The moon! Just a minor planet orbiting our earth! It is nothing but bare rocks and barren valleys, a surface not much better than most roads in India. 'The giant step for mankind' has already often treaded there. Why, Mr. Musk is already planning touristy visits there!
Despite all this materialistic realism, the moon has an allure of its own. Never can it fail to charm. Its crescent appeal is that of a bud about to bloom, while its unique glory on a full moon night can attract the mighty oceans as the waves impatiently rush to meet the shores.
Poets have loved it. Be it the Madeline's casement as described by Keats or be it the beloved walking in beauty as presented by Byron, the moon light and its gentle magic, poets can never have enough of it. Why, the evil, too, can camouflage itself in the hide-n-seek that the pale moonlight plays with the shadows as in Coleridge's gothic "Christabel"or the witchery of an unusual moon as in his great poem, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner".
Indian mythology as well as literature, too, shimmer with the glimmer of the moonlight. Countless examples can be quoted. Incidentally, in the Indian writings, the moon can evoke not merely the passion of love but also the gentle affection of a fond mother for the innocent demand of her little one.
Each pournima, the full moon day, is unique. Yet the Tripuri Pournima is special because of its association with Kartikeya Poojan and because of the interesting legend of how Lord Shiva came to be known as Tripurasurharta.
Most interestingly, truly reflecting the innate secular "sarva dharma samanata" of Indianness, this Kartik Pournima is centrally important both to the majority Hindus and the minority Sikhs as it celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak who founded Sikhism. He enunciated the triune principles central to Sikhism that are the very lifeline of Sikhism.
Be it such a glory of religion or be it the beauty of literature, the Kartik Tripuri Pournima, the night diya's on the land compete with the stars in the sky, is indeed a wonder.
Pratima@ The moon in all its magical majesty makes mystical the material realities.
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