The popular notion of the cause of an Eclipse current among the Hindus is founded on the following mythological legend. When the gods had obtained Amrita or ambrosia, by the churning of the ocean of milk, one of the giants stole and drank some portion of it secretly. The sun and moon however observed the theft and informed Vishnu of it, who upon this got very angry and severed the head of the giant from his trunk. But since the giant had already tasted Amrita, both parts remained alive invisible in the sky; they are regarded as the eighth and ninth planets named Ketu and Rahu, and are said every now and then to take revenge on the sun and moon by swallowing them for a short time, thus causing eclipses.

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