Bengaluru: For skywatchers and astronomers, it will be a rare occasion to witness a Supermoon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday evening. This rare combination of lunar events will be a treat for most people across the world, including India. But for the politicians in poll-bound Karnataka, it is nothing close to a ‘triple treat’ or celestial event.
For them, watching the blue moon, Supermoon and blood moon on the same day may not be good for their political future. And to ward off the evil powers of the rare lunar eclipse, many of the top Karnataka politicians are conducting special poojas and rituals at their houses and temples.
The cautious bunch of politicians also includes former Prime Minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda, who performed a Sathyanarayana Pooja at his house in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Gowda and his wife Chennamma offered “ahuthi” (offerings) to the fire god and sought protection from the “evil eyes” of Wednesday’s lunar eclipse.
Speaking to News18, Gowda said that it was a routine Sathyanarayana Pooja on poornima (full moon) and that there was nothing special about it. He said, “We perform Sathyanarayana Pooja on every full moon day and lunar eclipses happen only on full moon nights. I am a believer in god and Hinduism, I perform poojas with great belief and dedication.”
Not just Gowda, his son and former minister HD Revanna is also performing special poojas at several temples in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Along with his wife Bhavani, Gowda’s elder son reached Tamil Nadu on Tuesday night. According to his close aides, Revanna will be offering prayers at various temples in Tamil Nadu. He is known for his immense faith in astrology, Vaastu and Vaidic rituals.
A month earlier, the Gowda family had conducted a special Havan for 11 days, called “Athi Rudra Yaaga” at Shringeri, one of the four most ancient temples founded by Adi Shankaracharya.
Meanwhile, like his close aides say, it is just another day for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The chief minister who has now started wearing the Hindu identity on his sleeves was in office, holding official meetings. Even though Siddaramaiah never claimed that he was an atheist, he is not known for conducting religious events. His wife Parvathi Siddaramaiah, who is otherwise a recluse, is a firm believer and regularly conducts special poojas on behalf of her husband. She is also likely to offer special prayers once the lunar eclipse ends at night.
Another believer in mantra and tantra is BJP’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, who is now busy with political engagements. His family claims that he is not conducting any specials poojas to please the moon god on Grahana day. “There are no special pooja or anything. Some local news channels are running a false news that he is busy performing poojas,” said his aide.
Karnataka Cabinet meeting ends at 4 pm. A senior minister says #LunarEclipse begins after 5 pm, not good!? DP SATISH (@dp_satish) January 31, 2018
The historic temples like Gavi Gangadhareshwara in Bengaluru, Kukke Subramanya at Kukke, Chennakeshava at Belur, Mahabaleshwara at Gokharna, Chamundeshwari at Mysore have been closed for public till the lunar eclipse is over.
Temple authorities claim politicians from across all parties are expected to visit them in the night. A priest at Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple said, “It is an election year. Politicians are worried about the results. Naturally they go to temples on days like these. We are expecting many city politicians to visit tonight.”
State Congress campaign committee chairman and Power Minister DK Shivakumar, state Congress president Dr. G Parameshwara, JDS state chief H D Kumaraswamy and over a dozen cabinet ministers are expected to offer special prayers in the night.
Because no politician wants his career to be eclipsed!
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