Vigneswarar and the moon

Vigneswarar and the moon

 

There is much relationship between the lord vigneswarar and the moon. With arrogance that he is the most beautiful one, the moon made fun of the lord. The lord cursed the moon, "no one will see you from now on, and if they see you they will face unnecessary blames." After that people started blaming the moon a lot. People scolded the moon, "if we look at him even by mistake we have to face unnecessary blame! Why not he go away from the eyes of us!" because of shame, the moon also went and hid himself under the ocean. Only when the moon is above the ocean, the ocean will rise during the new moon and full moon and bring rain for the good of the world. There was damage to that! The herbs all grow only in moon light- these vanished and diseases started to spread every where. Therefore, the angels and sages advised to the moon, "There is no need for your to hide away and live like this. The world need not suffer without you. Please go and apologize and seek the pardon of the lord vigneswarar. The lord who is the embodiment of compassion will definitely remove you from the curse he gave." The moon also realized his mistake and did as advised. However, to teach the world that no one should have pride and make fun of others, the lord declared that no one should see the moon on the day of his birth, the fourth day of phases of the moon, and can see the moon on other days – in granting his blessings for the curse. Because the lord is merciful, he relaxed the rule further, and blessed that even those who saw the moon on the chaturti day [will after having seen the moon, would have faced unnecessary blames, and get rid of them like the lord Krishna] can read the syamantaka mani story and rid themselves of all the curse. In addition to these, to show that his compassion is overflowing, he decided that people should pray to the moon, who derided him, during the sankatahara chaturti day. As the crescendo to that compassion, he crowned his head with the moon, and became the phaala chandran.

 

We can stress the baa and call it Bhaa and call the name bhaala chandran. Bhaalam means the place above the fore head. That is forehead. The lord who is wearing the moon at that part of the head.

 

The name phaala chandran displays the compassion of lord vigneswarar [and the patience and forbearance qualities]. The one who should have been kicked by the foot, when he sought pardon, the lord mercifully kept him on his head – the name phaalachandran demonstrates this compassionate name.