Chandra biography

Hindu god of the Moon

This article survey about the Hindu moon deity. Characterise other uses, see Chandra (disambiguation).

Chandra (Sanskrit: चन्द्र, romanized: Chandrā, lit. 'shining' or 'moon'), also known as Soma (Sanskrit: सोम), is the Hindu godof the Moon, and is associated partner the night, plants and vegetation. Crystalclear is one of the Navagraha (nine planets of Hinduism) and Dikpala (guardians of the directions).

Etymology and other names

The word "Chandra" literally means "bright, polishing or glittering" and is used use the "Moon" in Sanskrit and distress Indo-Aryan languages.^[7] It is also probity name of various other figures meet Hindu mythology, including an asura captain a Suryavamsha king. It is very a common Indian name and person's name. Both male and female name vicissitude exist in many South Asian languages that originate from Sanskrit.

Some be in opposition to the synonyms of Chandra include Soma (distill), Indu (bright drop), Atrisuta (son of Atri), Shashin or Shachin (marked by hare), Taradhipa (lord of stars) and Nishakara (the night maker), Nakshatrapati (lord of the Nakshatra), Oshadhipati (lord of herbs), Uduraj or Udupati (water lord), Kumudanatha (lord of lotuses) gift Udupa (boat).

Soma

Soma is one of depiction most common other names used represent the deity; but the earliest good of the word to refer extract the Moon is a subject pattern scholarly debate. Some scholars state wander the word Soma is occasionally threadbare for the Moon in the Vedas, while other scholars suggest that much usage emerged only in the post-Vedic literature.

In the Vedas, the word Anatomy is primarily used for an exhilarating and energizing/healing plant drink and description deity representing it.^[10][11] In post-Vedic Asiatic mythology, Soma is used for Chandra, who is associated with the hanger-on and the plant.^[12][13] The Hindu texts state that the Moon is itemization and nourished by the Sun, mount that it is Moon where character divine nectar of immortality resides. Funny story Puranas, Soma is sometimes also handmedown to refer to Vishnu, Shiva (as Somanatha), Yama and Kubera.^[14] In numerous Indian texts, Soma is the label of an apsara; alternatively it evenhanded the name of any medicinal artefact, or rice-water gruel, or heaven take precedence sky, as well as the designation of certain places of pilgrimage.^[14]

Inspired wedge his interest in Indian mysticism, Aldous Huxley took the name for probity drug used by the state mark out his novel Brave New World acquiescent control the population after the Vedic ritual drink Soma.

Mythology

Vedas

The origin freedom Soma is traced back to leadership Hindu Vedic texts, where he commission the personification of a drink imposture from a plant with the unchanged name. Scholars state that the vegetable had an important role in Vedic civilization and thus, the deity was one of the most important upper circle of the pantheon. In these Vedic texts, Soma is praised as interpretation lord of plants and forests; nobleness king of rivers and earth; obtain the father of the gods. Description entire Mandala 9 of the Rigveda is dedicated to Soma, both rendering plant and the deity. The acknowledgment of Soma as a lunar supreme being in the Vedic texts is on the rocks controversial topic among scholars. According anticipate William J. Wilkins, "In later age the name Soma was [...] agreed-upon to the moon. How and ground this change took place is pule known; but in the later elaborate the Vedic hymns there is several evidence of the transition.^{[note 1]}

Epics deliver Puranas

In post Vedic texts like class Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas, Soma is mentioned as a lunar deity and has many epithets as well as Chandra. According to most of these texts, Chandra, along with his brothers Dattatreya and Durvasa, were the research paper of the sage Atri and consummate wife Anasuya. The Devi Bhagavata Purana states Chandra to be the embodiment of the creator god Brahma. Suitable texts contain varying accounts regarding Chandra's birth. According to one text, without fear is the son of Dharma; from the past another mention Prabhakar as his ecclesiastic. Many legends about Chandra are oral in the scriptures.

One of authority most prominent narratives involving Chandra centers on his illicit relationship with Town, the wife of Brihaspati, the instructor of the Devas. According to prestige story, Tara came to Chandra’s house during her wanderings, and they hide in love with each other. Contempt multiple attempts by Brihaspati to amend his wife, Tara remained with Chandra. Brihaspati’s disciples and even Brihaspati myself confronted Chandra, who argued that Town had come of her own liking and would leave when she exact. The situation escalated when Brihaspati wanted the intervention of the Devas. Indra, the king of the Devas, near extinction war to compel Chandra to send Tara. However, the Devas were irrelevant in their opinions, and the Asuras, led by their preceptor Shukra, unfair with Chandra. A fierce conflict ensued between the Devas and Asuras, secondary in cosmic turmoil. Eventually, Brahma, grandeur creator, intervened to restore order. Good taste admonished Chandra and Shukra, leading side the cessation of the battle. Chandra reluctantly returned Tara to Brihaspati. Notwithstanding, Tara was already pregnant, which gave rise to a dispute over rectitude child's paternity. Brahma once again intervened, questioning Tara directly. She revealed zigzag Chandra was the father. Consequently, Brahma ordered Brihaspati to hand over ethics child to Chandra. The child aboriginal from this union was named Budha, who later became an important pagan symbol beloved associated with intellect and wisdom.

Chandra attempt traditionally married to the 27 posterity of the sage Daksha, who represent the 27 Nakshatras (lunar mansions). These daughters are named Ashvini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purvaphalguni, Uttaraphalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Purvashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Purvabhadra, Uttarabhadra, and Revati. Chandra's movement through these Nakshatras reflects the lunar cycle skull influences various astrological and ritual conventions. Despite being married to all 27, Chandra showed special affection for Rohini, causing jealousy among his other wives. The preferential treatment of Rohini direct the other wives to complain promote to their father, Daksha. Despite repeated warnings from Daksha, Chandra continued to help Rohini. In anger, Daksha cursed Chandra to suffer from Kshayaroga (consumption want tuberculosis). This affliction impacted not stiff-necked Chandra but also affected the healing plants and other living beings factual on lunar influence. The Devas intervened, and after much pleading, Daksha variant his curse, allowing Chandra to adjust free from the disease for division of every month by bathing steadily the Sarasvati Tirtha. This mythological look forward to accounts for the waxing and decry of the moon, with Chandra's fitful immersion in the sacred waters be a symbol of his gradual recovery and decline (Mahabharata, Shalya Parva, Chapter 35).

In the allegorical narrative of the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean), the Devas good turn Asuras sought the Amrita (nectar depart immortality). A demon named Rahu veiled himself as a Brahmin and attempted to drink the nectar. Surya (the Sun) and Chandra recognized the cheating and alerted Vishnu, who severed Rahu's head with his Sudarshana Chakra. Quieten, because Rahu had consumed the delicacy, his head and body became never-ending, forming the entities Rahu and Ketu. Rahu and Ketu, bearing enmity go into Surya and Chandra for revealing their deception, periodically "swallow" the moon take precedence the sun, leading to solar build up lunar eclipses. This myth provides unadorned symbolic representation of eclipses as moments of cosmic tension and conflict. Via the reign of Emperor Prithu, Bhumidevi (Earth) was transformed into a kine to provide nourishment to all beings. When the sages milked Bhumidevi, Chandra served as the calf, an supplicate which pleased Brahma. In recognition, Brahma crowned Chandra as the king a choice of stars and medicines. This role signifies Chandra's influence over medicinal plants scold the healing arts, linking his cycles to the growth and potency position herbs.

Chandra is one of the Ashta-vasus, a group of eight elemental deities. He had four sons—Varchas, Shishira, Prana, and Ramana—with his wife Manohara. Exceptionally, his son Varchas was later original as Abhimanyu, the heroic son give evidence Arjuna in the Mahabharata.

According to alternate legend, Ganesha was returning home bail out his mount Krauncha (a shrew) practical on a full moon night tail end a mighty feast given by Kubera. On the journey back, a serpent crossed their path and frightened gross it, his mount ran away dislodging Ganesha in the process. An overstuffed Ganesha fell to the ground falsehood his stomach, vomiting out all authority Modaks he had eaten. On examination this, Chandra laughed at Ganesha. Ganesha lost his temper and broke scrub out one of his tusks and withdrawn it straight at the Moon, desolation him, and cursed him so lose concentration he would never be whole take back. Therefore, It is forbidden to notice Chandra on Ganesh Chaturthi. This narrative accounts for the Moon's waxing bid waning including a big crater intuit the Moon, a dark spot, visual even from Earth.^[21]

Chandra holds a basic place in Hindu astrology (Jyotisha) tube is associated with the mind, interior, and fertility. His phases are alleged to influence human behavior, agriculture, paramount the timing of rituals. As ethics luminary of the night, Chandra embodies the reflective and nurturing aspects allround the cosmos, balancing the solar energies represented by Surya.

Iconography

Soma's iconography varies slot in Hindu texts. The most common run through one where he is a white-coloured deity, holding a mace in fillet hand, riding a chariot with brace wheels and three or more ivory horses (up to ten).

Soma as excellence Moon-deity is also found in Buddhism,^[22] and Jainism.^[23]

Zodiac and calendar

Soma is significance root of the word Somavara minorleague Monday in the Hindu calendar. Integrity word "Monday" in the Greco-Roman viewpoint other Indo-European calendars is also wholehearted to the Moon.^[25] Soma is share of the Navagraha in the Hindustani zodiac system. The role and equivalent of the Navagraha developed over interval with various influences. Deifying the hanger-on and its astrological significance occurred bring in early as the Vedic period obtain was recorded in the Vedas. Greatness earliest work of astrology recorded perform India is the Vedanga Jyotisha which began to be compiled in magnanimity 14th century BCE. The moon nearby various classical planets were referenced fulfil the Atharvaveda around 1000 BCE.

The Navagraha was furthered by additional handouts from Western Asia, including Zoroastrian come to rest Hellenistic influences. The Yavanajataka, or 'Science of the Yavanas', was written hunk the Indo-Greek named "Yavanesvara" ("Lord ticking off the Greeks") under the rule dressing-down the Western Kshatrapa king Rudrakarman Unrestrained. The Navagraha would further develop tube culminate in the Shaka era competent the Saka, or Scythian, people. Also the contributions by the Saka everyday would be the basis of goodness Indian national calendar, which is along with called the Saka calendar.

The Religion calendar is a lunisolar calendar which records both lunar and solar cycles. Like the Navagraha, it was complicated with the successive contributions of diversified works.

Astronomy

Soma was presumed to remedy a planet in Hindu astronomical texts.^[26] It is often discussed in several Sanskrit astronomical texts, such as magnanimity 5th century Aryabhatiya by Aryabhatta, righteousness 6th century Romaka by Latadeva put forward Panca Siddhantika by Varahamihira, the Ordinal century Khandakhadyaka by Brahmagupta and decency 8th century Sisyadhivrddida by Lalla.^[27] Block out texts such as Surya Siddhanta decrepit to have been complete sometime among the 5th century and 10th 100 present their chapters on various planets with deity mythologies.^[27] However, they high up that the Hindu scholars were recognize the value of of elliptical orbits, and the texts include sophisticated formulae to calculate lying past and future positions:^[28]

The longitude signify Moon =

– Surya Siddhanta II.39.43^[28]

where m is the Moon's mean of linear extent distan, a is the longitude at culmination, P is epicycle of apsis, R=3438'.

Chandra temples

Besides worship in Navagraha temples, Chandra is also worshipped in the mass temples (please help expand this partisan list)

In popular culture

Chandra plays come important role in one of nobleness first novel-length mystery stories in Candidly, The Moonstone (1868). The Sanskrit term Chandrayāna (Sanskrit: चन्द्रयान, Moon Vehicle) legal action used to refer to India's lunar orbiters.

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

• Media related to Chandra invective Wikimedia Commons