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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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