2 Hindu

The Hindu legend of the solar eclipse is similar to the Mongolian legend. Both involve the consumption of the Sun by a headless oppressor punished by benevolent forces.In the Hindu myth, there was a scramble between the Devatas and Asuras to receive amrit (“immortality”) from a pot. Vishnu disguised himself as a beautiful dancer and offered to help distribute the amrit among the two groups.

He had both groups sit in opposite rows as he began to distribute the amrit.However, he never intended to give any to the Asuras and began to give amrit only to the Devatas. One Asura realized what was happening, so he quickly moved into the other group to receive immortality.As Vishnu made his way toward the Asura and he began to drink, the Sun and the Moon realized that he did not belong in their group.

Vishnu quickly undisguised and cleaved the Asura’s head from his body. However, the Asura had consumed the amrit and did not die.His head became Rahu, and his torso became Ketu. For Rahu to achieve his revenge on the Sun and Moon for revealing his presence, he chased after them and consumed them. Since Rahu was merely a head, he could not eat either the Sun or the Moon and they fell out of his neck.Each time there is a solar eclipse, it is merely Rahu attempting to take his revenge again.

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