THE SOLAR ECLIPSE

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and the Moon’s shadow sweeps across the face of the Earth from west to east.  People in the path of the shadow may see one of the three kinds of eclipses, i.e. total, annular or partial. During the total eclipse, it is a treat to watch the brilliant corona. It is also interesting to note that some bright stars and planets become visible in the background of a dark blue sky. A solar eclipse should never be viewed direct with  naked eyes as the invisible infrared rays from the Sun can damage vision. In the days of yore, when scientific advancement has not reached the level as is obtaining today, people used to watch the shadow of the solar eclipse falling on a thick cow-dung solution in a round vessel placed on an open ground. It is pertinent  that people never used to eat food prepared before or during the eclipse as it was believed that such food would turn poisonous.

Such is the power, and in turn the effect on people, of the solar eclipse.   The Sun  emits rays (of hope!) so vital for every living thing on earth, who at times turns hostile.  The solar energy is permanent and renewable and technocrats are running after to tap it for the use of mankind. 

But the man-made eclipse occasioned to be caused for whatever reason, can play havoc. History is wrought with examples of such eclipses which can make and unmake a king, a minister and even a common man falling under the shadow sweeping across the face of the earth.  The shadow is so dark that it can blacken the face   (or  blackmail) a human being before he becomes aware of the seriousness of the problem caused by it.  On the other hand, some lesser known persons or the adversaries achieve prominence. Two important limbs  of such an eclipse (solar?) are kanakam and kamini acting in perfect unison.  The first is or has been caused to be generated with the skilful and shady use  of the latter. Once the smoke disappears and the sky becomes clear, traces of such deals begin to surface and sweep across like a whirlwind.  The common person without analysing the veracity imbibes the hearsays and a shadow of doubt settles in and poisons the  mind. 

If one takes shelter under the Puranas,  the duties and responsibilities of the Trimurthis are described as Srishti, Sthithi and Samhara. In a democratic set up, the Judiciary falls under  the second category, trying to keep an equilibrium between the legislature and executive. It is blind-folded and  believes in evidence in proof of an action or inaction. The one who provides proofs wins the case, but the more cunning in the absence of  proof, tries to fabricate them and at times wins although against natural justice.  This takes us to the most sensational smarthavicharam of Kuriyedath Thathri during the beginning of the last century. Smarthavicharam was the ritualistic trial of a Nambudiri woman and fellow male adulterers who were accused of illicit sexual relations. If the accused woman was found guilty, she and the men found involved with her were ostracized  and banished. In the case of Kuriyedath Thathri, she was found guilty and was asked to name the men involved and substantiate  it by narrating their body marks or  providing such other evidences.  She was so determined (Pennorumpettal!) that she could collect by hook or crook evidences such as body marks, ring, pieces of cloth, strand of hair etc. of all her 65 paramours, one by one in evidence and 64 men were excommunicated. Before the 65th number, the King  abruptly stopped the trial, as it was said that the last name was that of  his. In the present scenario, various Commissions are extremely busy attending to a plethora of complaints regarding bribes, illicit relations, and what not. Perhaps, the rupee value is so low today, bribes are offered in crores and only a few in lakhs. Our system is such that anybody can make a complaint, true or false, give false evidence  and the accused (until proved otherwise) is always at a disadvantage as his/her name is tarnished beyond repairs even if the complaint is proved false and  the accused till then is fully absolved. In the city of Lord Padmanabha, people in power and those around them may, perhaps, be in a state of utmost fear and fright as to who will be the next falling prey to the so  called ‘solar effect’.    

Let us now look at the other side where the evidence is strong without  truth. There is a saying that hanging undergarments of opposite sexes together on a common cloth line would be sufficient to sow the seeds of procreation. This could have, perhaps, found its base on the story  of the birth of Makardhwaja, son of Hanuman. When Hanuman  took a dip in the sea after burning Lanka, to cool himself, a drop of his seed (another version - a drop of his perspiration) unknowingly got discharged due to extreme heat, which fell into the mouth of a fish-cum-reptile creature. Makardhwaja was thus born without any physical contact between Hanuman and the opposite sex. Ahiravana, the ruler of Pathala, gave Makardhwaja the job of a guard, seeing his strength and virility. According to Ramanayana, Ahiravana took Rama and Lakshmana  to Pathala. Honuman followed them to  rescue them. But Makardhwaja stopped him at the gate. He said he was Makardhwaja, son of Hanuman. Hanuman was amused as he was a perpetual celibate. but in his dhyan he recollected all the events leading to the birth of Makardhwaja.  Rama and Lakshmana were rescued from Pathala after a duel with Makardhwaja. Upon Rama’s advice, Makardhwaja was installed the King of Pathala. Here a DNA test of Hanuman and Makardhwaja would certainly prove the fatherhood  before a blind eye. To cast a shadow over his status of celibacy tantamounts to cruelty as he never had any physical contact with the fish like creature.

A deep reading of the above help us relate the contents with what is happening today.  The atmosphere is charged with allegations and counter allegations of all sorts relating to the Bar, Solar, Lavline, political murders  and the like and the common man is at a loss. It is obvious that all are aimed at the vote bank  It is a pity that  a respected guru heretofore  all of a sudden becomes a bad boy and an offender asking for bribes. The veracity of the statements blurted out unabashedly by a person whose bona fides are in question, has to be put to severe scrutiny. It is very interesting that one of the beneficiaries of the so called bribe has been spared from refunding even the half-portion thereof because of a sympathetic view that he is over 70 years! The petitioner of petty complaints which are predominantly of a nuisance value, has got a test dose of threat to his property from the fans of the political leaders against whom a complaint has been lodged recently based on media reports. The judicial officer who entertained the complaint and initiated legal proceedings against them was subjected to severe criticism from the higher-ups for hasty action. A  more amusing recent news in the media is that a complaint against Rama, the hero of Ramayana, was lodged in a Magistrate court for the cruelty inflicted on Sita by sending her  to a dense forest inhabited by wild animals. It is claimed that this was the first case of domestic violence ever reported.

Press and Electronic Media between themselves and among their counter parts vie with each other in scandalising without drawing a limiting line of patradharmam. It is for us, the public, to sit quietly, have a rational approach, pick up the right from wrong, truth from the untruth like a horse separating grains from stones and take a positive step towards freedom. Let us all use our might to cut loose the shackles preventing us from breathing easy. Fabricated evidence for selfish gains should not be allowed to flourish. At the same time, persons committing political, social or economic offences should not be left scot-free. The legal system may have its own limitations, but at the same time judicial officers  should protect themselves from becoming  simple pawns in the hands of politicians with vested interest and become a bundle of laughing stock by their hasty decisions without  rationally analysing the cause of action and effect of such pronouncements. No much can be achieved by conducting ‘Save Kerala’ yatras,  or the Excise staff confiscating a bottle of IMFL bought at Mahe on account of price advantage  for his own consumption on the basis of a tip-off received from their own agents in the market. Like the practice being followed in a temple on the Western belt of India that out of two coconuts, one is cut into two pieces and offered to two devotees as Prasadam and the other full one goes back down to the seller, it is believed that this confiscated bottle finds its place in one of the shelves of IMFL dealers, obviously for monitory gains.  Or, for that matter, what much can be achieved by a policeman collecting fine for petty offences like not wearing a seat belt, while offences like speeding, overtaking from the left are given a blind eye. No doubt, there is no second opinion that offenders should be suitably punished. Press and electronic media who are the guardians of democracy should adopt a balanced view. Politics sans polity is the last nail on the coffin of democracy.

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Tail Piece: 

A film star of high repute has a recent  revelation that her need for a person of a masculine gender is limited to procreation only and in all other respects she  can stand on her own. Oh! There is at least one dependency.  

Some of the local offenders breathe a sigh of relief as they are spared from such capital  punishments as “an eye for an eye, an ear for an ear, a nose for a nose, a hand for a hand ….”, which are prevalent even today in some countries, and the resultant embarrassment that they might be subjected to, if similar punishments vis-à-vis  their nature of offence was imposed on them.