Indian CEOs don’t mess with eclipse
TEXT OF STORY
Steve Chiotakis: Much of Asia saw a solar eclipse today. In India, some experienced the sun totally blocked out. But in a business culture that pays particular attention to celestial happenings, there were some rattled nerves. Raymond Thibodeaux reports on the business of the sky from New Delhi.
Raymond Thibodeaux: Hindu mythology explains the eclipse like this: two mischievous demons swallow the sun, blotting out the light and causing all kinds of mayhem. Eclipses aren’t seen as good news in India, where CEOs commonly consult the cosmos before making important business decisions.
Saurabh Vatsa: Basically when the solar eclipse happens, there is a very low level of energy in the universe.
Saurabh Vatsa is a chief executive at O-Zone Networks, which connects wi-fi systems across India. How is that energy linked to the daily grind of business?
Vatsa: Some people don’t understand the significance, but to tell you the truth, this is how it works: At the end of the day, business is all about vibrations and it’s all about proliferation. Proliferation requires energy.
Vatsa plans to counteract all that low-level energy caused by the eclipse by chanting mantras. He says that should ratchet up the universe’s energy level by a notch or two.
One business that thrives on the eclipse is astrology. Naveen Khanna is one of India ‘s top astrologers. His predictions appear daily in India’s Mail Today newspaper. His advice:
Naveen Khanna: Business decisions should be postponed. Important signing of documents, important contracts should not be made today, because if the foundation is not right, the whole building will tremble in the future. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
And millions of Hindus seem to agree. Temples are reporting a sharp rise in traffic as devotees stop by to offer prayers.
In New Delhi, I’m Raymond Thibodeaux for Marketplace.
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