WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Post No. 13,660

Date uploaded in London – 12 September 2024                 

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan

xxxx  

Hare in the Moon

There are many poems in English about the Hare in the Moon or Hare on the Moon. The black spot on the moon has been interpreted as Deer, Old Woman, Hare etc around the world. No one can miss it on a full moon day. Most of the people see only hare in the moon. The oldest reference is coming from the Hinu Scripture Vishnu Sahasranama. It is part of Mahabharata which is at least 5000-year-old. It came from the mouth of Bhisma, the grandest and the most venerable character in the epic. Unless Krishna, both Kauravas and Pandavas saluted him.

Sasa in hare in Sanskrit. Vishu Sahasranama says Lord Vishnu is Sasabindhu (meaning Moon with hare). So moon is worshipped as Vishnu. Throughout 2000 year Sangam Tamil literature we see Moon Worship, particularly crescent moon worship. Crescent moon is decorating the hair of Lord Shiva and many other goddesses.

Earlier to Tirumanthiram of 8^th century CE, we find it in Jataka stories of 3rd century BCE and Panchatantra Stories.

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Stamp from Japan.

You Can See Lord Only if You Hold Him in Your Heart

“I shall smite the hare in the moon”

Thus saying

A man unsheaths his jewelled sword;

Unto him are they

Who say,

“We the blue-throated Lord will see,

We know the Way;”

Such shall never see,

As in their hearts they hold Him not -Tirumanthiram

 பிறையுள் கிடந்த முயலை எறிவான்

அறைமணி வாள்கொண் டவர்தமைப் போலக்

கறைமணி கண்டனக் காண்குற மாட்டார்

நிறையறி வோம்என்பர் நெஞ்சிலர் தாமே. 1

(புறங்கூறாமை  திருமந்திரம்)

In Tamil Veda Tirukkural and other didactic Tamil works it is described as a black spot. But Tirumular, author of 3000 verse Tiru Manthiram and Naladiyar (naaladiyaar) of Jain saints mentioned the moon and hare.

The hare in the moon is worshipped. Because it is in the bright-beamed moon the very hare in heaven’s lofty fair expanse is worshipped. Though scant their worthiness, men obtain worth who share friendship with those firm as a hill.

ஒண்கதிர் வான்மதியும் சேர்தலால் ஓங்கிய

அங்கண் விசும்பின் முயலும் தொழுப்படூஉம்;

குன்றிய சீர்மைய ராயினும் சீர்பெறுவர்,

குன்றன்னார் கேண்மை கொளின்.

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2300 year old Buddhist Jataka Story

The story is from the Jataka Tales which tell the story of the Buddha’s previous lives. In the Śaśa Jataka the hare gives up his body for a staving man. In Jataka Tale 316, a monkey, an otter, a jackal and a rabbit try to find food for beggars on the day of Upwasa. In this story, the rabbit sacrifices himself for God.

—subham—

Tags- Hare in the Moon, Tirumular, Tirumanthiram, Naladiyar , Learn Tirumathiram 6, Jataka Story