Chandra
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{{Hdeity infobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
Image = Chandra img.jpg
| Caption = Chandra
| Name = Chandra
| Devanagari = चंद्र
| Sanskrit_Transliteration = ''Chandra''
| Pali_Transliteration =
| Tamil_script =
| Script_name = <!--Enter name of local script used-->
| Script = <!--Enter the name of the deity in the local script used -->
| Affiliation = [[Graha]]
| God_of = Moon
| Abode =
| Mantra =
| Weapon =
| Consort = 27 [[Nakshatra]]s <br /> (Daughters of [[Daksha]]) including <br /> the main consort,[[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rohini]] <br />and [[Taraka|Tara]]
| Mount = chariot pulled by an antelope<br />by ten white horses / rams
| Planet = Moon
}}
:''This article is about the Hindu moon deity. For other uses, see [[Chandra (disambiguation)]].''
In [[Hinduism]], '''Chandra''' (lit. "shining)<ref>Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN 0970963645 p.51</ref> is a [[lunar deity]] and a [[Graha]]. Chandra is also identified with the [[Veda|Vedic]] [[Lunar deity]] ''[[Soma]]'' (lit. "juice")<ref>Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN 0970963645 p.50</ref>. The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation.<ref>Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN 0970963645 p.51</ref> He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and having in his hands a club and a lotus.<ref>Mythology of the Hindus By Charles Coleman p.131</ref> He rides his [[chariot]] (the [[moon]]) across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses or an antelope. Although the antelope is the animal most commonly depicted with Him in iconography, the rabbit is also particularly sacred to him and all rabbits are under his protection.<ref>Panchatantra the complete version by Pandit Vishnu Sharma translated by G.L. Chandiramani p.134 published by Rupa and Co.1991 ISBN 81 7167 065 2</ref> He is connected with [[dew]], and as such, is one of the gods of fertility. He is also called '''Rajanipati'''(lord of the night)<ref>Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN 0970963645 p.51</ref> and Kshuparaka (one who illuminates the night)<ref>Mythology of the Hindus By Charles Coleman p.132</ref>, ''Indu'' (lit. The bright drop). <ref>Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN 0970963645 p.51</ref> He as Soma, presides over ''Somvar'' or Monday.
He is the father of [[Budha]], (planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]]) the mother being [[Taraka|Tara]] (Taraka). He is also married to [[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rohini]], [[Anuradha]] and [[Bharani]], who are the 27 [[Nakshatra]]s (constellations) and daughters of [[Daksha]].
==Legends==
In one legend, Chandra is the son of Rishi [[Atri]] and [[Anasuya]]. In another legend, Chandra is considered the son of the ocean as he was one of the 14 Ratnas (Jewels) that emerged from the ocean during [[Samudra manthan]]. He was gifted ,by the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s and [[Asura]]s, to God [[Shiva]], who wears the crescent moon on his head.
Legend has it that Daksha was livid with Chandra for being partial to one of his daughters Rohini and ignoring his other daughters and hence cursed him to lose all his lustre.Chandra then invoked Lord [[Shiva]] at the Prabhas tirth who abated the effect of the curse to the extent that Chandra's powers would wane and wax periodically every 14 days.[http://www.somnath.org/SOMNATH-DARSHAN.html]. Chandra built the [[Somnath Temple]] with gold at Prabhas in honour of Shiva or Somnath( Master of Moon ).
In another story, Chandra is said to have married Twenty Seven of [[Daksha]]'s daughters, but favored one (''[[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rohini]]'') in particular, neglecting his other wives. This angered Daksha who cursed Chandra to wither away and die. The daughters of Daksha intervened and made Chandra's death periodic.
According to the Puranas, Chandra carried [[Taraka|Tara]] (who was the second wife of Hindu God [[Brihaspati]], God of planet Jupiter) off, which led to a great war between the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s and the [[Asura]]s. Chandra, who was infatuated by her beauty, refused to return Tara back. Ultimately, [[Brahma]] put an end to the war and restored Tara, but she was delivered of a child which she declared to be the son of Chandra, and it was named [[Budha]] (God of Mercury).
==Other uses==
[[Image:Chandra Yantra.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Chandra Yantra]]
Chandra is also the word in [[Sanskrit]], [[Hindi]] and other [[India]]n languages for [[moon]]. It is the middle name of the Hindu god [[Rama]]. This word is named after Nisha Chandra. Chandra Shekara literally refers to the 'Person who wears the moon' which links to [[Lord Shiva]] in Hindu Mythology. It is directed as both evil and good, as it could mean 'Queen of the Moon' or 'Demon of the moon'. It is also a common Indian name, both male and female (e.g.: Anurag Chandra) and exists as a name in many South East Asian languages that originate from Sanskrit.
==In astrology==
In [[Jyotisha|Vedic astrology]] Chandra represents brain and mind, emotions, sensitivity, softness, imagination, queen and mother. Chandra rules over the sign Karka (Cancer), while he is exalted in Vrishabha (Taurus) and in his fall in Vrishchika (Scorpio). The bright moon is considered a benefic of the highest order, while the dark moon is considered a malefic. Chandra is lord of three [[nakshatra]]s or lunar mansions: [[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rohini]], [[Hasta]] and [[Shravana]]. Chandra has the following associations: the color white, the metal silver and the gemstones pearl and moonstone. His element is water, direction is north-west and season is winter. The Food Grain associated with him (One of Nava Dhanyas) is Rice.
== See also ==
* [[Navagraha]]
* [[Soma]]
{{HinduMythology}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Fertility gods]]
[[Category:Lunar gods]]
[[Category:Moon myths]]
[[Category:Graha]]
[[Category:Indian astrology]]
[[Category:Indian family names]]
[[Category:Indian names]]
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