Moon observers: Hindu myth and legacy of 'Karwa Chauth' festival

Karwa Chauth (Hindi: करवा चौथ) is an one-day festival celebrated by Hindu women in North India in which married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands. The fast is observed in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, western Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon, in the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Kartik. Sometimes, unmarried women observe the fast for their fiancés or desired husbands. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karva_Chauth) 

This festival comes 9 days before Diwali on 'kartik ki chauth', i.e., on the fourth day of the new moon immediately after Dusshera, in the month of 'Karthik' (October-November).

The fast of Karwa Chawth truly sets the merry tone of the fun and frolic, festivity and feasting that come in good measure during Diwali — the biggest festival of the Hindus. (22nd October 2013, Tuesday) 

Moon in Rig Veda: The hymn 10.85 of Rig Veda is about the marriage of Sun (sūryā) with Moon (soma). This hymn is important because it throws light on quite a few real things about the lives and thoughts of the people who composed The Rig Veda. The personification of Sun and Moon as the bride and the bridegroom may have more of poetic significance, but the detailed description of the marriage ceremony may not be a thing of imagination or poetic license. After her marriage in her own house Surya goes to the groom's house in an elaborate procession (vahatu). She is wearing a wonderful dress. She has put kajal on her eyes. 

Accompanying her in the bridal procession is her close friend Raibhi and the Ashwin twins - from the groom's side. Still now in India most Hindu marriages happen in the same way as is described in this hymn.

The following verses describe as Surya's chariot as gold hued - hiraṇyavarṇaṃ, strong wheeled - suvṛtaṃ, fast rolling - sucakram, colorful - viśvarūpaṃ and decked with Kimshuka and Salmali flowers. A later verse describes Surya's chariot as spirited - manasmaya.

The following verses also have an indirect reference to the beginning of a new year at the time of Surya's marriage.

navo-navo bhavati jāyamāno ahnāṃ ketur uṣasām eti agram |

bhāghaṃ devebhyo vi dadhātyāyan pra candramās tirate dīrgham ayuḥ || 10.85.19

sukiṃśukaṃ śalmaliṃ viśvarūpaṃ hiraṇyavarṇaṃ suvṛtaṃ sucakram |

ā roha sūrye amṛtasya lokaṃ syonaṃ patye vahatuṃ kṛṇuṣva || 10.85.20

He, born afresh, is new and new for ever ensign of days he goes before the Mornings

Coming, he orders f6r the Gods their portion. The Moon prolongs the days of our existence. 10.85.19

Mount this, all-shaped, gold-hued, with strong wheels, fashioned of Kimsuka and Salmali, light-rolling,

Bound for the world of life immortal, Sūrya: make for thy lord a happy bridal journey. 10.85.20

The Moon is referred to as born afresh and new forever, navo-navo bhavati jāyamāno - a direct reference to the fact that the moon is born afresh every time there's a New Moon.

The Moon is also referred to as ahnāṃ ketu - the ensign or the leader of days. A leader carries the ensign or the flag and marches ahead and all his people follow him. So an ensign of the days may refer to first of the days or rather the beginning of the year. In the same verse it's mentioned that the Moon prolongs the days - which may refer to the longer days of summer. So the complete verse may refer to a beginning of year in the summer. (http://indigyan.blogspot.in/2011/03/suryas-bridal-rig-veda.html)

Moon Lore Many Moons: The Moon is a timekeeper, and the luminary that takes over when the Sun sets. In ancient Egypt, this

Sun-Moon switchover was embodied by the Sun god Ra and the Moon god Thoth. When the Sun god Ra journeyed into the underworld at night, Thoth took over until Sunrise. In even earlier, pre-historic times, the count of lunar months, and a lunar calendar, was in use across many cultures. The oldest artifacts show lunar markings on animal bone and carved into cave walls. The Native American elder might say he’s been around for Many Moons. In Japan, there’s a Moon-god called Tsuki-Yomi, which comes from Japanese words that mean moon and counter.

The Moon is not always feminine in myth, but because of the synching with women's cycles, Luna is often referred to as a She. She's Grandmother Moon to many indigenous cultures, the reminder to strip away what society puts on you during the day. In ancient Greece and Rome, she was Artemis and Diana (respectively), both archetypes of female strength and creative power. She's also been paired with the Sun, as Moon maiden or Lady of the Night, to the Sun's kingly dominion over daytime.

Some cultures looked to the silvery orb as the heavenly home, where all souls go. The water sign of emotional origins and women, Cancer, is linked to the Moon. And for the Sumerians (in the area of Mesopotamia), this constellation was the gateway through which souls came down from the stars, to find their place on Earth. In contrast to the harsh Sun, the cool reflective Moon is a comforting, seductive presence. It's the fastest moving entity with a pull so strong it creates bulges in the ocean's waters. (http://astrology.about.com/od/themoon/a/Introduction-To-The-Moon.htm)

Lunar Goddess

• Women made fertility offerings to the virgin huntress Artemis, later the Roman Diana, to attract the virile male, and to ensure fertility and safety in childbirth. (http://astrology.about.com/od/themoon/a/Introduction-To-The-Moon.htm)

Moon and Mother

• Some ancient traditional cultures saw the Moon as the source of life, and the Moon was deeply intermingled with women’s cycles and the ability to shape-shift and to create new life.
The Moon myths of the Moon convey its influence on all of nature, including the human fertility cycle.

#Karwa Chauth festival pictures: Sharad Pathak family of Lucknow, India, on 22nd October 2013, Tuesday
#Copyright of above pictures strictly reserved.

#text thankfully consulted & shared from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karva_Chauth

http://indigyan.blogspot.in/2011/03/suryas-bridal-rig-veda.html

http://astrology.about.com/od/themoon/a/Introduction-To-The-Moon.htm