The first Solar Eclipse of this year shall occur on March 19[Monday] i.e.on the Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month coinciding withSomvati Amavas, on the start of New Samvatsar 2064, and Navratras and of course Ugadi for South Indians.

The eclipse shall strike at 6.08am and would last till 6.15am as per IST b ut people in different parts will witness at different timings. While in Eastern part of the country it will start at 6.02am. The Chandigarhian will be able to watch it at 6.40am while Bangloreans would experience at 6.53am when the Moon's shadow will fall on the Sun which is a normal celestial phenomenon.

The Sootak Kaal [Polluting period] will commence on March 18 at the Sunset.In ancient shastras the Rahu, a shadow planet is said to swallow the Sun.

While lunar eclipse is considered very significant for Varanasi, the solar one is very important for Kurukshetra as per Puranas and Shastras in mythology. It was Lord Krishna who got Jayadrath killed during Mahabharata taking the advantage of complete darkness, while full Solar Eclipse took place in Kurukshetra.

This celestial event would also prove worth for scientists who are engaged in astronomy and in study of relative impact of stars and planets during such occurrences. Johnson had discovered the presence of Helium gas in the universe during such studies. Eienstien too discovered many changes in gravitational pulls. Various geographical changes are witnessed during and post eclipse period by scientists as well as by astrologers.

Natural calamities like disturbances in ocean, earth shaking, imbalance in weather etc are seen within 41 days of such occurrences. As an astrologer I had predicted the earthquake of Bhuj on January 26, 2002 on the basis of a record of eclipses and earthquakes since 1905.

Falling of two eclipses in a single month of March, falling of five Tuesdays and five Saturdays in the same month plus two Jayeshtha excessive months in a year are also not considered auspicious.

This type of combinations may play havoc resulting in terrorist activities, wars and natural calamities according to astrology.

The Solar Eclipse may not prove auspicious for people having Moon signs Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Aquarius and of course Pisces. This may bring change in state leadership in different states.