Chandra - The Moon

 

In astrology when we say the word Moon, we start imagining it as a God Moon, as we have seen in many TV shows. A fatty personality, wearing white clothes, beautiful eyes, fair but little weak, very short & black hair, soft spoken, and a wise personality. Yes that is how Moon is described everywhere in Mythological stories. 

In astrology we study 7 planets and 2 shadow planets. Though Sun is King Planet Moon plays the main role in this sector, we can say this Sabha of planets is just like our Political structure. We have a President but Prime Minister plays the main and important role while ruling the country. We calculate, plan, predict every thing based on Moon considering all other Planets including Rahu Ketu which are know as shadow Planets.     

We all know that the Moon is a satellite of Earth, but when it comes to astrology we consider the Moon as a Planet.   

The Moon in Vedic astrology is called CHANDRA. In Sanskrit CHANDRA means "bright and shining". The Moon is known as a hare, or rabbit in Vedic tradition, as he travels faster than any of the other Planets. Moon is cool & also rules rainy season.

Moon has many names like Chandrama (which glitters), Soma (Lord of plants & creepers), Ratreesa & Rajnipati (Lord of night). All the names make justice to the characteristics of Moon.  

Moon symbolises

Moon is the vehicle of the mind that receives the light of the soul. Mercury is the further process that is called the intellect, which places a value on what the mind has received. The Moon as the mind is indicative of all the senses and their ability to perceive life in its entire splendour.

In the night Moon strengthens the mind, purifies blood and is considered as the mother who emits nectar (Amrut). Worship of Moon is said to be beneficial for relief from all sorrows, helps in curing mental afflictions etc. His cool rays radiate happiness around. He worships Lord Siva. The Moon has always been associated with things like Femininity, Emotions, Unconscious habits, Rhythms, Memories and Moods. 

It has also been associated with the mother, maternal instincts or the urge to foster, the home, and the past. The Moon was believed to influence moods. Moods fluctuate between the positive and the negative like the waxing and waning of the Moon, in some people with such great frequency that one declares them lunatics. (Which means Moon in Latin).

Moon is symbol of love and the word Honeymoon (Madhu Chandra in Marathi) indicates love between couples. In Indian community, the word ‘honeymoon’ can be a subject of hush hush…, but the word itself is full of tenderness, anxieties and aspirations of newly weds.

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Moon - God or Goddess

If the sun was a God in Greek mythology, then the Moon was a goddess. The Moon was a goddess even in pre-Islamic Arabia. If the sun was Yang to the Chinese, then the Moon was Yin. Sun and Moon were considered as brother & sister. 

The Moon was a goddess who when crescent (curved) was a virgin, when full (Poornima) was a matriarch (female family leader) and when new was a hag or a witch. With the rise of patriarchy, it was but natural that all things associated with the Moon came to be considered diabolical (female converted in to male).

In India, the Moon is never seen as a goddess but rather as a charming romantic god called Chandra who constantly flirted with the stars. He is also called Soma, the one who’s waxing and waning influences the rising and subsiding of earthly fluids. 

The most visible impact is seen on the sea where he causes high and low tide. He is believed to have a more subtle impact on the sap of all plants, making him the lord of all vegetation. 

The most prized herb, in Vedic times, was Soma, whose juices when consumed caused heightened mood elevation. Chandra is always shown holding the Soma herb in his hand and riding an antelope (deer), for like an antelope he was restless.

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Mythological Story about 

waxing & waning of Moon 

In Vedic times, the sky was divided into 27 parts. These were occupied by stars who were goddesses known as Nakshatras. These were the daughters of Daksha Prajapati and he gave them all in marriage to Chandra. 
Chandra, however, preferred only the Nakshatra called Rohini and he spent so much time with her that the other neglected wives, her sisters, complained to their father. 
Enraged, Daksha cursed Chandra that he would suffer from the wasting disease. Instantly, the Moon began to disappear. Not knowing what to do, Chandra prayed to Shiva who placed the wasting Chandra on his head. Instantly, Chandra started to wax again. 
From that day, Shiva came to be known as Soma-shekhara, one who had saved the wasted (crescent) Moon by placing him on his head. 
Daksha then decreed that Chandra would have to spend one day with each of his 27 wives. As a result, Chandra began to wax every day as he approached Rohini’s house and wanes everyday as he moved away from her. 
On new Moon nights, when he is not seen, it is considered as he was with no wife. The sisters once again complained that their husband was showing his most handsome form only to his favourite Rohini; so Prajapati Daksha decreed that the sky would keep moving. Hence today, on full Moon days, the Moon is in different houses, not just in the house of Rohini.

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The other side of the Moon

As every coin has 2 sides, Moon also has 2 different characteristics. Till now we have seen Moon as God, motherly figure, symbol of love, etc., which all indicates Moon as an auspicious character. But as I said Moon also has a dark side which is its 2nd characteristic. Moon is a little crooked and inauspicious too. On one hand Moon gives you life, love, care, emotions and on other hand it can wheel your mind with a crooked thoughts and ideas. 

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There is a Mythological story about 

Moon falling love with Tara and 

The birth of Mercury

Another story of the Moon God is that he fell in love with the wife of the planet, Jupiter. Jupiter is called Brihaspati in Hinduism. He is the guru of the gods of the sky or Devas. Brihaspati is an old man, serious and rational. He lacks the passion found in Chandra, who is the most handsome of all gods and is associated with emotions, romantic desires and moodiness. Brihaspati’s wife, 

Tara, which also means star, grew bored of Brihaspati, and eventually eloped with Chandra.
This led to a crisis in the heavenly kingdoms, because Brihaspati went to Indra, the king of the sky, and demanded his wife be brought back. If Brihaspati did not perform any rituals for Devas, they were doomed to face defeat in battle. Indra had to fight Chandra and force him to let Tara go, who returned home pregnant, and everybody wondered whose child it was.
When asked, Tara refused to say anything. The child in the womb was a love child of Tara and Moon. This annoyed Brihaspati so much that he cursed the child to be born a genderless being. It was Mercury or Budh, the child of the star goddess and the Moon god. And therefore, Mercury is changeable, both male and female.

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Dark Arts & The Moon

Moon controls our mind and mind generates ideas. Ideas have no form, they are ‘nirguna’ neither it has any enemies. They can be given form, turned ‘saguna’ using sound or mudras. Power of mind can be used for auspicious or inauspicious work. It’s the Moon who plays the main role here. 
Dark half (Shukla Paksha) of each lunar month is allotted for Pitra (inauspicious work). Followers of witchcraft (Tantrik), who gave great value to the Moon, were condemned as worshippers of the Devil. Tales of ungodly creatures were intertwined with lunar cycles: thus on Full/New Moon nights all the inauspicious works are carried out by Tantriks only when the sun set and the Moon rose. 
In Astrology Sun is called king of all Planets and Moon is called queen. Hence Moon is known as Royal Planet. Moon has major role in our day to day activities as well each and every lively thing on the earth. Let’s understand how Moon is involved in our activities and how it is ruling the life on earth:  

• As we have seen Moon controls the earthly fluid, it controls High & Low tide of the sea, river flow as well as the blood flow in human body is also controlled by Moon. 

• Moon is considered motherly figure hence pregnancy is predicted by the position of Moon in the Kundali. Also delivery time can be forecasted by the transit of Moon.

• Moon is associated with growth which can be observed in the growth of any plant or human body. That occurs efficiently at night. 

• Our day system (Tithi) is set by Moon which helps to find out the auspicious Muhurta to confirm the success of the work planned.    

• When we say Moon controls mind, the imagination power is influenced by Moon. At the same time Moon is the reason for the metal illness of a person.

• Mahadasha period is calculated by Moon. At the time of birth MD starts from the Lord of the Nakshatra which is (Nakshatra) occupied by Moon. 

• Moon is known as Royal Planet that means native will be benefited by government.

• Moon is considered more stronger and benefic when it is more than 120 Deg on either side of Sun

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Yoga – combination of Moon & other Planets

There many combinations of Planets which forms a different Yogas in each Kundali. Few of them are very symptomatic as they are in connection with the Moon and those are called Lunar Yogas.

• When there is a planet(s) in the next house to Moon except Sun it is called Sunapha Yoga. This is a benefic combination for Job, financial status, popularity, Asset, etc. If this is due to 

• Any planet(s) placed in 12th house from Moon except Sun is called Anapha Yoga. This is beneficial for health, self respect, appearance, leadership, life style, etc. with Mars native becomes powerful. Mercury makes the native a good speaker and social worker. Jupiter makes native honest and charitable. Native earns respect, popularity, asset gain, beauty and discipline from Venus. 

• Durdhar Yoga is formed when there are planet(s) in 2nd & 12th house from Moon except Sun. Native enjoys a happy life by spending a lot. Good for job/business.  

• When there is no planets in 2nd & 12th house from Moon is called Kemadruma Yoga. This combination can destroy any other benefic Yoga formed by other planetary combinations. 

• If Jupiter & Moon are placed in Lagna or they fall in Kendra from each other that makes a grate combination of Gajakeshari Yoga. It benefits with richness, quality education, respect, courage, good impression, better at planning.  

• Chandra-Mangalya Yoga is formed when Moon & Mars are placed in same house / rashi. Which is not a good combination for the native. It occurs dispute with mother & relatives, earnings thought illegal conducts.  

• If auspicious Planets are placed in any of 6th, 7th, or 8th house from Moon then that forms Chandradhi Yoga. Native enjoys higher passion at job. 

• An auspicious planet placed in 10th house from Moon or Lagna is called Aamla Yoga. This gives respect in society, happiness, helping nature. If combination is with malefic planets then result will change accordingly.

• Raj Bhang Yoga follows if 

• Moon is debilitated or weak

• Debilitated rashi Lord is in Kendra from Moon

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Moon forms foundation of Muhurta

Strength of the Moon forms foundation and other planets get strength from this foundation. The strong foundation of the Moon only protects other planets. – Narad Samhita

Till now we have seen Moon playing important role everywhere. Same importance Moon has in Muhurta. For any Muhurta the 1st element is Tithi which we calculate the Tithi (day) by monitoring the movement of Moon. When the Moon moves forward by 12 Deg. we say 1 Tithi is complete. Increment between longitude of Sun and the Moon amounts to the multiple of 12 Deg. is called Tithi. There are 12 Lunar months, when Sun enters in Meen rashi the 1st month of Lunar calendar starts with Chaitra and when Sun transits through Kumbh rashi the year ends with its Lunar month Phalguni.
Until recently, Hindus did not celebrate their birthday on the calendar day on which they were born. Instead, they celebrate their birthday in the lunar month they were born when the Moon enters the part of the particular month at a particular degree which has a specific Tithi. Such is the importance of the Moon in Vedic culture.
While electing a Muhurta for a particular work, the Moon plays benefic disposition when it is:

• Moon in Navamsha of a benefic planet or accepted by Jupiter.

• Auspicious if in 10th, 6th, 3rd, 11th & 7th house of the election chart.

• Moon in 11th house purifies all Tithis and Yogas. More benefic if it occupies 11th house at night.

• 11th house Moon also destroys the doshas of Navamsha, Planets, Shadvargas and Ascendant.

• Moon gives benefic results in Transit in 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 & 11 sign form Janma rashi, provided there is no rashi in 5, 9, 12, 6, 7, 10 & 8 sign except Mercury.

• Moon in the sign of Mesh or Karka rashi is auspicious for marriage.

To avoid malefic results in election chart by Moon one must look for

• Moon with malefic planet or 7th from malefic planet becomes inauspicious.

• The Moon in the rising Navamsha or the rising sign is bad for marriage election. 

• Inauspicious Moon creates house of Dosha, if Moon is in Tula or Kumbh rashi. 

• Moon Transiting Kumbh & Meen rashi is inauspicious for many Muhurta.

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          (These are my study notes  prepared under guidance of my Guru Shri K R Chari sir)

                            * Image used in this blog is referred from Google images