Chandra-The Moon God

Hindu culture consists of religious devotions, rites, practices, beliefs, traditions, and various fasting rituals. According to Hindu beliefs, every element of nature resembles the Almighty.

You will be surprised to know that the Hindu calendar is based on the waxing and waning of the moon (lunar calendar).
The Moon is considered necessary for various reasons across the world! Breaking fast after seeing this celestial body is an act experienced by almost every Hindu in their house. That’s why Purnima (full moon day) and Amavasya (no moon day) affect the rising of tides and the souls and minds of humans. Thanks to the conventional Indian movies, where Tantric is shown performing black magic on Amavasya, while the wives celebrate Karva Chauth on the fourth day of Kartik month (full moon day).
Moon in Hindu Mythology:
Anasuya and the Moon

It is believed that during the creation of the Universe, Lord Brahma created seven Rishis, namely Pulastya, Vashishta, Marichi, Pulaha, Atri, Kratu, and Angiras, to assist Brahma in creating the Universe. Sage Atri married Anasuya and had no child, so the Trinities (Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh) blessed them with three sons, Durvassa, Dattatreya, and Soma (Chandra). With his complete devotion, Soma performed the sacrament of penance and was blessed by the Trinity, which influenced the life of every human, the growth and fertility of medicinal herbs, and provided moonlight with the help of the divine Suryadev. For this reason, He was bestowed with the status of Navagraha and the originator of the Lunar dynasty. Later, Soma was endowed with the title of Lord Chandra with the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
Ganesha and the Moon

Another myth states that one should not look at the moon on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, the month of Sharavana. One day, when Lord Ganesha returned home after having a heavy meal, he stumbled down hard and got dirty. Chandra burst into laughter after seeing the pathetic condition of pot-bellied Ganesha. Ganesha got angry and felt humiliated. He cursed Chandra that his arrogance of being handsome would soon be broken, and he would disappear from the sky. Chandra realized his mistake and apologized. Lord Ganesha, the kind-hearted deity, soon absolved him and lessened the effect of his curse.
Daksha and the Moon

It is believed that Twenty-seven daughters of Lord Daksha Prajapati were married to Lord Chandra on one condition: that Chandra would love all his wives equally. However, Chandra couldn’t keep his promise and loved Rohini most among all his wives. Chandra's attitude made other wives feel dejected, and they complained to their father. Chandra kept ignoring those endless warnings of his father-in-law, and as a consequence, Lord Daksha burst into anger and cursed him so that he would gradually fade away. Helpless, Chandra went to the Graceful almighty Shiva to seek help. Though the curse's effect could not be ignored entirely, Lord Shiva still adorned Chandra with his matted hair, preventing him from further diminishing. Therefore, Shiva, regarded as Mahakaal (beyond time), controlled the waxing and waning of the moon. During Krishnapaksha(for 15 days), the moon wanes; during Shukalpaksha (the bright day), the moon waxes periodically.

Thus, Purnima occurs after 14-15 days, followed by Amavasya. This periodic change in the moon’s size results in 5 different shapes (patterns) of the moon:
●    Invisible Moon
●    Crescent Moon
●    Half Moon
●    Gibbous (more than half) Moon
●    Full Moon

Amavasya and Purnima

In Hindu culture, both Amavasya (a no-moon day) and Purnima (a full-moon day) are equally important.

Amavasya:
Some consider this day as an ill-omened event, as ghosts and evil spirits are in complete control and power on this day. The practice of Tantras and black magic is mainly performed on this day. This is the primary reason any journey or commemoration related to an auspicious deed is avoided today. The prominent festival of India, Diwali, also falls on Amavasya. This eliminates the darkness as lights are lit across the houses, prohibiting evil spirits from entering the house.

Purnima:
It is considered one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar. The moon shines with resplendent brightness, eliminating all negativities and evil spirits. This event leads to good fortune and prosperity. Purnima helps gain blessings from God and acts as the cleanser of souls and human minds. People offer prayers and fast for an entire day during this auspicious event. Holi, the color of festivals that marks the arrival of spring season, also falls on Purnima. The full moon day also marks the birth of many Hindu deities, such as Lord Hanuman, Kartik, and Dattatreya. For every critical event like marriage or Grah–Pravesh, Satyanarayana puja is considered highly beneficial for the devotees, as observed in Purnima.