Ratih

Goddess Ratih (Dewi Ratih in Indonesian, ) also known as Sang Hyang Ratih or Sang Hyang Semara Ratih is a Hindu Goddess of moon in Java and Bali. She's well known for her beauty and grace, thus she was also known as the Goddess of Beauty. Her myth is linked to lunar eclipse.

Dewi Ratih and Lunar Eclipse

Due to Ratih's rejection on his love, Kala Rau, a giant, planned to attack vishnuloka. When Kala Rau reached heaven on the form of Kuwera, a leader rakshasa who served the Gods, Ratih warned Vishnu that Kuwera was actually Kala Rau. Vishnu beheaded Kala Rau without knowing he's swollen tirta amerta, a drink of gods that could make him immortal. Because only his throat that touched tirta amerta, Kala Rau's body might be dead, but his head wasn't, yet was floating on the sky. When the moon came, Kala Rau would chase its goddess, and swallow Dewi Ratih in whole. But because he didn't have a body, Dewi Ratih would soon came out from his neck. In Bali and Java, this story is believed to be the origin of lunar eclipse.^[1]

Ceremony

in Bali, a ceremony is held every purnama or full moon to celebrate the beauty of the moon. Not only to celebrate Ratih's beauty, the ceremony also celebrates Chandra, God of the Moon.

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