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Sacred Facts · At a Glance
Mantra
Om Somāya Namaḥ / Om Candrāya Namaḥ
- Vahana
📷 Public domain · source
Deities
Chandra
The Moon God — Lord of Mind & Emotions
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Sit with this kathā
The story where this form appears — one sitting, one face.
The Moon God — Lord of Mind & Emotions
The story where this form appears — one sitting, one face.
Chandra (चंद्र) — "the shining one" — is the moon god in Hindu tradition, representing the cool, calming, reflective aspect of existence. While Surya (sun) represents the active, bright, masculine principle of consciousness and life, Chandra represents the passive, cool, feminine principle of the mind, emotions, and inner light. Chandra is depicted as a beautiful, white-complexioned deity holding a crescent moon (his crest) and riding a bull or a chariot drawn by ten white horses. He is the lord of the night, of cooling energy (shitala), of the mind (manas), and of the nectar of immortality (amrita). He is invoked for peace, mental clarity, spiritual coolness (shanti), and emotional balance.
The Rig Veda contains several hymns to Chandra (RV 2.32, 8.93, 10.85). Chandra is described as the husband of the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) — his wives, each representing a constellation, revolve around him monthly. This cosmic marriage establishes the lunar calendar system fundamental to Hindu time-keeping.
Chandra was born from the sage Atri's wife (Anasuya or sometimes the goddess Rohini). Some Puranas describe him as one of the Adityas, born from Aditi's reflection. Chandra grew to extraordinary beauty, which so enchanted the other gods that Shiva (in some versions) cursed him to wane. Later, Chandra's light was partially restored, explaining the moon's waxing and waning cycle.
Chandra holds the amrita (immortality nectar) in his cool rays. The story goes that Chandra seized the amrita from the serpents (nagas) and was chased by them. Vishnu placed Chandra in the sky, giving him his own chariot path — the sun and moon chasing each other across the heavens.
Chandra rules over the mind, emotions, mother's health, and one's nourishment capacity in Jyotisha (Hindu astrology). A strong Chandra in one's chart indicates mental stability, emotional intelligence, and connection to the divine feminine principle.
Chandra represents the principle of coolness (shitalata) — not merely physical coolness but the spiritual coolness of a balanced, undisturbed mind. In a world of heat (passion, anger, agitation), Chandra teaches calmness.
In Yoga and Vedanta, the mind (manas) is often compared to the moon — it waxes and wanes, is sometimes bright, sometimes dark. Chandra teaches us to stabilize the mind beyond these fluctuations.
Chandra's association with nourishment (as the provider of amrita and as the husband of all 27 wives) establishes him as the nurturing principle — the one who sustains all life through the cool night.
| Text | Description |
|---|---|
| Rig Veda | Chandra's hymns, especially RV 2.32 |
| Puranas | Chandra's genealogy, the amrita story, relationship with the nakshatras |
| Surya Siddhanta | Lunar astronomical calculations |
| Jyotisha texts | Chandra's astrological significance and remedies |
Chandra Mantra:
Om Somaya Namah
Om Somaya Chandramase Namah
Recite 108 times on Mondays (Somavaram), preferably at moonrise.
Monday Fasting (Somvar Vrata):
Water Offering:
Somvati Amavasya:
Chandra Yagya:
Monday Shivabhisheka:
Textual Study:
Comparative Study:
Mondays are Chandra's day. Devotees visit Shiva temples (Chandra is associated with Shiva's third eye through the Somalinga tradition) or dedicated Chandra temples. The most famous is the Somnath Temple (Gujarat), where Chandra is believed to have originally resided.
Hindu festivals, vratas (fasts), and auspicious days are calculated based on the lunar calendar. Chandra's influence pervades daily Hindu life through the panchaang (almanac).
The Monday fast dedicated to Shiva has strong lunar connections. Devotees believe Chandra's cool energy enhances the Shiva worship experience, providing shanti (peace) and freedom from negative karma.
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