Soma chandra, god of the moon ( from google.com )

1. SOMA / CHANDRA, GOD OF THE MOON
Chandra was the original Indian god of the moon who was later merged with
Soma. He was white in color, and drove the moon chariot across the sky with
ten white horses. He was also a fertility god, for the dew which fell on the
plants overnight and gave them life was seen as coming from the moon.
Chandra was also prayed to when a couple wanted to have a child. He is
sometimes called the father of Budha and Tara is named as one of his
consorts.
Soma is a very difficult deity for many outside of India to comprehend. He
works on numerous levels, all of which are tied together rather strangely.
Soma is firstly a plant. He is also an intoxicating drink which was brewed from
that plant. As the blood of animals and the sap of plants, Soma courses
through all living things. He is Inspiration to those who seek it, and so is the
god of poets. He is also the god of the moon. He is the dwelling place of the
venerated dead, as well as the divine cure for evil. The ancient Hindus did not
differentiate between these divergent aspects; all were the god Soma.
Soma was one of the more important gods in the Rig Veda; 120 hymns and
one entire book are dedicated to him. He has many different forms. He is seen
as a celestial bull, a bird, a giant rising from the waters, the lord of plants, and
as an embryo. He rarely is seen as a fully grown human.
As a drink, Soma is the ambrosia of the gods. It was due to this influence that
they could rise above all obstacles to achieve their goals. Indra was a great

2. drinker of the substance; before his confrontation with Vritra, he drank rivers
of it to gain the strength needed to overcome the fearsome dragon. Agni also
consumed it in large amounts. Soma was what gave the Vedic gods their
immortality. It was also a drink for mortals, a golden-hued nectar which was
derived from the Soma plant, which may be a species known as ephedra
vulgaris to botanists. This drink brought hallucinations and ecstasy to those
who consumed it. It helped warriors to overcome their fears in battle, and it
helped poets to become inspired to create. Soma was a bridge between the
mortal world and that of the gods. This drink is the same as Haoma in Persian
mythology.
As the moon, Soma became equated with the god Chandra, who originally was
the moon deity. The moon was considered the cup which held the drink Soma
for the gods, and one reason that the moon waxed and waned was due to this
fact. When the moon waned, it was because the gods were drinking down all
the Soma; as it waxed, the god was re-creating himself, only to be consumed
again once the cup was again full. As the Vedic age ended and the Brahmans
asserted themselves, the power of the gods no longer came from Soma but
instead from sacrifices made by humans; Soma came more and more to be
just a god of the moon. In later times, the waxing and waning of the moon was
due to a curse put on Soma. Soma had twenty-seven wives (who correspond
to the twenty-seven stations of the moon). They were all the daughters of
Daksha. Daksha felt that Soma was paying too much attention to one of his
daughters, thereby neglecting the rest. He cursed Soma to die a withering
death. But Soma's wives intervened, and so the death became only periodic;
during half the month, the moon slowly dies away, but is reborn and comes
around again to full vigor.
Though he is never depicted in human form, Soma obviously did not want for
lovers; poets rarely do. In one episode, his desires caused a war. He had
grown arrogant due to the glory that was offered him. Because of this, he let
his lust overcome him; he kidnaped and carried off Tara, the wife of the god
Brihaspati. After refusing to give her up, the gods made war on him to force
her release, and Soma called on the asuras to aid him. Finally Brahma
interceded and compelled Soma to let Tara go. But she was with child, and it
ended up that this child was Soma's. The child was born and named Budha
(not to be confused with the Buddha).

3. Chandra or moon is a Hindu deity who is also known as, Soma. The `Soma`
means juice or sap of the plants and thus Chandra is the lord of plants and
vegetation. Chandra is also considered as the Graha or planet according to
Hindu astrology.
In Puranas (ancient Hindu legends), Chandra is described as a young,
beautiful, fair, two-armed god who has a club and a lotus in his hands. He
rides a chariot pulled by ten white horses or an antelope and moves around
the sky at night. The other names of moon are Rajanipati (lord of night), Indu
(the brighten drop) and Kshuparaka (one who illuminates the night).
Chandra has many wives namely Tara, Rohini, Anuradha and Bharani, who are
the twenty-seven Nakshtras (constellations) and daughters of Daksha. Budh
(planet Mercury) is the son of Chandra and Tara.
As Soma, Chandra presides over Somvar or Monday. Worshipping Chandra
god on Mondays is very effective as it grants one`s prayer. Chandra is also
considered a fertility god since the dews that fall on plants overnight giving
them life, seem to come from moon. Thus Chandra is prayed to when a couple
wants to have a child.
As a `Graha` Chandra helps to get relief from the sorrows and cure mental
afflictions. According to Puranas, Chandra is thought to adore the head of
Lord Shiva. Sages and devotees invoke the Goddess mother in Chandra and
meditate for hours.
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