Moon (Chandra)

The Moon in Vedic astrology

The Moon is Chandra in Sanskrit, also called Soma and Indu. In the navagraha court she is the queen beside the Sun's king. Vedic astrology gives her a central place: your rashi is the sign the Moon occupied at birth, and your birth nakshatra is the one she was passing through.

By tradition the Moon is a benefic when waxing and bright, and a weaker benefic when waning and dark. Her strength therefore depends on her distance from the Sun, so the same sign can feel quite different in a full-Moon and a new-Moon birth.

What the Moon signifies

The Moon's karakatva covers the mind, the mother, emotions, the public, comfort and nourishment. She shows how a person feels, remembers and seeks safety, and how easily they connect with people at large. Because she moves fastest, about two and a half days in each sign, she also times the day-to-day tone of life in transit and rashifal.

Dignity: where the Moon is strong

The Moon owns Cancer. She is exalted in Taurus, classically deepest at 3 degrees, and Taurus is also her moolatrikona. She is debilitated in Scorpio. In Taurus the mind is steady and content; in Scorpio, a sign of depth and intensity, feelings run strong, and the lesson is to find calm without suppressing what is felt.

Friends of the Moon

In Parashara's natural friendships, the Moon counts the Sun and Mercury as friends and holds Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn as neutral. She treats no planet as an enemy, a fitting picture of the mother's nature. Mercury, however, regards the Moon as an enemy, so the relationship is not returned.

Nakshatras ruled by the Moon

The Moon rules Rohini, Hasta and Shravana. Rohini, her favourite in the Puranic story, is fertile and beautiful; Hasta is skilful with the hands; Shravana is the nakshatra of listening and learning. A person born with the Moon in one of these begins life in the Moon Mahadasha.

The Moon Mahadasha

The Moon Mahadasha lasts 10 years in the Vimshottari scheme; it follows the Sun and comes before Mars. It tends to turn attention to home, mother, emotional security, public life and the care of others. With a strong, bright Moon it is traditionally a time of comfort, popularity and settling down; with a weak Moon, moods and worry may need more attention, and steady routines help.

The Moon in the twelve houses

The Moon brings feeling, care and the public to the house she occupies. Her waxing or waning state matters as much as the house.

• 1st house: a gentle, receptive and changeable nature
• 2nd house: soft speech and a mind that values family
• 3rd house: an active, curious mind; close ties with siblings
• 4th house: her strongest house by direction, for home, mother and peace
• 5th house: an imaginative, affectionate mind; love of children
• 6th house: emotional effort in service and daily work
• 7th house: a caring partner and a need for companionship
• 8th house: a deep, private mind; sensitivity to sudden change
• 9th house: devotion, faith and a pull towards pilgrimage
• 10th house: work with the public, care or nourishment
• 11th house: gains through people and a wide circle
• 12th house: a dreamy, inward mind; peace in solitude

Traditional remedies for the Moon

The Moon's day is Monday, her colour white, her direction the North-West and her number 2. Her deity is Shiva, who wears the crescent, and Monday prayers to him are the classic practice. Her mantra is Om Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah Chandraya Namah. Charity of rice, milk or white cloth on Monday, and care for one's mother, are the traditional offerings.

Her gemstone is Pearl, traditionally set in silver and worn on the little finger, with moonstone as a substitute. Consult an astrologer before wearing a gemstone, since strengthening the Moon does not suit every chart; the mantra and charity suit everyone.