Chandra the Lunar Deity
Chandra (Sanskrit चन्द्र lit. “shining”) is a lunar deity in Hinduism.
Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma (lit. “juice”).
The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation.
On the inner level on consciousness, Chandra is the reflective light of the mind, and Soma is the sacred nectar of higher states of awareness.
Chandra is also the word in Sanskrit, Hindi and other Indian languages for moon and means ‘shining’.
Originally a feminine deity, representing the goddess or the female archetype in general, Chandra has been depicted in a male form in many sculptures and images as a symptom of patriarchal dominance in the the Hindu society.
The name Chandra and Soma are still common names for girls in India.
Chandra is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and having in it’s hands a club and a lotus.
Chandra rides on a chariot across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses or an antelope.
She is connected with dew, and as such, is representative of fertility which draws back to it’s origins as the mother goddess of the universe.
The Hindu god Shiva, ‘lord of the universe’, has a crescent moon (Chandra) as an adornment on his head, representing his eternal union with the goddess Shakti within, thus allowing him to maintain the supreme state. This representation of Chandra is also associated with it’s form as the divine nectar (Soma.)
In Vedic astrology Chandra represents the subconscious mind, emotions, intuition, higher perception, sensitivity, softness, imagination, queen and mother.
Traditionally, the mother goddess in pre-Vedic religion was always associated with the worship of the moon.
On the elemental level, Chandra represents the water, and the infinite flow which binds and seperates all existence.
Chandra is the aspect of the psyche that allows us to feel, perceive, and understand the world in a subtle and gentle way.
Moon is associated with the functionality of mind. It is believed that the moon controls the power of mind and versatility. It is also believed to provide power of meditation, concentration and resistance against cold diseases.
Moon is the presiding deity of the element water, and rules over the tides of the sea.
The sphere of the Moon is the reservoir of rainwater and thus Moon is the ruler of plants and the vegetable kingdom.
The color of Moon is white. Its nature is wise, and learned.
It rules peace of mind, comfort, general well-being, and also the fortune of a person. It shows its influence around twenty-four to twenty-five years of age.
The Moon gives illumination, intuitive nature, sensuality, taste, youth, love of poetry, fine arts and music, love of jewelry, attractive appearance, wealth and good fortune. It makes us moody, emotional, and sensitive.
It rules milk, grains, liquids, growth, fertility, impregnation, and conception.
It influences the infant stage of an individual, which guides his behavior in the later in the later part of his life. It is cold and moist. It also influence childbirth and rules the left nostril, eyesight, the breasts, and the brain (memory).
Moon influences travelers, human, fisherman, prostitutes, cooks, nurses, and caterers.
Sun, Mars, and Jupiter and the Moon's natural friends, and Mercury, Venus, and Saturn are its natural enemies.
In Rohini, Hast, Shravan, Punarvasu, Vishakha, and Purva Bhadrapad nakshatras it gives good and beneficial effect.
It also gives favorable effects if it is in Kritika, Uttra Phalguni, Ashlekha, Jyestha, Uttra Khad, and Revati nakshatras.
Favourite Colour : White
Favourite Day : Monday
Favourite God / Deity : Lord Shiva
The ill effects of Moon can be minimized and the good effects can be increased according to Indian mythology by doing the following tasks. Any or all of these, one can select as per one's convenience.
To propitiate Moon, astrologers recommend donation of white cloth to needy and poor on any Monday. It is also authoritatively stated that chanting of "Om Namah Shivaya" for a good length of time continuously leads to please Moon.
Worshipping Lord Shiva daily keeps Moon immensely pleased to quench even high ambitions of the person concerned, it is stated emphatically in astrology.
Fasting on Monday brings favours granted by Moon.
'Mounavrat' (Total Silence) practiced on Poornima (Full Moon) provides power and strengthening of mind.
Wearing of Pearl ring on the small finger on any Monday and continuing to wear it thereafter is yet one more piece of advice from our ancestors to please the Moon.
Moon is the presiding deity of the element water, and rules over the tides of the sea. The sphere of the Moon is the reservoir of rainwater and thus Moon is the ruler of plants and the vegetable kingdom.
The color of Moon is white. Its nature is wise, and learned.
It rules peace of mind, comfort, general well-being, and also the fortune of a person. It shows its influence around twenty-four to twenty-five years of age.
The Moon gives illumination, intuitive nature, sensuality, taste, youth, love of poetry, fine arts and music, love of jewelry, attractive appearance, wealth and good fortune.
It makes us moody, emotional, and sensitive. It rules milk, grains, liquids, growth, fertility, impregnation, and conception.
It influences the infant stage of an individual, which guides his behavior in the later in the later part of his life. It is cold and moist.
It also influence childbirth and rules the left nostril, eyesight, the breasts, and the brain (memory). Moon influences travelers, human, fisherman, prostitutes, cooks, nurses, and caterers.
For persons whose Moon is not rightly placed in their natal chart or is ill-aspected, success becomes difficult, sometimes it even becomes difficult to achieve a comfortable life on earth. It makes such people weak or sick in their early years.
An afflicted, debilitated, exiled, or weak Moon causes cold, cough, fever, eye ailments, lunacy, paralysis, epilepsy, hysteria, colic pains, beriberi, intestinal disorders, throat troubles, bronchitis, dysentery, neurosis, typhoid, and cancer.
Moon's cool and pleasant rays are significantly influential on medicinal plants and herbs on earth. It is worshipped and praised as 'Oshadhi Raja' or 'King of Herbs'- It's worship wards of chronic diseases and leads to health and success, controls longevity with sound health.
The Moon rules the zodiac sign of Cancer. The sign of exaltation of the Moon is Taurus and the sign of debilitation of the Moon is Scorpio.
Donate Rice, white apparels, silver, conch shells, white sandalwood, white flowers, sugar, curd, pearls, moonstone etc on Monday evenings.
Offer honey and similar sweet foods be offered to Chandrama in copper vessels on full moon night during moon rise.
Hindu Religion moon sign is more important than the sun sign. Chandra mahadasha lasts for ten years. The Moon is most comfortable and powerful in the 4th House.
The metal representing Moon is silver and direction is northwest. Chandrama, as a God, is fair and youthful in appearance. He is considered wise, peaceful and auspicious. He wears white and carries a mace in one hand and is seated on a lotus
Moon / Chandra Mantra to Chant
Aum Som Somaye Namah Aum
Gemstone for this Planet - Pearl
