Chandra

Chandra, also known as Soma, is the Vedic and Puranic deity of the moon, presiding over the night, the mind, and the rhythm of time. In the Rigveda (1.91), Soma is celebrated as a divine nectar that grants immortality and is associated with the sacred soma plant. The moon god is considered the lord of the nakshatras (lunar mansions), as described in the Taittiriya Samhita and later Puranas. Chandra is the father of Mercury (Budha) by Tara, the wife of Brihaspati, a story detailed in the Bhagavata Purana (9.14). Iconographically, Chandra is depicted with a fair complexion, seated on an antelope or a white lotus, holding a mace and a lotus, and crowned with a crescent moon.

His chariot is drawn by ten white horses, symbolizing the ten directions. The crescent moon is his primary symbol, representing the cyclical nature of time and the mind's waxing and waning. Chandra is married to the 27 nakshatra goddesses, with Rohini being his chief consort. According to the Skanda Purana, Chandra's waning was a curse from Daksha due to his partiality toward Rohini, later mitigated by Shiva who placed the crescent on his head. In Hindu cosmology, Chandra governs the mind (manas), emotions, and nourishment.

The waxing and waning phases of the moon influence the growth of plants and the tides. Regional worship includes the Kojagari Purnima and Sharad Purnima festivals, where devotees fast and offer milk-based dishes. In Jyotisha (Vedic astrology), Chandra is a key graha (planet) representing the mind, mother, and emotional well-being. His associated mantra is 'Om Candraya Namaḥ' and the Soma Gayatri. Chandra is worshiped pan-India, with temples dedicated to him in places like the Somnath temple (associated with Shiva) and the Chandra Darshan at the Meenakshi Temple.

The name Chandra derives from the Sanskrit root 'cand' meaning 'to shine' or 'to glitter', literally translating to 'bright' or 'shining'. It is the standard term for the Moon in Sanskrit and many Indo-Aryan languages.

The alternate name Soma, from the root 'su' meaning 'to press' or 'to extract', originally referred to the sacred Vedic plant and its intoxicating juice, but by the post-Vedic period became synonymous with the lunar deity. Other epithets include Indu ('bright drop'), Shashank ('hare-marked', referring to lunar markings), Nishakara ('night-maker'), and Taradhipa ('lord of stars').

Regional variants include Chandrama in Hindi and Bengali, and Chandran in Tamil. The Taittiriya Samhita (4.4.10) uses Soma to denote the moon, marking the transition.

The Amarakosha (1.3.14) lists Chandra and Soma as synonyms for the moon.

Chandra's earliest attestation is in the Rigveda, where Soma is primarily a deified plant and drink, but the deity Soma is celebrated as the lord of plants and the father of gods. Rigveda Mandala 9 is entirely dedicated to Soma. The identification of Soma with the moon is debated; however, the Taittiriya Samhita (4.4.10) explicitly states 'Soma is the moon'.

In the Brahmanas, Soma is clearly a lunar deity. The Shatapatha Brahmana (11.1.2.1) describes the moon as Soma, the king of the stars. In the Puranic era, Chandra rises to prominence as a distinct lunar god.

The Bhagavata Purana (9.14) narrates the story of Chandra's abduction of Tara, wife of Brihaspati, leading to the birth of Budha (Mercury). The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva 85) mentions Chandra as one of the Adityas and a Dikpala. The Skanda Purana (1.1.21) recounts Daksha's curse causing Chandra's waning, and Shiva's intervention placing the crescent on his head.

Sectarian shifts include the absorption of Soma into Shaivism as Somanatha (Shiva as lord of the moon).

Chandra is depicted with a fair, white complexion, symbolizing the moon's cool and soothing light. He is often shown seated on an antelope or a white lotus, holding a mace (gada) and a lotus (padma) in his two hands. His crown features a crescent moon.

In some depictions, he rides a chariot drawn by ten white horses, representing the ten directions. His vahana (vehicle) is an antelope or a white horse. A dhyana-shloka describes him as wearing white garments, adorned with pearls and white flowers, with a serene expression.

In South Indian bronze iconography, Chandra is shown standing with two arms, holding a lotus in one hand and the other in varada mudra (boon-granting gesture). In North Indian miniature paintings, he is often depicted as a youthful god with a halo, riding a chariot across the night sky. The Shilpa Shastras (e.g., Manasara) prescribe his proportions and attributes.

Regional variations include the depiction of Chandra with four arms in some traditions, holding a noose and goad in addition to the lotus and mace.

In Advaita Vedanta, Chandra represents the mind (manas) and its fluctuations, which are as transient as the moon's phases. The moon is a symbol of the illusory nature of the phenomenal world, reflecting the light of the sun (Atman). In Vishishtadvaita, Chandra is a subordinate deity serving Vishnu, governing the mind and emotions.

In Dvaita, Chandra is a distinct entity, a deva with specific duties, and is considered a jiva (individual soul) with limited powers. In Shaiva Siddhanta, Chandra is closely associated with Shiva, as the crescent moon adorns Shiva's head, symbolizing the control of the mind. In Tantric traditions, Chandra is linked to the left channel (ida nadi) and the lunar energy (soma), which is cooling and nourishing.

The moon is also associated with the element of water and the sense of taste. In Jyotisha, Chandra is a key graha representing the mind, mother, and emotions. The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (Chapter 2) describes Chandra's influence on human temperament and destiny.

Chandra appears in Bharatanatyam and Odissi dances, often in pieces depicting the moon's beauty or the story of Chandra's curse. In Carnatic music, compositions like 'Chandram Bhaja' by Muthuswami Dikshitar praise the moon god. Hindustani ragas such as Chandrakosh and Chandrakauns evoke the moon's mood.

In painting, the Pahari and Mughal schools often depict Chandra as a youthful god in a night sky. Tanjore paintings show him with a fair complexion and crescent crown. Folk traditions include the Kojagari Purnima festival, where devotees fast and offer milk-based dishes under the full moon.

In Bali, Chandra is worshipped as the moon god in Hindu rituals. In Cambodia and Thailand, the moon god is known as Chandra or Phra Chan, and appears in astrology. The crescent moon is a symbol in many Hindu temples, and the Somnath temple in Gujarat is dedicated to Shiva as Somanatha, the lord of the moon.