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The
Moon in Vedic astrology is called CHANDRA. In Sanskrit
CHANDRA means "bright and shining". The Moon is also
called SOMA, named after the intoxicating sacred drink
used in Vedic sacrifice. Where all westerners know their
Sun-sign, you will find all Hindus know their Moon sign,
for the Moon, and its birth sign are important in Hindu
culture and astrology.
In fact, Hindus do not celebrate their
birthday on the calendar day on which they were born.
Instead, they celebrate their birthday in the month they
were born when the Moon enters the part of the sign it
was in at birth. Such is the importance of the Moon in
Vedic culture.
The bright Moon is
considered a benefic of the highest order, and the dark
Moon is considered a malefic. The Moon is known as a
hare, or rabbit in Vedic lore, as he jumps faster than
any of the other grahas. The Moon rules over the
sidereal sign of Cancer. He is exalted in Taurus, and
fallen in the opposite sign of Scorpio.
The Moon is a karaka of many things. He
is an indicator of the mother, and females in general,
the public, general well-being and happiness, femininity
and beauty, the eyesight, memory and the mind.
Many western students of astrology are
shocked to discover that the Moon is indicative of the
mind, and not Mercury. The Sun is the indicator of the
soul, and the Moon is the vehicle of the mind that
receives the light of the soul. Mercury is the further
process that is called the intellect, which places a
value on what the mind has received. The Moon as the
mind is indicative of all the senses and their ability
to perceive life in its entire splendor. Mercury
represents a further distillation and conceptualization
of that process and its ultimate intellectualization in
forming judgment. The Moon is most comfortable and
powerful in the 4th House; she also likes the angles.
The Moon is particularly beneficial for the water sign
ascendants of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Her nature is
KAPHA, or watery. Her gem is the Moonstone and Natural
Pearls. Her metal is silver and her direction is
Northwest.
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