(Image source from: in.news.yahoo.com)

Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist Sambhaji Bhide on Monday made a bizarre statement over the United States sending their craft to the moon.  

The activist alleged that space scientists in the U.S. succeeded in sending their craft to the moon on 39th attempt because they launched on ‘Ekadashi’, the day that is considered auspicious by Hindus and Jains. The timing of each Ekadashi is according to the position of the moon.

The statement by Bhide came days after India’s lander Vikram of the Chandrayaan-2 mission lost contact while it was approaching the moon’s surface.

"America attempted to send their spacecraft on the lunar surface 38 times earlier but failed on all those occasions," Bhide said at an event in Solapur, Maharashtra.

He said following continual nonaccomplishments, one of the American scientists suggested that the Indian system of "time measurement" be adopted in place of the system followed by them.  

"To all their surprise, the Americans succeeded in sending their spacecraft to the moon in the 39th attempt which was based on the Indian time measurement system. They were successful because the spacecraft was launched on the day of Ekadashi," Bhide said.

Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day of each of the two lunar phases which occur in a Hindu calendar month.

Bhide earlier claimed that several couples were blessed with baby boys after eating mangoes from his garden.

By Sowmya Sangam