’s life. All these are denied in the Self in this stanza, to prove the immutability of the Self. Unlike the physical body, the Self is not born; It being the Eternal Factor that exists at all times. Waves are born and they die away but the ocean is not born with the waves; nor does it die when the waves disappear. Since there is no birth, there is no death, things that have a beginning alone can end; the rising waves alone can moan their dying conditions. Again, it is explained that like the birth of a child who was not in existence before, and who has come to exist after the birth, the Atman is not something that has come to be born due to or because of the body. Thus the Self is Unborn, Eternal, Birthless, and Deathless (Ajah, Nityah).”

The great statement “ahaṁ brahmāsmi” (अहं ब्रह्मास्मि) is one of the Mahāvākyas (great declarations) of the Upaniṣads, specifically from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (1.4.10) of the Śukla Yajurveda.

1. Aham (अहम्) – “I” – not the ego-personality, body, or mind, but the Pure Witnessing Consciousness (Self or Ātman).

2. Brahma (ब्रह्म) – the Infinite, Formless, attributeless Absolute Reality, the substratum of everything.

3. Asmi (अस्मि) – “am” – the immediate identity, not future attainment.

Thus, the statement reveals:
“The real ‘I’ (Self or Ātman) is not separate from Brahman, the Infinite Reality. My essential nature is that Limitless Consciousness.”

Poojya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda says:

• “This Mahāvākya is a thunderbolt for the ego. The finite individual disappears in the recognition of Infinite Being. To live in this awareness is to live in Brahmanhood, free of delusion.”

May we realise & live as Brahman.  

Would you dare to celebrate your so-called birthday like an Advaitin? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

Share this with maximum people. 

Lunar Eclipse - Sadhana

A total lunar eclipse is there today along with blood moon… Should you be afraid? No. Here’s the truth. Even astrologically, the effect of the Guru(Jupiter) will negate any negative effects.  We also know that 

Clarity about Eclipse

An eclipse happens when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align perfectly. It’s part of the natural rhythm — predictable, beautiful, and completely safe for the Earth itself. There’s no cosmic accident, no hidden danger in the skies. Even Hindu scriptures mention this clearly.

Much before the Indian Astronomer Varahamihira(1st half of the 6th Century CE), the Brhat Samhita 

mentions the real cause of the eclipses. It clearly says in verses 5.8 & 5.13 that, “In a lunar eclipse the moon enters into the shadow of the earth and in a solar eclipse the moon enters the Sun(comes between the sun and the earth).”  

Puranic Depiction of Rahu & Ketu

In Puranas this is depicted through the story of Rahu & Ketu.  It does not mean that our Rishis did not know about the real causes of the eclipse.  During the churning of the ocean for amṛta (nectar of immortality), the asura Swarbhānu disguised himself as a deva and drank some nectar. Sūrya and Candra exposed him to Mohinī (Vishnu), who decapitated him with the Sudarśana chakra. Because a drop of nectar had already reached his throat, he did not die. The head became Rāhu. The body (trunk) became Ketu. Enraged, Rāhu and Ketu periodically attack the Sun and Moon, attempting to swallow them — causing eclipses. This is the Puranic explanation of why eclipses happen.

While our Puranas describe about Rahu and Ketu through stories, great Indian astronomers like Aryabhatta, Lallacharya, Varahamihira have explained the scientific reasons behind the eclipse. The Sun temples across the country also are a testimony to the scientific knowledge we had about the Sun.

So, there is no need to look down upon our culture due to the stories of Rahu and Ketu. Across the world there are such stories in different cultures.  For Example:

Vietnam: A frog or toad eats the moon or sun.

Scandinavia: Vikings believed the sun and moon were being chased by a pair of wolves and when one of them caught up with either the lunar or solar orb, an eclipse was the result. 

China: A celestial dragon devoured the sun. In fact, in Chinese the earliest word for eclipse, shih, means “to eat.”

Canada: According to the people of the Kwaikiutl tribe, on the western coast of Canada, the mouth of heaven consumes the sun or moon during an eclipse.

At a certain level stories are used to communicate certain things. As one grows up, rationale is explained.

Jyotisha background

In Jyotisha, eclipses are explained with precision via shadow points:

• The Moon’s path around the Earth is tilted relative to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. They intersect at two nodes.
• These two mathematical points (lunar nodes) are where the Sun, Moon, and Earth can align.
• The ascending node is called Rāhu.
• The descending node is called Ketu.
• An eclipse can only occur when the Sun and Moon are near one of these nodes. So Rāhu and Ketu are literally the astronomical eclipse points in Vedic astronomy — the puranas personify them. Just like its done in many other cultures also.  

Sutaka
In Hindu tradition, eclipses are treated as liminal moments — thresholds.  It’s the in-between phase during a change or transformation. Normal rules are often paused or reversed because the usual order hasn’t fully returned yet. It’s a time seen as powerful but sensitive.

Examples (non-religious):

• Adolescence: not a child, not an adult — a liminal stage.  There is a certain hormonal challenge, emotional turmoil etc. that Adolescence brings.  
• An airport: not your home, not yet your destination — a transitional space.  

Examples in Hindu context:

• Birth: the family has moved from expecting to having a child — in-between social states.
• Death: someone has left the social world but final funeral rites & shraddha period are not yet complete. 
• Eclipse: the celestial rhythm is temporarily altered — not ordinary daylight, not night — a cosmic in-between.  The light disappears at an unusual time, so the scriptures invite us to pause. Not out of fear, but to turn inward, cleanse, and reset. It’s like a cosmic timeout to focus on what’s sacred. 
  

Its like a time-out for purity-sensitive rituals, much like how you wouldn’t perform surgery during an earthquake — not because earthquakes are “dirty,” but because the normal order (ṛta) is disrupted.

A way to redirect human focus: during birth, death, or eclipse, attention is turned inward — to care for the newborn, mourn the deceased, meditate or pray during celestial transitions — instead of maintaining usual social-ritual bustle.

Sūtaka is like the liminal moments, a temporary period of ritual impurity, a time when certain religious or social actions are suspended because of a significant, often “liminal” event. It is not about physical dirt or bad luck — it is about ritual unsuitability for certain sacred acts.
Sūtaka is a ritual state of suspension, not a superstition about pollution. It reflects a deep sensitivity in Hindu tradition toward cosmic and life transitions, marking certain periods as spiritually potent yet requiring pause in ordinary sacred and social activities.
Sutaka is from the root √sū (to bring forth, produce), sūtaka literally means that which has “come forth” — usually referring to:

• Birth of a child (janana-sūtaka)
• Death in the family (mṛtyu-sūtaka)
• Other cosmic transitions like grahaṇa (eclipses), saṅkrānti (solar ingress), etc.

During sūtaka, one is considered ritually unfit (aśuddha) for certain actions like:

• Vedic recitation
• Worship with touching sacred icons
• Fire rituals
• Accepting or offering food socially or ritually

Manusmṛti (4.110): mentions “rājño rāhoś ca sūtakaṃ” — the king’s death and Rāhu’s event (eclipse) as periods when one should suspend normal ritual activity.

Gṛhya-sūtras (various): define specific days of abstention after birth and death, scaled by social class and family proximity.

Purāṇas: extend the concept to cosmic events like grahaṇa (eclipse) — i.e., while the sun/moon is eclipsed, their “light” (a key purifier in ritual) is obscured; so the world enters a kind of temporary ritual pause.

What are the Dos & Don’ts for this Lunar Eclipse today:

3 times are important:  Sutaka Kala, Grahana Kala & Mukti kala.  

Time given below is as per Indian Standard Time(IST)

• Sūtaka Kāla (ritual pause) starts: 12:59 PM (9 hours before).

• Penumbral Eclipse begins: 8:58 PM.

• Partial Eclipse starts: 9:57PM.

• Total Eclipse: 11:00 PM – 12:22 AM.

• Partial phase ends: 1:27 AM.

• Eclipse ends: 2:25 AM.

• Mukti Kāla (purification & restart) after the eclipse is over at 1.27AM or 2.25AM (whichever you want to follow)

In Sūtaka Kala:
1. One must avoid eating food. Not because food becomes impure. But because the mind can be prepared for the sadhana during Grahana Kala.  Pranas will go upwards due to fasting and will not be engaged in digestion etc.  This will benefit us in Sadhana.  If one cannot do fasting, eat fruits, milk. Avoid heavy food. Children, old people, sick people need not follow this. 
2. One must take bath just before the Grahana Kala Sadhana begins.

3. Some people put tulasi/darbha over food & water. 

Grahana Kala:

1. Do Japa of Ishta Mantra or Gayatri Mantra or Guru Mantra.  Japa done during this time gives the punaya or merit of Purashcharana.  There are 5 limbs of Purascharana:
   

• Japa (repetition) — of the chosen mantra, usually a set count (often 100,000 repetitions per syllable of the mantra). Eg. Namah Shivaya has 5 alphabets in Sanskrit. Purascharana means 5 lakh repetitions of this mantra.  Gayatri has 24 alphabets.  Purascharana means 24 lakh repetitions of this mantra.  Once this is done, the following 4 rituals are to be done. 
• Homa (fire oblation) — offering 1/10 of the japa count in ahutis in Homa.
• Tarpana (libations/offering to deities) — 1/10 of the homa count.
• Mārjana / Snāna (ritual bathing / sprinkling for purification) — 1/10 of the tarpana count.
• Bhojana (feeding of brāhmaṇas or sādhus) — 1/10 of the mārjana count.

All the above will take a lot of time and effort. Japa done in eclipse time will give the benefit of the above in merely a few hours.

2. Eclipse time considered especially powerful for chanting stotrams like Vishnu Sahasranama, Shiva Sahasranama, Lalita Sahasranama, Ganapati Atharvashirsha and many others.  
3. One can also study the scriptures and remember Bhagawan. 
4. Dāna (Charity): Whatever is given during eclipse yields multiplied merit.
5. Prohibitions: Eating, cooking, worldly dealings, sexual activity — paused during Grahaṇa.

Mukti Kala:

In the Mukti Kāla, one has to take bath and do cleaning up. 

Vedantic Standpoint:

From Vedantic standpoint in Tattvabodh Sri Adishankaracharya says, "Manaso Devata Chandrama". Moon is the presiding deity of the mind. “Chakshushah suryaha”. Sun is the presiding deity of the eyes. Our Masters knew about the connection of the Sun and the eyes, Moon & the mind. That is why we see patients with mental challenges in lunatic asylums.

We all know that Planets, stars, comets etc have an impact on us. Matter affects matter. Sun is also the presiding deity of the Intellect. Hence during an eclipse one is advised to chant the Gayatri Mantra or even one’s Ishta Mantra.

Symbolically Sun represents knowledge and moon is the deity of the mind or emotions. Solar eclipse is moon coming between the sun and the earth. Emotions overwhelming the intellect is the symbolism. Usually also this happens to us. But at such times of eclipse etc, we are more prone. The impact of Sun-light and its absence on human personality is well documented. People get into depression, low moods, disinterestedness etc when it is gloomy weather.

Similarly in Lunar eclipse, the earth is between the Sun & the Moon. The mind can be affected by tamas, lethargy and also desires for sensuality can arise. So the masters prescribe sadhana to channelise our mind to sattva guna.

Grahan in samskrit means to grasp or to possess. Surya Grahana means as though our intellect is possessed by emotions. To strengthen the intellect and not be overwhelmed by emotions or negative tendencies, one worships the Lord and does Sadhanas like Japa, Parayana of Ganapati Atharvashirsha, dana or charity etc. This can prevent unnecessary conflicts within us, as well as in relationships etc at such times when we are vulnerable. Chandra grahana means mind is possessed with sensuality and body-consciousness. To rise above this, we do sadhana.   Hence, lets do sadhana out of understanding and not out of fear.

In the Gita the Lord says in Chapter 10 - Jyotisham Raviramshuman. Amongst the luminaries HE is the Sun. There is nothing to fear with this vision.

An eclipse is not a threat — it’s a reminder to turn within.  Science shows it’s safe. Spirituality shows it’s meaningful. So  stay calm, stay mindful, and watch the cosmos dance.