Tomorrow is Gaura Purnima, and incidentally also a full lunar eclipse just as it was with Mahaprabhu's appearance, the Moon hiding in shame at the sight of the Moon of Nadia. Krishnadas Kaviraja writes in eulogy of Phalguni Purnima (CC 1.13.19):





And the narrative begins:





While the eclipse on this particular day is a rare occurrence and blessed in its timing, the attack of Rahu is also considered inauspicious, and as such there are a number of observances Vaisnavas undertake during eclipses, whether lunar or solar. Then, a few related words on all that for those eager to observe the day properly. Those interested in seeing the exact times for their locale can look at the Lunar Eclipse Computer provided by U.S. Naval Observatory.

The Panjika entry reads: Full lunar eclipse: Touch at 3:00 AM, ends in Mathura at 6:42 AM and in Kolkata at 6:02 AM. Bhagavat-seva to be completed before 6:00 PM, the period of impurity commences. In lunar eclipses, the sUtaka or the period of impurity extends to nine hours prior to sparza, Rahu's touch on the moon, ending at the moment the shadow leaves the circle of the moon (mokSa).

During the time of the period of impurity, eating and drinking are on hold, and no activity related to arcana or other tasks calling for ritual purity is to take place, including the taking of bath. Sleeping is not recommended either, which gives us an excellent reason for observing nizi-jAgarana on Gaura-purnima's night. I have a Govardhana-parikrama scheduled. Chanting the names is the recommended activity. Any prepared foodstuffs that are left are to be discarded after the eclipse, and unprepared foodstuffs should be packed away for the duration of the eclipse. Cleaning the house should be done after the eclipse.

In this particular case, Thakur-seva including Mahaprabhu's abhiseka should be completed before 6:00 PM, and Thakur put to rest, to be woken up again after 6:42 AM the next morning. As the eclipse concludes, the pujari should take a bath and then do the regular morning arcana followed by offering foodstuffs for breaking the fast. As the two of us are observing nirjala-vrata, we'll need our drink in the morning – which I may have described in an earlier entry, consisting of water, misri, salt, pepper, lemon and fennel – and as we have to soak the misri overnight to dissolve it, we'll place it into a closed container of water with a tulasi leaf atop to shield it from the influence of the eclipse.

At Radha-kunda, the traditional janma-lila-kirtana of Mahaprabhu will begin first at the Tamal Tala temple at 3:00 PM, followed by Nitai-Gaura Mandir (Boro Mahaprabhu Mandir) at around 4:00 PM, where Mahaprabhu's abhiseka will also take place, I presume around 5:00 PM. Last year's observance was accompanied by a heavy thunderstorm. Let's see how the weather turns out to be this year – if the last two nights are anything to go by, we may have an encore of last year coming up tomorrow.

I also have a whole bunch of news on our pilgrims. Pursottam and his father from U.K. have been here a bit over a week, covering each and every nook and corner of Vrindavan, and have also come to Radha-kunda and Govardhana for parikrama. Today we visited Varsana and Kamyavana, grabbing along Gary who arrived yesterday, a full day's worth of Vraja-dhama. All of that will have to wait for a better moment however, the midnight has broken and it's time to take rest to be fresh tomorrow.