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In the enchanting story from the Matsya Purana, Chandradev journeys through celestial trials, love, and divine intervention, shaping his waxing and waning cycles.
Characters in the story:
Chandradev: Chadradev, also known as the Moon God, is a prominent deity in Hindu scriptures, revered for his association with the celestial body that illuminates the night sky and governs time, tides, and emotions.
King Dakhsa: King Daksha, son of Lord Brahma, is a prominent figure in ancient Hindu scriptures known for his role as a powerful king and the father of Sati, the first wife of Lord Shiva. He is also remembered for his conflict with Lord Shiva, which resulted in Sati’s tragic death and Daksha’s own downfall.
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva holds significant prominence in Hinduism as a prominent deity, revered for his role as the vanquisher of malevolence and the catalyst of universal change. Depicted in various forms, he is often portrayed as a tranquil ascetic engaged in deep meditation or as the divine dancer, adorned with a third eye, an entwined serpent around his neck, and a trident grasped firmly in his hand.
In the Matsya Purana, it is recounted that Chandradev, the moon deity, originated as the son of Sage Atri and Anasuya, his wife. Once, Lord Brahma assigned Sage Atri the task of crafting a distinctive world teeming with extraordinary beings.
To fulfill this divine duty, Sage Atri embarked on profound meditation. During one of his meditative sessions, a brilliant radiance emanated from the sage’s eyes, merging into a luminous sphere that defied control. This radiant sphere brought about an endless day, perplexing all life forms and causing turmoil across the cosmos.
Even the Dikpalakas, the custodians of the Earth’s eight cardinal directions, were unable to contain the sphere’s luminance. In an attempt to manage the situation, they cast the radiant sphere into the depths of the cosmic ocean.
Numerous millennia later, during the cosmic event known as the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), the radiant sphere resurfaced and secured its place in the heavens, becoming Chandradev, the moon god.
Prajapati Daksha, originating from Brahma’s initial manvantara or human epoch, orchestrated the marriage of twenty-seven of his numerous daughters to Chandradeva.
These twenty-seven daughters are commonly symbolized as the twenty-seven Nakshatras, the lunar constellations encircling the Moon’s path. These daughters of Daksha played a pivotal role in aiding humanity by enabling the measurement of time and calculation of seasonal changes. During the process of bestowing his daughters in marriage on Chandradeva, Daksha laid forth a condition.
He requested Chandradeva to pledge never to belittle any of the daughters and to perpetually treat all twenty-seven daughters with the same affection and care. Upon receiving this information, Chandradev vowed to uphold equality and fairness in his treatment of his wives.
Among Daksha’s daughters, Rohini held a special place in Chandradev’s heart, sparking jealousy and discontent among the other wives. Their grievances reached their father, Daksha, who admonished Chandradev to treat all his wives equitably. However, Chandradev remained unmoved by the counsel. Daksha realized that Chandradev had broken his promise of loving all his wives equally and cursed Chandradev in his anger. He cursed Chandradev, causing him to suffer from ‘Kshay’ – a deterioration of the body within a short period of time.
In the wake of this curse, Chandradev’s brilliance diminished day by day. Overwhelmed with fear and shame, Chandradev retreated into the ocean, causing distress to living entities dependent on the moon’s light for growth.
This disappearance of the moon into the ocean plunged the world into turmoil. Seeking a solution, Chandradev sought refuge and guidance from celestial beings and eventually turned to Lord Shiva. Advised by Brahma to implore Shiva, Chandradev constructed a linga on the banks of the river Sarasvati at Prabhasa Tirtha, where he earnestly prayed for six months.
Upon the completion of his arduous penance, Shiva appeared before Chandradev, presenting him with a boon. Chandradev described his predicament, and Shiva, understanding the gravity of Daksha’s curse, suggested a compromise: he advised that Chandradev should wane during krishnapaksha and wax during shuklapaksha, thereby ensuring a balance between growth and decline.
Chandradev was pleased with this arrangement, finding solace in Lord Shiva, who placed the crescent moon on His own head. This act allowed Chandradev to go through cycles of waxing for 15 days and waning for 15 days. And, Lord Shiva got the name “Ashutosh Shashank Shekhar”.
The linga where Chandradev undertook his penance, known as Somnath, is the foremost of the jyotirlingas. Shiva’s divine presence forever graces this sacred place. The name “Somnath” signifies the “Protector of the Moon God”.
In the timeless dance of celestial fates, Chandradev’s journey reminds us of the delicate balance between power and humility, while the sanctuary of Somnath stands as a testament to the enduring interplay of gods and mortals in shaping our world’s intricate tapestry.
