On full moon nights if you look closely at the moon, you will see the image of a hare. Want to know how he got there? Find out in this Jataka story…
The Buddha, as we know him, had many births and rebirths. In his past lives, he was referred to as the ‘Bodhisatta’ (meaning enlightened being) and once, he was born as a hare.
The young hare lived in a beautiful forest that lay at the foot of a mountain. On one side of it flowed a river across which lay a village. Very often, travellers and ascetics passed the forest on their way up the mountain. The Bodhisatta had three friends — a monkey, a jackal and an otter. Each morning, they went to gather food and returned in the evening to their dwelling place.
The Hare was wise in his ways and taught his friends the moral codes, the importance of alms giving and the holy days to be observed. His friends, by and large, listened to his advice.
One evening, looking up to the sky and seeing the moon, he told his friends, “Tomorrow is a day of fasting. It is also a day to give alms to the needy for that shall bring you greater rewards. So remember, whatever you gather tomorrow should be distributed to anyone who asks for food.”
The friends agreed and retired to bed.
As the next day dawned, the four friends went their separate ways. The otter swam through the river and went all the way up to the Ganga. There on the banks, a fisherman who had caught seven red fish had strung them together and buried them in the sand. The otter’s nose led him to where the fish lay buried and before long, he was swimming back home with his prized catch of the day. What a lucky day, he thought. Looks like someone kept this fish just for me.
The jackal was wandering in the forest and came upon a hut. Inside, he found a lizard and a pot of curd. “Hello!!!!” he shouted. “Does this belong to anyone?” Not getting an answer, he took the pot and the lizard and made his way back home. When the time of the fast is past I can eat this all, he thought to himself.
The monkey jumped from tree to tree and came upon a bunch of ripe mangoes. “What a find!” he screeched in delight “This can wait till tomorrow.” And the monkey carried the mangoes back to his dwelling.
As for the Hare, who surveyed the kusa grass where he was about to browse, a thought came to him. If anyone were to ask me for food, how can I feed them grass?
In the heavens, sitting in his white marble throne on Mount Meru, Sakka, the king of the gods, was watching them all with keen interest.
Taking the guise of a priest, he approached the otter first. “Kind sir, do you have something for me to eat when I break my fast tomorrow?”
“Of course! I have seven red fish with me. You are most welcome to stay here tonight and eat it in the morning,” replied the otter cheerfully. “Okay, I will come back at dawn then,” said the priest and went to find the jackal.
The jackal offered him the lizard and the pot of curd. “Will come back for it,” said Sakka as he moved on. The monkey, whom he sought out next, offered him the mangoes readily and to him too Sakka said the same thing.
Finally he went to the hare. “I will be delighted to offer you food,” said the hare, “only, I request you to make a pile of wood first and light a fire.” Sakka did as asked and called the hare.
“Since I do not have any food to offer, I give myself to you.” Uttering these words, he threw himself into the flames.
But the fire was icy cold! The hare was surprised. “But… this is cold!” he murmured.
The god smiled. “I’m Sakka. I’m pleased by your generosity and sacrifice. The whole world should remember you forever!”
He then squeezed the mountain and extracted an essence with which he painted the image of the hare on the moon.
And that is the hare you see on the face of the moon.