This folktale from Southern India was collected by Mary Frere in the mid-nineteenth century. Her source was Anna Liberata de Souza, a maid who worked for Frere's family and other British colonial households. De Souza's family was from
Karnataka, but had moved several times throughout Southern India (eventually converting to Christianity, hence the Portuguese name). De Souza supplied many traditional folk stories for Frere, who published them in
1868 in
Old Deccan Tales. De Souza herself heard these stories as a child from her own grandmother.
One day the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunt, the Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return.
Now both the Sun and the Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their mother--but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that the Star might also have a share in the treat.
On their return, their Mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, "Well, children, what have you brought home for me?"
Then the Sun (who was eldest) said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends--not to fetch a dinner for my mother!"
And the Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure."
But the Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before.
Then the Star turned to the Sun and spoke thus, "Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself, without any thought of your mother at home--you shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall hate you, and cover their heads when you appear."
(And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.)
Then she turned to the Wind and said, "You also, who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasures--hear your doom. You shall always blow in the hot dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time."
(And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable.)
But to the Moon she said, "Daughter, because you remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you 'blessed.'"
(And that is why the Moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day.)
Sources:
Mary Frere.
Old Deccan Days. 1868. at Internet Sacred Text Archive.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/odd/odd14.htm (accessed May 18, 2011)
Kirian Narayan. "Introduction: Situating Old Deccan Days." In
Old Deccan Days by Mary Frere, K. Narayan, ed., pp. vii-xxxii. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio. 2002.