The Caring Moon

Yes ... Lovely little lamps lit across the rows of houses, temples and streets. As if the starlit sky has descended upon the earth. Not everywhere though. Just a particular place in the earth, vast indeed. People of that place believe that their Lord, along with his wife and brother, returned home after an exile of 14 years. Though this had happened a great many years ago, people still celebrate the homecoming of their exiled crown prince. They light lamps to reflect the luminous victory over an evil demon. But that’s another story for another day. The sky looks down in amazement and wonder ... Twinkle twinkle little earth? The stars too smile and once upon a time so did the moon.

Oh the moon! The cute little round moon! But for all its cuteness, littleness and roundness it was a very thoughtful and caring moon. Why? Well, if only you knew what happened as many years ago.

The moon, with the stars and the meteors and the comets and the asteroids watched in awe as that vast place was lit with lamps.
“For all that brilliance and radiance, it really is nothing in compared to the moon”, Zuphris the garrulous star commented.

“Yes, true that. The moon doesn’t need a reason to brighten up the sky. It is as it is”, said Bondig, a star that was fascinated by the moon.

The earth beamed. The earth loved the moon ... treated it like its younger one. Each time anyone said anything nice about the moon the oceans of the earth sent ripples of smiles across. But, suddenly the moon was sad. You must be wondering why was the moon sad.

“I wonder why is the moon sad”, said Pouloch, a curious star.

The moon looked at the stars and the earth and said “Oh but it isn’t fair! The love, the faith, the dedication of those beings on earth which is lit up so brightly ... It isn’t fair if it is compared to me.”

“But they are no match to your radiant beauty oh moon!” said a passing cloud on earth.

“I don’t know about that but I sure don’t like stealing their thunder”, replied the moon and the cloud hurried away elsewhere.

The moon sighed, thought, pondered, reflected and sighed again ... and then, smiled.

The earth, who was watching it lovingly, sensed that the moon had a moonwave (a brainwave to us). “What lies in the beautiful mind of yours, my lil one?”

The moon twinkled and said “Well, to be fair on those beings and their love, I shall no more be visible in the sky when they celebrate this day. Let their love and dedication rule the night. I have the rest of the year to show my deemed brilliance. Let them rejoice and sparkle and glitter and shine and gleam. I shall come back slowly after they have finished celebrating”.

“Oh my moon! You do make me so proud! Your thoughtfulness and care!” the earth said so and the highest peak on the earth got higher by a few more inches. Oh the swell of pride!

The moon, gentle and graceful that it was, gently and gracefully slid away. Suddenly, the lamps on the earth now seemed more luminous! If only they knew of the selfless act of the moon!

“I lighten up, not just your path.

I lighten up your glum heart”.