The Hare on the Moon ~ Jatak Tales In English

According to Buddha Darshan, the Jataka tales are representations of the thoughts, practices, values ​​and attitudes of our ancestors. It is an amalgamation of his life stories, representations, sermons, legends and religious discourses. This renaissance reveals the importance of connecting the latest generations to the values, religion and culture of their ancestors.

The Hare on the Moon ~ Jatak Tales In English

A rabbit lived in a forest on the banks of the Ganges. He had three friends - monkey, jackal and beaver. All the four friends wanted to become Danveers. One day in the course of conversation, he decided to do Param-Daan on Uposath's day because the complete fruit of the donation is received on that day. Such has been the concept of the Buddhists. (Uposatha is a religious festival day for Buddhists)

When the day of Uposath arrived, early in the morning all the friends came out of their homes in search of food. When the eye of the wandering beaver fell on the seven red fish kept on the banks of the Ganges, he brought them to his home. At the same time the jackal also stole a pot of curd and a piece of meat from somewhere, returned to his home. Jumping and jumping, the monkey also plucked a bunch of ripe mangoes from an orchard and brought it to his home. All the three friends took a pledge to donate the same things. But his fourth friend rabbit was not an ordinary creature. He thought that if he donates his food i.e. grass and leaves, then the recipient of the donation will hardly get any benefit. Therefore, on the occasion of Uposath, he decided to donate himself for the purpose of giving ultimate satisfaction to the petitioner.

His decision of self-sacrifice started oscillating the whole universe and also started warming the seat of Sakka. In the Vedic tradition, Sakka is called Shakra or Indra. When Sakka came to know the reason for this very supernatural incident, then in the form of a monk, he himself reached the homes of those four friends to test their charity.

 The beaver, the jackal and the monkey fished Suk from their homes respectively; meat and yogurt; And wanted to donate bunches of ripe mangoes. But Sakka did not accept the items donated by him. Then he approached the rabbit and begged for charity. The rabbit proposed to bake the flesh of his whole body in the hearth to know the suitable opportunity of charity. When the hearth was lit, he stroked his hair three times so that the little creatures living in his hair would not get burnt in the fire. Then he gracefully jumped into the burning fire.

Sakka was shocked at his charity. He had neither seen nor heard of such charity till eternity.

Yes, surprise! The fire did not burn the rabbit because the fire was magical; The test done by Sakka was a trap.

The hypnotized Sakka then sang the praises of the rabbit, and by crushing a mountain of the moon with his hands, made the rabbit's mark on the moon and said,

"As long as the mark of the rabbit remains on this moon, O rabbit! The world will remember your charity and bravery."

Story Of The Monkey King ~ Jatak Tales In English