Note 193 — Chapter I

‘I am the very light of the sun and the moon,’ observes Lord Krishna in his dialogue with Arjuna,193 and the moon also receives divine honours like the sun. Moon-worship secures wealth, augments progeny, and betters the condition of milch-cattle.194 The suitable days for such worship are the second and the fourth days of the bright half of every month (Dwitīya or Bīj and Chaturthi or Choth, respectively) and every full-moon day (Purnima or Punema). On either of these days the devotees of Chandra (the moon) fast for the whole of the day and take their food only after the moon has risen and after they have seen and worshipped her.195 Some dainty dish such as kansār,196 or plantains and puris,197 is specially cooked for the occasion.