Serving the Hindu community in Australia

Welcome to the website of the Australian Council of Hindu Clergy. We are a council of Hindu priests, monks, nuns, astrologers and preachers (kathakaras) coming from a wide range of backgrounds:— India, Srilanka, Nepal, Fiji and South Africa and practicing throughout Australia. We are dedicated to the service of the Hindu community at large  and the promotion of the Hindu Dharma in general and have been operating since 1989.
We are here to help you to celebrate your festivals and observe  your sacraments such as birth, marriage and funerals etc. As well as playing a role in educating and instructing the community in all matters pertaining to the theory and practice of the Dharma.

Application for Clergy Membership
Download an application form, fill it in, scan and send it to us by email. To download an application form click HERE

Lunar Eclipse Sydney 28th July 2018

Religious Considerations of Eclipse

Sutak Begins - 17:13:29 on 27th, July
Sutak Ends - 06:51:06 on 28th July
Sutak for Kids, Old and Sick Begins - 00:01:30 on 27th July
Sutak for Kids, Old and Sick Ends - 06:51:06 on 28th July
 
Sutak - Certain inauspicious time before Surya Grahan and Chandra Grahan is known as Sutak. According to Hindu beliefs, the Earth atmosphere is contaminated during Sutak and extra precautions should be taken to avoid any harmful side effects due to contamination.

Sutak Duration - During Solar Eclipse Sutak is observed for 4 Prahars and during Lunar Eclipse Sutak is observed for 3 Prahars before Eclipse. There are total 8 Prahars from Sunrise to Sunrise. Hence Sutak is observed for 12 hours before Solar Eclipse and for 9 hours before Lunar Eclipse.

Eating During Grahan - All type of food items either solid or liquid are prohibited during Sutak and Eclipse. Hence one should not eat during twelve hours before Solar Eclipse and during nine hours before Lunar Eclipse till Eclipse is over. However for children, sick and old people food limitation is restricted to only single Prahar or 3 hours.

Sutak is observed only when Eclipse is visible at the place under discussion.

Precaution for Pregnant women - Pregnant women are strictly advised not to venture out during Eclipse. It is believed that due to contamination and malefic effects of Rahu and Ketu, the baby might become handicapped or disabled and probability of miscarriage is increased.  

Prohibited Activities - Oil massage, drinking water, combing hair, brushing teeth and involving in sexual activities are prohibited during Eclipse.

Rituals After Grahan - It is advised to discard any cooked food and only freshly cooked food should be consumed after Eclipse. The food items like wheat, rice, other cereals and pickles which cannot be discarded should be protected by adding Kusha grass or Tulasi leaves. Once eclipse is over one should take bath and should make offerings or charity. Making offerings after Eclipse is considered highly beneficial.

Mantra(s) to chant during eclipse -
तमोमय महाभीम सोमसूर्यविमर्दन।
हेमताराप्रदानेन मम शान्तिप्रदो भव॥१॥
tamomaya mahābhīma soma sūrya vimardana।
hema tāra pradānena mama shānti prado bhava॥1॥
श्लोक अर्थ - अन्धकाररूप महाभीम चन्द्र-सूर्य का मर्दन करने वाले राहु! सुवर्णतारा दान से मुझे शान्ति प्रदान करें।
विधुन्तुद नमस्तुभ्यं सिंहिकानन्दनाच्युत।
दानेनानेन नागस्य रक्ष मां वेधजाद्भयात्॥२॥
vidhuntuda namastubhyam simhika nandan achyuta।
dānenānena nāgasya raksha mām vedha jād bhayāt॥2॥
श्लोक अर्थ - सिंहिकानन्दन (पुत्र), अच्युत! हे विधुन्तुद, नाग के इस दान से ग्रहणजनित भय से मेरी रक्षा करो।
 
adhyāpanam adhyayanaṁ  yajanaṁ yājanaṁ tathā |
dānaṁ pratigrahaṁ ca-eva brāhmanānām akalpayat || 

To Priests was assigned the duties of teaching and studying (the Veda), performing rituals for their own benefit and for others in the community, giving and accepting (of donations). (Manu 1:88)
Panchang for 2018 calculated for Australia
                            Disclaimer
All the articles and comments on this site are the personal opinions of the author and not reflective of the views of all the members unless otherwise  stated.

            The Crime of Dowry

We, the Hindu Clergy of Australia unreservedly condemn the giving and the taking of Dowry. It is a social evil as well as a sin, condemned by the Shastra.

       strīdhanāni tu ye mohād upajīvanti bāndhavāḥ |
        nārī yānāni vastraṁ vā te pāpā yānti adhogatim ||
Those deluded relatives who live off a woman’s property — her carriages, her clothes, and so on are evil and go to hell.  (Manu 3:52)

It is illegal under the Australian Marriage act to pressure or to coerce the parties to a marriage in any way, and the giving and taking of dowry is a form of coercion. Participants to a coercive marriage can be prosecuted under the law.
                                False Advertising by so-called PANDITS

There are a number of so-called PANDITS that advertise in the local Indian Newspapers, claiming to be able to remove black-magic and witchcraft, to practice faith-healing, bring back-loved ones and to solve every problem with 100% Guarantee and 100% satisfaction.

These so-called PANDITS are not members of this organization and have nothing to do with us. We do not approve of their practices nor do we endorse their claims. No one, not even scientists can give 100% guarantee about anything and to claim this regarding voodoo and black-magic and other personal problems is plainly misleading, deceptive and false advertising.

                                               We request you to avoid these charlatans by all means.