3. Candima paritta
The moon in Buddhist cosmology is inhabited by a deva called Candima
or Canda. The Candima Sutta in Samyutta Nikaya records the incident
of the Buddha's request to Rahu (the evil planet which swallows the
moon and causes eclipses) to free its victim. The narrative says the moon
(Canda) was seized by the asura Rahu, and the victim, remembering the
Buddha at that moment, appealed thus: `O conquering Buddha, I adore
thee! Thou art perfectly free from evil; I am in distress; be thou my
refuge!' Then Buddha spoke this stanza to the asura Rahu on behalf of
the god Canda: `Rahu! Canda has taken refuge in the holy Tatagatha.
Release Canda. Buddha compassionates the world.' Upon hearing this,
Rahu released Canda and fled to the chief of the asuras; trembling with
fright when questioned why he had released Canda, Rahu replied: `My
head would have been split into seven pieces; I should have had no comfort
in my life; I have been spoken to by the Buddha...otherwise I would
not have released Canda.' (Hardy 1880, pp. 47-8).
