The Story of Chandradeva

While the Sage Daksha’s curse leading to the moon (Chandradeva) waxing and waning is popular, the story behind the curse is known by a few. This is the story narrated by Vaishampayana to Janamejaya in the Shalya Parva. Shalya Parva is the ninth of the eighteen books of the Mahabharata.

Prajapati Daksha was the son of Brahma in his first manvantara (human incarnation). Out of Daksha’s many other daughters, he got twenty-seven of them married to Chandradeva- the Moon God. These twenty-seven daughters are often viewed as the twenty-seven Nakshatras (lunar stars) on the Moon’s orbit. Twenty-seven daughters of Daksha sage helped the man on earth to calculate the time and change of seasons. When Prajapati Daksha gave away his daughters on marriage to Chandradeva, he asked for a promise. The promise was that Chandradeva would never look down upon any of his daughters. He would forever treat all the 27 daughters with equal love and care. On learning about this, Chandra promised that he would treat his wives with equality.

The Rajasuya Yagna

Once, Chandradeva decided to perform the greatest of all yagna (a sacred sacrifice). This was the Rajasuya Yagna translating to fire worship. To invite the other deities, he first visited Satyalok. It was where Lord Brahma resided. Chandra invited Lord Brahma and received his blessings. He then visited Devaloka (the place of residence of Gods) to invite Lord Indra and other Devas to attend the Yagna.

Chandradeva then requested Brihaspathi to preside as the main priest to perform the Yagna to which Brihaspathi agreed. Chandradeva was taught the vedas and divine skills by his guru, who was none other than Brihaspathi himself.

Brihaspati, The Guru of Gods

Lord Indra who was the King of Gods himself, appointed Brihaspati as the chief priest. A priest was very important because it was Dwapara Yuga, a time when rituals were the most significant aspect of people’s lives. Brihaspati was the master priest and scholar and hence he attained the name Deva Guru (Teacher of Gods).

Sage Brihaspati was married to Tara. Here, Brihaspati represents the planet Jupiter and Tara means “star.” In ancient India, a woman’s participation in the rituals is as important as a man’s participation. All rituals were established in a form that did not leave space to disregard women in any sense. By this logic, a man could neither perform a ritual without his wife nor receive fruits of the ritual without his wife by his side. Hence, Brihaspati’s wife Tara added value to his life and he needed him by his side.

Chandradeva and Tara

Sage Brihaspati and his wife Tara presided the Yagna. As the yagna progressed, Chandra began to attain a divine and beautiful form. His beauty was so mesmerizing that all the Apsaras (Angels), and Devalok women, including Tara began to fall for Chandradeva’s beauty. Seeing this, all the Devas left the Yagna furiously. Sage Brihaspati’s wife Tara instantly fell in love with Chandradeva and decided not to return to a loveless marriage with the old sage. When Brihaspati sent a word to her to return, she declined to come back. Later, Brihaspati sent his messengers to Chandradeva asking to send Tara back home. He reminded Chandra that it was against the norm to keep Tara, as she was his gurupatni and thus like a mother to him.

Chandradeva replied, “I am not keeping Tara forcefully, and she is staying with me at her own accord if Tara wants to go, she can, I shall not try stopping her”.

The sage accused Chandra of adultery, but Chandra refused to be concerned with anything that his guru had to say. Tara and Chandradeva were more than happy being together and he was not willing to let go.

For Brihaspati, it was not just about losing his wife but losing his job, his prestige, his place in society, and he would not be able to enter Devaloka, the gods’ world, anymore. He then sought help from Lord Indra. Lord Indra confronted Chandra and asked him to return Tara to Brihaspati. Chandra reminded Indra of his own liaison with Sage Gautam’s wife Ahalya, except that in this case, Tara had come to him voluntarily.

Chandradeva & Tara’s Child

Lord Indra compelled Tara to come back. This was the first time that someone was compelled to stick to a certain family structure. When Indra said, “You have to come back,” Tara answered, “No, my love is up there.” He said, “Your emotions do not matter. Your dharma is to be with Brihaspati, because unless you stay with him, my rituals will go bad. Sage Brihaspati has refused to perform my rituals unless you come back.” So, she was brought back.

Deva Guru Brihaspati then finds Tara has conceived. Upon questioning her about the father, she tells him that it was Chandra himself. Later upon the birth of the baby, Guru did not like to bring up Chandra’s baby and asks her to return the baby back to him. This child was brought up by Chandradeva and later came to be known as Budhha (Mercury).

Initially, he asks his wives to take care of the baby. Of the twenty-seven wives, only two of his wives- Krithika and Rohini care for the baby. The other twenty-five wives refuse to take care of the baby. Between Krithika and Rohini, Rohini cares a lot more for the baby. After learning about his wives and their attitude towards the baby, Chandra decided to take action. He reciprocates his love for his wives in the same manner, ignoring the twenty-five wives and caring only for Krithika and Rohini.

Daksha’s Curse

Chandradeva, hence, was so fond of Rohini that he spent most of his time with her. Disturbed by this, the other daughters went to Daksha and cried that Soma hardly pays any attention to them and lives mostly with Rohini. They complained to their father regarding this sort of injustice to them. As a loving father Daksha repeatedly warned Chandradeva. But he never paid attention and this angers Sage Daksha.

Daksha realizes that Chandra has broken his promise of loving all his wives equally and curses Chandra in his anger. He cursed Chandra that he will have to suffer from ‘Kshay’- deterioration of body within a short period of time. He curses Chandra to contract an incurable disease. As a consequence, all creatures dependent on the moon too started decaying. Only a small portion of the moon was visible. Affected by the curse, the moon took refuge in the ocean. Without the moon, the balance of Nature soon became disturbed and many lives depend on the light of the moon started suffering

Chandra then realizes that despite several boons from Lord Shiva, he does not have the power to stop Sage Daksha’s strange and mystic powers of his curse. He then approaches Lord Indra. At his presence, Lord Indra reminds Chandra that it was all due to his unjust deeds in the past.

Past Curses of Chandra

Firstly, when he was young, Chandra gets cursed by Lord Ganesha. Once, Lord Ganesha was walking home after eating a heavy meal filled with sweets. Ganesha felt very heavy and slipped and fell down. He then picked up a snake running by, to wear it as a belt to hold his dress over his waist, and began walking again. When Chandra saw this scene, he could not control his laughter and burst upon Ganesha. Seeing his arrogance, Lord Ganesha curses that Chandra becomes weak. Lord Brahma then explained to Lord Ganesha, the purpose of Chandra’s birth and his significant planetary position. Lord Ganesha, then, modifies his curse and lets Chandra wear only on one day in a year. This was on the day of Vinayaka Chathurthi, the month of Shravana (mid-August to mid-September).

Next, Chandra got cursed by Lord Brahma and later released from the curse. This was because Lord Brahma realized Chandra’s planetary position.

Now, Chandradeva again got cursed by Daksha Prajapati.  Lord Indra explains that this time, the effect of the curse is much stronger. Due to this, Chandra is unable to release himself from it. Saying this, Lord Indra asked Chandra to approach Lord Brahma, as he is the only one who can save him from this.

At Brahmapura

Upon Lord Indra’s advice, Chandra reaches Brahmapura where Lord Brahma resides. He asks for his forgiveness and a solution to remove Daksha’s curse from affecting him.

To this Brahma says, “Even though Daksha is my son, he has received strange mystic powers and several boons. Further, he is invincible and this fact has made him very proud of his achievements, and Daksha in no way would listen to me, even if, I, as his father advised him.”

Lord Brahma adds saying that Lord Shiva was Chandra’s last resort. He asks him to go and fall at his feet. It is believed that he advised Chandra to perform that ‘Mahamritunjaya Mantra’ to appeal to Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva – The Rescuer

On the advice of Lord Brahma, Chandradeva performed one of the hardest penances of ‘Mahamritunjaya Mantra’ composed by rishi Markandeya in the Prabhas region. Lord Shiva, on the very occasion of Mahashivratri appeared in front of him and informed him that he could not get rid of the curse because what he had done was also unjust. By this time, Chandra has already lost his beauty in the past fourteen days and was left with only one day to completely look miserable. Chandra surrendered himself to Lord Shiva and begged his forgiveness. He pleases Lord Shiva that henceforth, he will do only what Lord Shiva asks him to.

Lord Shiva told that Daksha’s curse cannot be completely ignored. In order to make Chandra free from the curse, Shiva had to place him on his head as Daksh’s curse doesn’t get in vain. Chandra looked like a curved bowl on Shiva’s matted hair and the last part of his beauty, remained forever, and Sage Daksha’s curse could not affect Chandra further. Lord Shiva then granted Chandra with a boon that he would wither for fifteen days and then grow to his full size, for the next fifteen days.

Lord Shiva said Chandra, “From tomorrow, your radiance and beauty will increase day by day and you will shine in all glory in fifteen days, however, Sage Daksha’s curse cannot be completely removed, so, in the next fifteen days after you shine, your radiance will deteriorate each day and will lose your radiance according to Daksha’s curse, when you are left with one day’s radiance, you will stop there, due to my interference and will not deteriorate further, but, grow in radiance for the next fifteen days. This way, you will grow in radiance and beauty for fifteen days and shine in all glory on the fifteenth day and will lose each day’s radiance and beauty in fifteen days and will be left with one day’s radiance and beauty on the fifteenth day. You will now, influence every living being on earth with your planetary position and be a giver of life force through your Waxing and Waning periods.”

The day when Chandra is fully deteriorated is called ‘Amavasya’ (No Moon Day) and when Chandra is fully radiant in his original form, it is called ‘Pournima’ (Full Moon Day). According to Lord Shiva’s boon, Chandradeva is said to wane during Krishnapaksha and during Shuklapaksha (the brighter part of the lunar fortnight), Chandra is said to wax.

After getting such a divine boon from Lord Shiva, Chandradeva built a huge temple. He named the Jyotirling in the temple as ‘Somnath Mahadev’. Here Som means Chandra himself and Mahadev is Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva as Chandrashekara

It is well known that Lord Shiva is known as Mahakaal, which means that he is beyond time. The waning and waxing of the moon is controlled by Lord Shiva because he can control time.

With this incident, Lord Shiva is known to be ‘Chandrashekara’. The word ‘Chandra’ means moon and Shekhar means ‘crest’ or ‘peak’. Because the moon adorns the head of Lord Shiva, which is the peak -point of any human being, he is called Chandrashekhara.

It is believed that after this incident, Chandra learned a lesson and began to spend equal time with each of his twenty-seven wives.

He spends about 1 day in each Nakshatra (constellation). It is about 13.20 degrees thereby covering 360 degrees. The Nakshatra where the moon is located on a particular day is the birth star of the person according to the Hindu calendar.

Chandrasekhara Ashtakam

रत्नसानु शरासनं रजताद्रि शृङ्ग निकेतनं
शिञ्जिनीकृत पन्नगेश्वर मच्युतानल सायकम् ।
क्षिप्रदग्द पुरत्रयं त्रिदशालयै रभिवन्दितं
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥
I seek refuge in him, who has the moon, Who made the mountain of jewels into his bow, Who resides on the mountain of silver, Who made the serpent Vasuki as rope, Who made Lord Vishnu as arrows, And quickly destroyed the three cities, And who is saluted by the three worlds, And so what can the God of Death do to me?

पञ्चपादपपुष्पगन्धपदाम्बुजदूयशोभितं
भाललोचनजातपावकदग्धमन्मथविग्रह।म् ।
भस्मदिग्धकलेवरं भवनाशनं भवमव्ययं
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥
I seek refuge in him, who has the moon, Who shines with the pair of his lotus-like feet, Which are worshipped by the scented flowers of five kalpaka trees,
Who burnt the body of God of Love, Using the fire from the eyes on his forehead,
Who applies ash all over his body, Who destroys the sorrow of life, And who does not have destruction, And so what can the God of Death do to me?

मत्तवारण मुख्यचर्म कृतोत्तरीय मनोहरं
पङ्कजासन पद्मलोचन पूजिताङ्घ्रि सरोरुहम् ।
देव सिन्धु तरङ्ग श्रीकर सिक्त शुभ्र जटाधरं
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥
I seek refuge in Him, who has the moon, Who is the stealer of minds because of his upper cloth, Made of the skin of the ferocious elephant,Who has lotus-like feet which are worshipped, By Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, And who has matted hair drenched by drops, Of the waves of the holy river Ganga, And so what can God of Death do to me?

यक्ष राजसखं भगाक्ष हरं भुजङ्ग विभूषणम्
शैलराज सुता परिष्कृत चारुवाम कलेबरम् ।
क्ष्वेडनीलगलं परश्वध धारिणं मृगधारिणम्
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ 5 ॥

I seek refuge in him, who has the moon, Who is friend of Lord Kubera, Who destroyed the eyes of Bhaga, Who wears serpent as ornament, Whose left part of the body is decorated, By the daughter of the king of mountain, Whose neck is blue because of the poison, Who is armed with an axe, And who carries a deer with Him, And so what can God of Death do to me?

कुण्डलीकृत कुण्डलीश्वर कुण्डलं वृषवाहनं
नारदादि मुनीश्वर स्तुतवैभवं भुवनेश्वरम् ।
अन्धकान्तक माश्रितामर पादपं शमनान्तकं
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ 3 ॥
I seek refuge in Him, who has the moon, Who wears the ear studs made of a curling serpent, Who is the great one being praised by Narada and other sages, Who is the Lord of the entire earth, Who is the killer of Anthakasura. Who is the wish-giving tree to his devotees, And who is the killer of God of Death, And so what can God of Death do to me?

भेषजं भवरोगिणा मखिलापदा मपहारिणं
दक्षयज्ञ विनाशनं त्रिगुणात्मकं त्रिविलोचनम् ।
भुक्ति मुक्ति फलप्रदं सकलाघ सङ्घ निबर्हणं
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥
I seek refuge in Him, who has the moon, Who is the doctor who cures sorrowful life,
Who destroys all sorts of dangers, Who destroyed the fire sacrifice of Daksha, Who is personification of three qualities, Who has three different eyes, Who bestows  devotion and salvation, And who destroys all types of sins, And so what can God of death do to me?

भक्तवत्सल मर्चितं निधिमक्षयं हरिदम्बरं
सर्वभूत पतिं परात्पर मप्रमेय मनुत्तमम् ।
सोमवारिन भोहुताशन सोम पाद्यखिलाकृतिं
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥
I seek refuge in Him, who has the moon, Who is worshipped as darling of devotees, Who is the treasure which is perennial, Who clothes Himself with the directions, Who is the chief of all beings, Who is beyond the unreachable God, Who is not understood by any one, Who is the holiest of every one, And who is served by moon, water, sun, earth, Fire, ether, boss and the Wind And so what can god of death do to me?

विश्वसृष्टि विधालिनं पुनरेवपालन तत्परं
संहरं तमपि प्रपञ्च मशेषलोक निवासिनम् ।
क्रीडयन्त महर्निशं गणनाथ यूथ समन्वितं
चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥
I seek refuge in Him, who has the moon, Who does the creation of the universe, Who then is interested in its upkeep, Who at proper time destroys the universe, Who lives in every being of the universe, Who is plays day and night with all beings, Who is the leader of all beings, And who is like any one of them, And so what can god of death do to me?

मृत्युभीतमृकण्डसूनुकृतस्तव शिव सन्निधौ
यत्र कुत्र च पठेन्नहि तस्य मृत्युभयं भवेत् ।
पूर्णमायुररोगितामखिलाथ सम्पदमादरं
चन्द्रशेखर एव तस्य ददाति मुक्तिमयत्नतः ॥
He who reads this prayer, Composed by the son of Mrukandu, Who was fear struck with death, In the temple of Lord Shiva, Will not have fear of death, He would have full healthy life, With all grains and all wealth, And Lord Chandra Shekara, Would give Him, Salvation in the end.