July 20 is a day with special significance for humanity. It is Moon Day—it commemorates the day humans first set foot on the Moon in 1969—a moment that changed forever human imagination, and our relationship to the rest of the universe.
For many of us, the Moon is far more than a historic rock in the sky. It has always fascinated us. It is companion, compass, calendar, and comfort. It’s poetic, scientific, spiritual, and personal. Whether it is its influence on tides or moods or menstrual cycles—there’s no denying its pull on our lives. It is a part of folklore—in India, a part of the family, with the moon referred to as Chanda mama.
India is writing its own Moon story, with the first manned flight planned for 2027. Grp. Captain Shukla’s sojourn at the International Space Station is part of this preparation. But we have chalked up some notches already:
- In 2008, Chandrayaan-1 confirmed the presence of water molecules on the Moon—yes, our lunar scout found signs of water where many others hadn’t.
- Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 didn’t land as planned, but gave us valuable data.
- And then came Chandrayaan-3 in 2023 when India became the first country to successfully land near the Moon’s south pole—a scientific and symbolic triumph.
This is India’s contemporary moon-story. Here is a beautiful ancient one.
The Rabbit in the Moon: A Buddhist Tale
One of the most enduring tales about the moon is of the rabbit in the Moon, a story rooted in Buddhist Jataka tradition and echoed across generations.
Long ago, the story goes, a kind and gentle rabbit lived in the forest. One day, Lord Indra came down disguised as a hungry old man, asking for food. The rabbit, seeing he had nothing else to offer, jumped into the fire to offer himself as a meal. Touched by this ultimate act of generosity, Indra rescued the rabbit and immortalised him on the Moon—his shape etched forever in the lunar light.
Even today, if you look closely on a clear full moon night, you can make out the shape of a rabbit crouched gently on the surface. Some say he’s still keeping watch. Some say he’s a reminder of kindness and quiet courage.
So on the July 20th, look up at the moon, wonder at its beauty, and ponder the words of some wise people:
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
—Buddha
“Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”
—Paul Brandt
“The moon is the first milestone on the road to the stars.”
—Arthur C. Clarke
“Always remember we are under the same sky, looking at the same moon.”
—Maxine Lee
“The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished.”
― Deng Ming-Dao
–Meena
Next week, some more explorations related to the moon.
Pic: nasa.gov/mission/apollo-11/
The programs were broadcast for a few hours a day, and hundreds of
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