Solar eclipse has a religious importance in hinduism, Sutaka (Vedha) starts before 4 prahara before Solar Eclipse.
One shouldn't eat during eclipse vedha till end of eclipse. This period is also known as Grahana Sutak. However, this is not applicable to pregnant and patients under medical treatment, or people with medical conditions. You can keep darbha grass around the home. After the eclipse take bath, and if possible try to donate money to poor and help needy people or related organization. You can chant your ista devata mantra, as well as gayatri mantra during eclipse, you can do this without using chanting beads (Japa Mala).
When the Moon orbits Earth, the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth. When this happens, the Moon blocks the light of the Sun from reaching Earth. This causes an eclipse of the Sun, or a solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the Moon casts a shadow onto Earth.
There are three main types of solar eclipses:
- Total solar eclipse: A total solar eclipse is visible from a small area on Earth. The people who see the total eclipse are in the center of the Moon’s shadow when it hits Earth. The sky becomes very dark, as if it were night. For a total eclipse to occur, the Sun, Moon and Earth must be in a direct line.
- Partial solar eclipse: This happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth are not exactly aligned. The Sun appears to have a dark shadow on a small part of its surface.
- Annular (an-yə-lər) solar eclipse: An annular eclipse happens when the Moon is farthest from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away, it seems smaller. It does not block the entire view of the Sun. The Moon in front of the Sun looks like a dark disk on top of a larger Sun-colored disk. This creates what looks like a ring around the Moon.