Navagraha are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu astrology. This blog will narrate to you the various aspects and stories associated with the second of the Navagraha – Chandra.
Chandra also known as Soma, is the Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night, plants and vegetation. The second day of the week Monday is dedicated to this God, also known as Somvar in Hindi. One must offer white or silver coloured articles and wear white to please this celestial god. Chandra is depicted only with a face and has two hands holding white lotuses but no body. The lunar deity is never depicted with a full body, symbolizing his waxing and waning.
Chandra was married to the twenty-seven daughters of sage Daksha, son of Lord Brahma. Those 27 daughters are the 27 lunar asterisms or stars. When Daksha gave away his 27 daughters in marriage to Chandra, asked for a promise that Chandra would never look down upon any of his daughters and would treat all the 27 daughters with love, care and equality. And, Chandra too promised sage Daksha that he will love and care all his wives equally.
Chandra was disappointed at the thought of waxing and waning. His crescent shape would just be a constant reminder of the curse and his reduced strength! Shiva consoled him by saying, ‘My dear child, the crescent indicates that you will still retain some of your powers. I will wear your crescent in my hair to show my devotees that they are dear to me even in their lowest moments. That way you will be my constant companion.’
Thus, Shiva came to be known as Chandrasekhar, or ‘the one with Chandra mounted on his head’. As per this story, once Chandra decided to perform the greatest of Yagnas, Rajasuya Yagna. Chandra requested Brihaspathi (Deva Guru) to preside as the main priest to perform the yagna. Due to some other reason, Brihaspathi could not go and asked his wife Taara to preside over the yagna. As the yagna was progressing, Chandra began to attain more beautiful form, his divine beauty kept increasing to such an extent that all the Apsaras (Angels), Devalok women and including Deva Guru’s wife Taara began to fall for Chandra’s beauty. Tara returned home pregnant, and everybody questioned whose child is in her womb.
