Word

Chandra

Sanskrit

चन्द्र

IAST

candra

In General

Moon is called Chandra and is one of the Navagraha. Chandra is born to the ideal couple, Atri - Anasuya and is a deva of Svarga. He is also called Soma. Chandra is one of the invaluable things begot while churning of Kshrabdhi (Milky ocean).

According to M.B. Bhisma Parva, Candra is ll,000 sq. yojanas in area, 33,000 yojanas in circumference and its volume is of 5,900 cubic yojanas.

Veda

Veda use the word soma for moon or Chandra. To Veda, the moon, symbolically represent the delight in performing any work.

Purana

Wives of Chadra: Candra took twentyseven daughters of Daksa as his wives. These twentyseven wives are the twentyseven constellations (Nakshatras). Candra circumambulates Mahameru along with his twentyseven wives.

The names of the twentyseven wives are given hereunder:

1. Ashvini 2. Bharani 3. Krittika 4. Rohini 5. Mrigashira 6. Ardra 7. Punarvasu 8. Pushya 9. Ashlesha 10. Magha 11. Purvaphalguni 12. Uttaraphalguni 13. Hasta 14. Chitra 15. Svati 16. Vishakha 17. Anuradha 18. Jyestha 19. Mula 20. Purva Ashada 21. Uttara Ashada 22. Shravana 23. Dhanishta 24. Shatabisha 25. Purva Bhadrapada 26. Uttara Bhadrapada 27. Revati

Lunar eclipse: The Devas and the Asuras jointly churned Ksirabdhi wherefrom emerged Amrtakumbha. An Asura called Svabhanu, the eldest of the demon Vipracitii and Simhika absconded to Patala with the Amrtakumbha which was noticed by Mahavishnu. While Asuras was about to serve the Amruta among them, Mahavisnu assumed the figure of a beautiful woman, got back the Amruta Kumbha and distributed it to the Devas. Svabhanu, assuming the form of an old brahmin reached svarga, got a share of the amrta and began to drink it. Surya and Candra (Sun and Moon) who were on guard at the gates discovered the secret of the 'old brahmin' and informed Mahavisnu about it. He cut the throat of the pseudo-brahmin with his Sudarsana Cakra. But, half of the nectar he had drunk stayed above the throat and the other half below it. Therefore, though the head and the trunk were severed they remained alive. These two parts, in course of time, evolved as Rahu and Ketu. Rahu and Ketu still maintain their hatred for Surya and Candra who had betrayed the Asura. Eclipse is the phenomenon of Rahu and Ketu swallowing Surya and Candra as and when opportunity presents itself for it. But, since the throat is severed from the body, Surya and Candra thus swallowed get out through the throat. That is the reason why Surya and Candra emerge out after a small duration.

Waxing and waning of Candra: Of the twenty seven daughters of Daksha whom Candra had married, he loved Rohini more than any other, and so preferred her company. This annoyed the twenty six wives, who complained about it to Daksha. Daksha's advice to Chandra to treat all the wives on an equal footing had no effect on him. Daksha warned Candra a second time that too had no effect on him. Daksha got angry at this and cursed that Candra should suffer from a dreaded disease as waxing and waning.

Chandra, the King of stars and of medicines: During the reign of emperor Prithu, he changed Bhumidevi into a cow. Later the Rishis also changed Bhumidevi into a cow and milked her. It was Candra who served as calf then. Pleased at this Brahman crowned Candra as king of the stars and medicines. (Harivamsa, Chapter 4, Verse 2).

Birth of Budha : Tara,the very beautiful wife of Brhaspati, once fell in love with Chandra and started living with him. Brihaspati requested and again threatened Chandra to return Tara. But Chandra disobeyed his guru, so also Tara did not preferred to go back to her old husband. A terrible war assured with Indra in the side of Brihaspati. Lord Brama intervened and accordingly Chandra retuned Tara to Brihaspati. Tara was carrying a child of Chandra when she returned to Brihaspati. A beautiful child called Budha is delivered eventually.