The Story of Chandra: Through Love, Curses, and Destiny
Chandra was born from the churning of the sea of milk and married 27 daughters of Daksha, symbolizing the 27 Nakshatras. Because he loved Rohini more, he received a curse from Daksha. Chandra also kidnapped Tara, the wife of Wrehaspati, which triggered a war between gods and asuras, and from that relationship Budha, the god of the planet Mercury, was born. The story depicts cosmic dynamics and human emotions such as love, jealousy, and pride among the gods.
Lord Chandra, also known as Soma, was born at the beginning of the creation of the universe during the churning of the ocean of milk (Samudra Manthan). This churning was done by the gods and asuras with the aim of obtaining Tirta Amerta, the sacred drink that grants immortality. In this process, many magical objects and creatures appear, including Chandra which materializes as a beautiful full moon. The soft light of Chandra symbolizes serenity, beauty, and the ever-repeating cycle of life, becoming an important symbol in Hindu cosmology.
During this churning process, many precious objects and magical creatures emerge from the ocean, ranging from gems to mythological creatures. Among the things that materialize from the churning, Lord Chandra appears in the form of a full moon that glows beautifully, casting a soft light that illuminates the night. This light symbolizes serenity, beauty and the repeating cycle of life. Chandra's presence not only has cosmic significance, but is also an important symbol in various rituals, especially in Hindu religious and astrological ceremonies.
In the Puranas, Chandra is known as the lord of the Moon and Monday, also called Somavara. He is the son of Atri, a great rishi, and grandson of Brahma, the creator of the universe in Hindu tradition. As the moon god, Chandra plays an important role in Hindu mythology, where he not only influences natural cycles, such as the tides, but is also thought to affect human moods and destinies. In his divine form, Chandra is depicted as a very handsome figure, radiating a soft and soothing light like the full moon shining into the night.
Chandra is often depicted with two arms, one of which holds a mace, symbolizing strength and protection, while the other holds a lotus flower, a symbol of purity, beauty, and spirituality. This form emphasizes the balance between physical strength and purity of heart, characteristics that earn it respect among gods and humans alike.
According to mythology, every night Chandra travels across the sky in his magnificent chariot. The chariot is pulled by ten white horses that symbolize purity and speed. Chandra's nightly journey across the sky is considered a symbol of serenity, order in the universe, and eternal cosmic beauty.
Chandra and His Chariot (Source: Personal Collection)
Chandra married 27 Daksha daughters, which symbolize the 27 Nakshatras or stars in Hindu astrology. Each of these Daksha daughters is personified as a constellation of stars circling the sky. In Hindu tradition, Chandra's marriage to these 27 Nakshatras reflects the close relationship between the phases of the moon and the motion of the stars, which is very important in Hindu dating and astrological systems.
Of all his wives, Chandra loved Rohini the most, one of the most beautiful and brilliant Nakshatras. Because of his deep love for Rohini, Chandra spent more time with her, neglecting his other wives. This sparked jealousy among Chandra's other wives, who felt they were not being treated fairly. Eventually, these jealous wives complained to their father, Daksha, who was one of the Prajapatis.
Daksha, who was known to be stern and strict, was infuriated by the injustice done by Chandra to his daughters. As punishment, Daksha then cursed Chandra so that his light began to dim and slowly disappear, which then created the cycle of the waning moon. Chandra, worried about losing his beauty and the waning moonlight, begged Daksha for forgiveness. Although the curse is not completely lifted, Daksha grants relief by allowing Chandra to regain his radiance gradually, leading to the full moon phase. This cycle continues to repeat, creating the phases of the moon.
After Chandra performed the Rajasuya sacrifice, he gained tremendous glory and great power that made him even more respected among the gods. However, this success and power brought about negative changes in him. Chandra became arrogant and began to behave immorally. One of the most striking acts of his arrogance occurred when he met Tara, the wife of Wrehaspati, who is the god of wisdom and the planet Jupiter in Hindu astrology.
Chandra Took Tara Away (Source: Personal Collection)
Wrehaspati, devastated by Chandra's abduction of his wife Tara, tried hard to get her back. Although he sought the help of the gods and holy rishis, his efforts were initially fruitless. Even when Brahma, the creator of the universe, intervenes and orders Chandra to return Tara, Chandra refuses. This led to tensions that grew until they exploded into a great war between the gods.
War Between Gods (Source: Personal Collection)
On the one side, the gods led by Indra, the god of thunder and king of the gods, fought in defense of Wrehaspati and demanded the return of Tara. They fought to end Chandra's humiliation of Wrehaspati. While on the other, Chandra is joined by the asuras, who side with him in this battle.
Realizing that the situation was getting out of control and many parties were suffering from the conflict, Chandra finally asked Brahma for protection. Brahma, who wanted peace, ordered Chandra to immediately return Tara to her husband, Wrehaspati. Chandra, in defeat, followed Brahma's orders and returned Tara to her husband, Wrehaspati.
When Tara returned, Wrehaspati realized that his wife was pregnant, the result of her relationship with Chandra. In his anger and disappointment, Wrehaspati refused to accept Tara back until after the birth of the child. Following Wrehaspati's wishes, Tara gave birth to a son, who named Budha. Although Budha was born out of a scandalous relationship, he grew to become a highly revered deity and is known as the god of the planet Mercury, which symbolizes intelligence, wisdom and logic.
Chandra, Tara, and Budha (Source: Personal Collection)
The story reflects the complex dynamics between the gods, with various human emotions such as love, jealousy and pride influencing their actions. But in the end, Budha, born out of conflicted events, brings balance and wisdom into the cosmic world.
