Does moon influence the life of earth in a way or another? There is a lot many ways in which moon apply its influence on living and non-living things in the earth. Moon influence the history, the philosophy, the literature, science, various physical processes in the earth and in the atmosphere, the communication systems, navigation and so many aspects of human life; either directly or indirectly. I don't want to explain the physical processes through which moon influence our life, rather I would touch upon certain other aspects.
Some people keep a poetic mind always. They love moon and the moonlight. Some people love to sit in a beach and watch the tides and waves. Most of the people love these two natural phenomena. Some go even crazy of the beauty of a full moon or a crescent. Many poems were inspired by the golden light of moon. Many philosophers were inspired by the tides and waves in the oceans! The beauty of Taj Mahal in a full moon day is very much admired all over the world!
In Hindu culture, Moon is one among the Nava Grahas (Nine Planets) which influence the life of a person. The Hindu astrology says that the position of the Moon along with other eight 'planets' at the time of birth of a person directly influence the future of a human being. Well, the definition of planet in Hindu astrology is different from that in modern science. So please don't raise arguments like Moon is not a planet blah blah. I said all these only to say how much moon has been influencing a majority of people's lives. Many young men and women in India are not still married only because of these planets!
Moon is very common in Islamic culture too. You will see a crescent with a star on the tomb of the minaret of most of the mosques. A crescent and a star is a common symbol used by Muslims. Islamic calendar is basically lunar, and the appearance of the first crescent after the new moon marks the change of a Hijra month. In the history of Kerala and Islam, there is an interesting story: Prophet Muhammed in Arabia once showed a miracle to his people by making a cleft in the crescent in the sky! Across the Arabian sea in Kerala, the Chera ruler Cheraman Perumal Ramaverma saw this and was surprised to know from the Arab merchants that this was a miracle done by Prophet Muhammed in Arabia! The king wanted to meet him and set out his journey to Arabia. There he accepted Islam and while returning back, he died and was buried in Salalah, Oman.
