This article is about the Hindu moon deity. For other uses, see
Chandra (disambiguation). In
Hinduism, Chandra (lit. "shining) is a
lunar deity and a
Graha. Chandra is also identified with the
Vedic Lunar deity Soma (lit. "juice"). The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and having in his hands a club and a lotus. He rides his
chariot (the
moon) across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses or an antelope. He is connected with
dew, and as such, is one of the gods of fertility. He is also called Rajanipati(lord of the night) and Kshuparaka (one who illuminates the night), Indu (lit. The bright drop). He as Soma, presides over Somvar or Monday.
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Indu (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root und to drop] In the Brahmanas, the moon; in the Vedas, a drop, especially of soma, or a spark. It refers to the physical moon and its functions, whereas Soma implies the somewhat more mystical and esoteric lunar attributes.