Chandra
Chandra means “the luminous one”. The Moon is the fundamental Mother principle that represents relationship. The other name for the Moon in the Vedic teachings is “Soma”, which is the nectar (bliss) that is generated in the body when kundalini rises within ~ the result of Sadhana. It is the subtler energy yogic practices which cause soma to generate within. The Moon is reflective in divine nature ~ it glows because it reflects Surya.
The Moon is located at the seat of the pineal gland, the bindhu ~ “behind” the third eye and across from the Sun at the ajna. Within the Solar system, Chandra moves through one Nakshatra each day and through one Rashi aproximately every 2.5 days.
The Moon is the significator of the mind within the natal chart. The manas expression of the mind ~ the part of the mind that absorbs all imprints and influences. Also, our intuition. Chandra is the element of water and has the cooling effect in harmony with Surya’s fire. Complex life emerged in the sea, in the water of Earth. Water is the element which holds the strongest memory ~ water absorbs and changes as to what it is exposed. Therefore, if water (mind) is exposed to toxicity, it becomes “mental”, unstable, “lunacy”. If the mind is exposed to luminous energy, it becomes soma.
The Moon is exalted in Taurus at the heart, anahata chakra, which points to the deep relationship between the heart and the mind. When the heart energy is activated, it naturally calms the mind. The moon, in its divine feminine quality, is debilitated in Scorpio at the Manipura chakra. As a result of its absorptive nature, the Moon is the most sensitive planet in every Jyotish chart and because of its proximity to the Earth, the effects on the Moon are felt most intimately in the psyche of the individual.
In Jyotish, the Moon sign ~ or Janma Nakshatra ~ is the sign most commonly referred to when discussing one’s sign in Vedic astrology. Whichever nakshatra the Moon is in, it will absorb the qualities of that nakshatra and the rashi in which it sits, and these qualities will express in the individual’s incarnation in the psyche, personality and traits of the person on the higher and the lower level. As always, all of this is dependent on the consciousness state of the individual.
The aspects on the Moon are critical for understanding a chart in full. It helps us understand our own, unique mental-makeup and how we interpret life from our inherent ways of perceiving. The transits on the Moon in one’s chart are also of the highest importance ~ Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shani (Saturn) and Rahu are considered of most intensity and, as a result, importance. For example, the transit of Rahu is 18months and, it will bring to the surface all samskaras from the depths of one’s subconscious mind and cause all kinds of chaos if the native is not balanced, centred and on an evolutionary path. Rahu will do what Rahu does no matter what, but how we experience this transit and the opportunities it presents for spiritual growth, differs greatly depending on our state of consciousness. The same is also true for Saturn’s transit over the natal moon. This transit is known as Sade Satti, which can be either an agonizing or an exhilarating time in one’s life ~ either way it will be a time of intense spiritual awakening for that is Shani’s call. Both of these transits require grounding and many different remedies are given in a reading to work with these transits in one’s life.
Jupiter has a phenomenally calming effect on the Moon. Therefore, when Jupiter is transiting your natal moon it is a very phenomenal time for initiating manifest reality projects.
The dasha system arise from the Moon’s placement in the chart and therefore, creates the movement of time in each chart. The dashas being the planetary periods of our lifetimes (you can read more about this on the FAQs page). One of the great gifts of Jyotish is the insights it gives us regarding the transits and dasha cycles. Even if we aren’t yet on a spiritual path of personal growth and evolution, a Jyotish reading will provide the tools we need to begin and balance the energies within and throughout our lives.
Therefore, we can see the incredible significance of Chandra in one’s chart and why, in Jyotish, it is given much importance and attention in a chart’s analyses. Also, the Moon symbolizes the Mother and gives us much insight into the relationship the native has with his or her own Mother, the Earth, as well as the Divine Mother principle. Someone with a dominant Moon in their chart will always do well living near moving water such as rivers, streams and oceans.
The maternal, mothering nature of Chandra guides us in our relationships throughout life. “Chan” means to relate. It is very common for Chandra to require support and balancing in one’s life in particular ways based on one’s chart. Chandra is symbolic of one’s early experiences in life, the Mother, one’s inner psyche, mental health, emotional health, the home, our ability to nurture and be nurtured. The energy of the Moon is very healing, but can feel disruptive if out of tune.
The dosha element of Chandra is Kapha. All the fat tissue, blood plasma and at the physical organ of the heart is Chandra. Above all, Moon governs the emotional and mental bodies of our being. Of course, there is a strong connection between one’s cardiovascular and emotional health. Therefore, anytime someone is suffering with depression or anxiety, or any mental / emotional challenges, we look very closely at the Moon and ways to remedy.
Pearl and moonstone are the gemstones associated with Chandra and may be used in remedy as well. Krishna, Vasudeva, and Parvati in her Divine Mother expression are all deities associated with Chandra. The nature of Chandra is flexible ~ like water, and teaches us how to have a flexible mind, which is health. A fixed or rigid mind creates many challenges in life, but a person with a flexible mind has a calming, gentle, flowing temperament which is harmonious in nature.
Chandra is our intuition, our ability to play and our ability to give and receive love. As Surya is the Divine Masculine, Chandra is the Divine Feminine within each and every one of us. All devotional practices, such as Bhakti, have a moon-balancing effect. As Surya is our ability to be independent, Moon is our ability to be interdependent. The healthiest expression is to be independent and at the same interdependent. As with all things, the Ying of the Sun and the Yang of the Moon.
On the lower expression of the Moon’s nature an individual may become overly-attached, emotionally unstable and always following “the herd”, meaning they are under the influence of everyone else and don’t know who they are themselves. On the higher expression Moon is love, light, creativity, intuition, insight, independence and interdependence. The Moon’s energy is very healing and creative. When the Moon is balanced within us, we glow!