LS polls: Two moons and one sun clash in Thiruvananthapuram

‘Shashi’ is an Indian male and female name, abstracted from the ancient Sanskrit language, meaning moon.

‘Chandrasekhar’ is the name of Lord Shiva formed by the union of two words – Chandra (moon) and Shekhar (crown). The one who sports the crescent moon on his matted hair is Lord Shiva. 

Ravindran is a combination of the Sanskrit word ‘Ravi’ meaning ‘sun’ + ‘Indra’ meaning ‘lord’, the name of Lord Shiva, the king of gods.

Literally, Thiruvananthapuram is witnessing the electoral clash between two moons and one sun! A battle between the sun and moon forces.

Alexander the Great's famous quote, "Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters," is going to be tested once again in the upcoming clash of the Titans. Ancient Mayan and the Hopi Indian holy scriptures speak about the prophecy of the two suns, meaning that, when two suns are seen, the world is about to undergo a period of intense change, followed by a cycle of realignment and healing. The deeper spiritual significance is that the earth changes that are so widely anticipated, will result in a profound shift in the consciousness of men and women everywhere, and the releasing of a surge of new spiritual energy. 

An interesting title of a book, written by planetary geologist Erik Asphaug, is 'When the Earth Had Two Moons: Cannibal Planets, Icy Giants, Dirty Comets, Dreadful Orbits, and the Origins of the Night Sky', did not predict the upcoming electoral clash between Shashi and Chandra, but the book takes the reader on an exhilarating tour through the farthest reaches of time and our galaxy to find out why. Beautifully written and provocatively argued, the book is not only a mind-blowing astronomical tour but a profound inquiry into the nature of life on earth, and detailing strangest events.

Ravindran would love to recall what Shakespeare said in 'Othello', “It is the very error of the moon. She comes more near the earth than she was wont. And makes men mad”. Imagine two moons clashing right in Thiruvananthapuram! 

Shashi and Chandra would be uncomfortable to know that the phrase “There must be a full moon out there” in an attempt to explain weird happenings at night. Interestingly, the Roman goddess of the moon bore the name Luna prefix of the word lunatic. 

Greek philosopher Aristotle and Roman historian Pliny the Elder suggested that the brain was the “moistest” organ in the body and thereby most susceptible to the pernicious influences of the moon, which triggers the tides. Belief in the “lunar lunacy effect,” or “Transylvania effect,” as it is sometimes called, persisted in Europe through the Middle Ages, when humans were widely reputed to transmogrify into werewolves or vampires during a full moon!

On the night of August 30, 2023, sky gazers around the world were treated to a rare and captivating lunar event known as the 'Blue Supermoon'. This phenomenon is more than just a poetic description; it signifies the convergence of three distinct lunar occurrences that occurred when the full Moon formed, an extraordinary combination of a supermoon and a blue moon. It also aligned with the Hindu festival Rakhi Purnima. This celestial trifecta between astronomical events and religious celebrations is an eloquent testimony of the astronomical knowledge of our ancestors. Contrary to the name, a blue moon does not refer to the Moon's colour; but, it signifies the second full moon within a calendar month or the third full moon in an astronomical season with four full moons. The synchronicity of two full supermoons took place in a single month in 2018 and won't repeat until 2037. This rarity is what has given rise to the phrase "once in a blue moon." Many of Shashi’s voters are grumbling that he comes to Thiruvananthapuram only once in a blue moon!

Who will win in the ensuing elections? Scientifically, the sun and the moon can't overtake each other in the sky because they follow different paths. The sun travels along the ecliptic, while the moon moves on a path that is inclined to the ecliptic. As a result, they can never meet or overtake each other in the sky. 

The coming April 8, 2024 eclipse will be a total solar eclipse. During a total solar eclipse, the moon moves between the earth and the sun completely obscuring the sun. An eclipse of the sun or moon is usually interpreted as a battle between the two heavenly bodies in many belief systems across the world or as the dying or the devouring of one of the two, and in many religions is met with anxiety, shouting, drum beating, and other noises. 

As Shashi, Chandra, and Ravi battle it out on the streets of Thiruvananthapuram, and their supporters shout their virtues, while simultaneously shouting profanities at each other, the electorate will give the verdict shortly. Shashi has been a Member of Parliament since 2009, maintaining a winning streak three times, and hoping to do an encore. Chandra and Ravi are trying to dethrone him. Whose turn will it be to tell that the electorate is cruel and unfair?

The author is former Director General of National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics