Moon

Planetary Relationships

ॐ श्रां श्रीं श्रौं सः चन्द्राय नमः

Om Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah Chandraya Namah

Salutations to the Moon God

ॐ सों सोमाय नमः

Om Som Somaya Namah

Salutations to Soma (Moon)

दधिशङ्खतुषाराभं क्षीरोदार्णवसम्भवम्। नमामि शशिनं सोमं शम्भोर्मुकुटभूषणम्॥

Dadhi Shankha Tusharabham Kshirodarnava Sambhavam, Namami Shashinam Somam Shambhor Mukuta Bhushanam

I bow to the Moon who is white like curd, conch, and snow, born from the ocean of milk, and who adorns Lord Shiva's crown

ॐ अप्यायस्व समेतु ते विश्वतः सोम वृष्णियम्। भवा वाजस्य संगथे॥

Om Apyayasva Sametu Te Vishvatah Soma Vrishniyam...

O Soma, may nourishment come to you from all directions

Birth from Sage Atri's Eyes

Sage Atri, one of the seven great sages (Saptarishis) born from Brahma's mind, performed intense penance along with his devoted wife Anusuya. He stood still in meditation for three thousand divine years, seeking to create progeny. During his deep meditation, his eyes streamed with tears of joy and spiritual ecstasy. From these tears emerged a brilliant light that illuminated all ten directions. The ten directions (Dik Devis) couldn't contain this light, and it fell down upon the earth. Brahma gathered this light and formed it into Chandra (Soma). The Sages declared that this being, born from Atri's eyes (Netra), was worthy of ruling the Nakshatras, presiding over the Brahmanas, and nourishing the plant kingdom. Thus Chandra became the lord of vegetation, tides, and the mind.

Source: Vishnu Purana, Brahmanda Purana

Emergence from Samudra Manthan

During the great churning of the cosmic ocean (Kshirasagara Manthan), the Devas and Asuras used Mount Mandara as the churning rod and Vasuki the serpent as the rope. As they churned for Amrita (the nectar of immortality), many divine treasures emerged. Among the fourteen precious things (Chaturdasha Ratnas) that emerged was Chandra, radiating cool, soothing light that brought relief to all the gods exhausted from churning. He arose from the ocean adorned with a beauty that captivated all. Brahma assigned him the role of illuminating the night, nourishing the plant kingdom, and governing the tides. He was also given lordship over the Nakshatras and made the presiding deity of the mind (Manas).

Source: Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana

Marriage to the 27 Nakshatras

Daksha Prajapati, the progenitor king, had many daughters. His 27 daughters personified the 27 Nakshatras (lunar mansions). Seeing Chandra's beauty and radiance, Daksha offered all 27 daughters in marriage to the Moon god. The wedding was performed with great ceremony. However, Daksha extracted a promise from Chandra that he would love all his wives equally and spend equal time with each one. The 27 wives represented the 27 lunar mansions, and Chandra was to travel through each, spending approximately one day with each wife every lunar month. Initially, Chandra agreed to these terms, and the divine marriage was celebrated across the three worlds.

Source: Matsya Purana, Brahma Purana

Daksha's Curse - The Waxing and Waning

Despite his promise to treat all wives equally, Chandra became utterly enchanted by Rohini, the fourth Nakshatra and the most beautiful among his wives. He began spending almost all his time in Rohini's mansion, neglecting the other 26 wives. The neglected wives, heartbroken and humiliated, complained to their father Daksha. Daksha warned Chandra multiple times, but the Moon god, intoxicated with love for Rohini, ignored the warnings. Furious at this disrespect, Daksha cursed Chandra: 'You are consumed by passion and have become irresponsible. May you be consumed by disease (Kshaya Roga) and waste away!' The curse immediately began taking effect. Chandra started to wane, losing his brilliance day by day. As he weakened, the plants began to wither, the tides became erratic, and mental disorders increased in the world. The gods became worried.

Source: Shiva Purana, Matsya Purana

Chandra Takes Refuge in Shiva

As Chandra wasted away from Daksha's curse, he realized his grave error. The gods approached Brahma for help, who advised Chandra to seek refuge in Lord Shiva. Chandra went to Prabhasa Kshetra (modern-day Somnath in Gujarat) and established a Shiva Lingam there. He performed intense worship and penance to Lord Shiva, reciting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Pleased with his devotion and repentance, Lord Shiva appeared. However, even Shiva could not fully nullify a curse given by Daksha. Instead, Shiva offered a modification: Chandra would wane for fifteen days (Krishna Paksha) and then wax for fifteen days (Shukla Paksha), forever alternating between fullness and newness. To honor Chandra and protect him, Shiva placed him on his own head, becoming known as 'Chandrashekhar' (one who wears the Moon as a crown) or 'Chandramouli' (one with Moon as a crest). The temple at Prabhasa became the first Jyotirlinga - Somnath - meaning 'Lord of Soma/Moon.'

Source: Shiva Purana, Linga Purana

The Tarakamaya War - Chandra and Tara

Tara was the beautiful and devoted wife of Brihaspati (Jupiter), the preceptor of the gods. However, Chandra, proud of his beauty and charming ways, became enamored with Tara. Using his mesmerizing influence, he lured Tara away from Brihaspati's ashram. Despite demands from Brihaspati and warnings from Brahma, Chandra refused to return Tara. This led to the great Tarakamaya War. The Asuras, led by Shukra (Venus), sided with Chandra against the Devas led by Indra who supported Brihaspati. The war threatened to destroy all creation. Finally, Brahma intervened forcefully, and Chandra was compelled to return Tara. However, Tara was now pregnant. When she gave birth to an extraordinarily beautiful and intelligent son, both Chandra and Brihaspati claimed fatherhood. The boy's beauty was beyond compare. When pressed by Brahma to reveal the truth, Tara shyly admitted that the child belonged to Chandra. The boy was named Budha (Mercury) and became one of the Navagrahas. This story explains the complex relationship between Moon and Mercury in astrology.

Source: Bhagavata Purana, Devi Bhagavata

Why Ganesha and Moon Don't See Eye to Eye

On one Chaturthi night (fourth day of the lunar month), Lord Ganesha was returning home after accepting offerings from his devotees. Having eaten many modakas (sweet dumplings), he was happily riding his mouse Mooshika. Suddenly, a snake appeared, frightening the mouse. The mouse stumbled, and Ganesha fell, his belly splitting open, scattering the modakas. Chandra, who was shining brightly in the sky, saw this and burst into mocking laughter at Ganesha's condition. Humiliated and angry, Ganesha cursed Chandra: 'Since you have laughed at me, whoever sees you on this day will face false accusations and blame!' Chandra immediately repented and begged forgiveness. Ganesha, being compassionate, modified the curse: it would apply primarily on Bhadrapada Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi). Even today, it is considered inauspicious to look at the Moon on Ganesh Chaturthi. This story explains the 'Moon-sighting prohibition' on that day.

Source: Shiva Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana

Soma - Lord of Plants and Nectar

In Vedic tradition, Chandra is intimately associated with Soma, the divine nectar that grants immortality and divine experiences. The entire ninth Mandala of the Rig Veda is dedicated to Soma. Chandra is called 'Oshadhipati' - the lord of all plants and herbs. The ancient seers observed that plants grow stronger during the waxing moon and that the moon's gravity affects the sap within plants. The Soma plant, from which the sacred Soma drink was prepared, was believed to be especially connected to the moon's influence. The rays of the moon were said to nourish all vegetation on earth, filling them with 'Rasa' (essence). This is why the moon is connected to fertility, nourishment, and the growth of all living things. The mind, too, is nourished by the moon, just as plants are.

Source: Rig Veda, Atharvaveda

Chandra and Rohini - Eternal Love

Among all his 27 wives, Chandra's love for Rohini was legendary. Rohini, the fourth Nakshatra ruled by Moon himself, represented everything that Chandra cherished - beauty, fertility, and creative energy. When Chandra visited Rohini's mansion, he would lose track of time, sometimes lingering for days. The other wives, particularly Jyeshtha (Antares), Bharani, and Kritika, grew jealous. Despite Daksha's curse teaching him a lesson, Chandra's heart never stopped loving Rohini the most. To this day, the Moon is said to be brightest and most beneficial when transiting through Rohini Nakshatra. This exalted state of Moon in Taurus (where Rohini lies) represents the memory of that divine love. Rohini Nakshatra is considered most auspicious for activities related to beauty, fertility, and abundance - reflecting Chandra's special affection.

Source: Various Puranas

Abhimanyu - The Moon's Partial Incarnation

When the gods decided to assist in Lord Vishnu's plan to reduce the burden of earth through the Mahabharata war, each contributed portions of themselves to be born as warriors. Chandra was reluctant to be separated from his beloved son Varchas for a full human lifetime. He agreed to let Varchas incarnate on earth only on the condition that he would not live beyond sixteen years. Thus, Varchas was born as Abhimanyu, the heroic son of Arjuna and Subhadra. Abhimanyu inherited the moon's beauty, charm, and the quality of captivating all who saw him. His tragic death at sixteen in the Chakravyuha, surrounded by great warriors who killed him unfairly, fulfilled the condition Chandra had set. After Abhimanyu's death, Chandra was reunited with his beloved son. This story explains Abhimanyu's extraordinary beauty and his destined short life.

Source: Mahabharata (Adi Parva)