the time when the sun sets and the stars begin to appear—is one of the most powerful shifts in the 24 hour cycle. It is a “sandhi” (junction). where two states of being met.
Astrological View —
Godhuli Bela (literally “the time of cow dust”) is a specific Sandhya Kaala (twilight). It is considered a time of great spiritual power, but also a time of elemental instability.
Reason 1 — The Transition of Tattvas (Elements):
Astrologically, this is the time when the “Agni” element is handing over control to the “Soma” element. For people with a sensitive Moon in their birth chart, this shift can be turbulent. Since the Moon rules the mind and emotions, its “rising” influence can stir up deep-seated feelings, making us feel “moody” or restless.
Reason 2 — Rahu’s Influence:
In some traditions, the twilight hours are associated with Rahu—the planet of illusions and shadows. It is said that during the transition from light to dark, the “veils” are thin. This can lead to mental fog, confusion, or a sudden loss of interest in worldly tasks, as the energy shifts from “doing” to “being.”
This time was traditionally reserved for prayer or meditation (Sandhya). The “irritation” or “depression” we feel might be interpreted spiritually as a clash of energies. The soul wants to pause and reflect (as nature does), but modern life is demanding us to stay productive and keep working. That friction creates the “low” feeling.
All we need to do is to get aligned with the transition. If we align with the transition rather than fighting it, the heavy feeling often lifts once the sun is fully down.
In Vedic literature and the Shastras, the time of Godhuli Bela is not just a change in light; it is
- The Conflict of the Three Gunas —
According to the Sankhya philosophy and also as per Bhagavad Gita, our mind is governed by three qualities Sattva,Rajas, Tamas.
During the day, Rajas is dominant. As the sun sets, Tamas begins to rise. If we are still trying to be “productive” (Rajasic) while the universe is pulling toward “rest” (Tamasic), friction occurs. This friction manifests as irritation and lack of motivation. We are literally fighting the cosmic tide.
- Affliction of the Moon —
In Vedic Astrology, the Moon is the signifier of the mind.
At sunset, the Sun (the soul/ego) “dies” for the day, and the Moon (the emotions) begins to take over.
If the natal Moon is placed in “Dusthana” houses (6th, 8th, or 12th) or is conjunct with planets like Saturn or Rahu, we are highly sensitive to this transition.
Moon + Saturn causes a sudden feeling of “hollowness,” melancholy, or depression as the light fades.
Moon + Rahu creates Grahan leading to anxiety, overthinking, and a “foggy” brain where we can’t focus on the work in front of us.
- Asura Pravritti (The Rise of Shadow Energies)
Vedic texts like the Puranas describe dusk as the time when Asuric energies become active.
In a modern psychological sense, “Asuras” represent our hidden complexes, suppressed anger, and unfulfilled desires.
When the external light (Surya) vanishes, these internal shadows surface. This is why many people feel a sudden “loss of interest” in healthy goals and instead feel a pull toward “irritation” or addictive behaviors (scrolling, snacking, or brooding).
Vedic wisdom suggests that the only way to avoid this “evening depression” is to stop the Rajasic activity. The Dharma Shastras recommend:
Deepam (Lighting the Lamp): Fire is a physical manifestation of the Sun. Lighting a lamp at home during Godhuli “retains” the Sun’s positive energy inside the house, warding off the rising Tamas.
Sandhyavandanam / Japa: Use this transition for 10 minutes of meditation or chanting. The Gayatri Mantra is specifically designed to “prime” the intellect (Dhi) when the physical light fades.
Avoid Salt and Sleep: Vedic texts strictly advise against sleeping or eating heavy, salty foods exactly at sunset, as this locks the “heavy” (Tamasic) energy into your system for the rest of the night.
Since we feel a “low” or “irritation” during the evening transition, our Moon sign dictates how we process that energy shift.
(My Rashi Sutra class gave me the idea to check this)🙏🙏
The 4 Elemental groups of Moon —
- The Fire Moons: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
We feel Irritation. Because —
These signs thrive on “Rajas” (activity). When the sun sets and the natural energy of the world slows down, we feel a sense of internal friction. We want to “do,” but our body or the environment feels “heavy.” This creates a restless, snappy, or angry mood.
- The Earth Moons: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
They feel Lack of Motivation. Because —
Earth signs are grounded and practical. When the light goes, our body’s “practical” battery drains instantly. We look at the pile of work and feel it is a mountain which we can’t climb. We may feel “stuck” or physically heavy.
- The Air Moons: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
They feel Anxiety or Mental Fog. Because —
Air signs govern the intellect and communication. At dusk, when the “Vata” (air) energy in the atmosphere peaks, our mind starts racing in circles. We might have 50 ideas but zero focus to execute even one, leading to a “spiral” of low mood because we feel unproductive.
- The Water Moons: Cancer, Scorpio (my son😄😄), Pisces
They feel Deep Melancholy or “The Low.”
They are the most sensitive to the Moon’s rising power. As the Sun sets, their emotions (intuition/feeling) flood the gates. They absorb the “dying of the light” personally. They might feel a sudden wave of sadness or loneliness that has no logical cause.
The Vedas state: “Chandrama Manaso Jatah”.
- The Moon has no light of its own; it reflects the Sun.
- When the Sun (Source) disappears at Godhuli, the Moon (Mind) has nothing to reflect for a short window.
- This “gap” is why we feel a loss of interest. For few minutes, the mind is “homeless” until it adjusts to the inner light or the starlight.
What to Avoid During Godhuli–
To prevent the “low” feeling from deepening, the Vedas suggest avoiding these three things during the 48-minute window of sunset:
Sleeping at dusk is said to invite Alakshmi (stagnancy/bad luck) and makes us feel “brain-fogged” for hours. High salt intake during this transition disturbs the Soma (cooling) energy of the evening. Avoid arguments or “venting” now. Because the mind is sensitive, any negativity spoken during Godhuli “sticks” to the consciousness more than at other times.
Jai Gurudev 🙏🙏🙏