Moon (Chandra) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations

The Moon's Sanskrit name is Chandra. B.V. Raman, author of Hindu Predictive Astrology, also lists Soma as a name.

BPHS (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, R. Santhanam's translation) names Chandra among the nine grahas (planets) in chapter 3.

On governance, BPHS says Candr (the Moon) is the mind. PVR (P.V.R. Narasimha Rao, author of Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach) writes: 'Moon governs mind'.

PVR adds why this matters: 'Mind is a very important part of our existence and Moon governs it.'

A piece of sky-lore, told as tradition: PVR records that the Krishna avatara (incarnation) of Vishnu is said to have come from Moon.

The Moon's natural nature depends on its phase. It is benefic (a planet whose results tend to support) during the bright half of the month (shukla paksha) and malefic (a planet whose results tend to pressure) during the dark half (krishna paksha), according to BPHS ch. 3 and PVR.

Santhanam's note adds that a waning Moon joined or aspected by a benefic turns benefic. PVR explains the point: this matters 'because the results given by planets are based on their inherent nature'.

Lordship of houses for a given ascendant can change how a planet behaves. That functional nature is a later lesson.

The same strength-by-phase idea appears in BPHS's strength chapter: natural benefics are strong in the bright half of the month, malefics in the dark half.

In BPHS's planetary cabinet (the court each planet is imagined to hold), the Sun and the Moon are the kings, sharing royalty. PVR calls the Moon 'a king who gets along well with everyone'.

Traditional images continue: BPHS gives the Moon a tawny colour and Varuna, the deity of water, as its presiding deity.

PVR assigns the Moon the water element (jala tattva), noting Venus rules water and 'Moon also has the same nature'.

Its guna (basic quality of nature) is sattvik, which PVR describes as 'purity and truthfulness in one's thoughts and action'.

Its abode, per BPHS, is a watery place. PVR comments, 'This description should give one an idea of the nature of planets.'

These are traditional images, not measurements. BPHS's classical sketch says, 'She is learned and has a round body. She has auspicious looks and sweet speech, is fickle-minded'.

B.V. Raman cautions that such descriptions 'are only general in nature and should not be applied hastily'.

Dignity describes the strength a planet gains from the sign it occupies. Per BPHS ch. 3 and PVR's Table 6: the Moon's own sign is Cancer; it is exalted (at its strongest) in Taurus, deepest at 3 degrees; debilitated (weakest) in Scorpio, deepest at 3 degrees; and its moolatrikona (a special strong stretch of a sign) is Taurus after the first 3 degrees.

Other texts differ: B.V. Raman gives Taurus 4 to 20 degrees, and Skybond's engine starts it at 4 degrees.

A planet is considered strong in its own sign, exaltation sign or moolatrikona. The table above shows all four at a glance.

PVR offers an analogy: the own sign is like home, where one is most natural and comfortable; the moolatrikona is like the office, where one does one's formal duty; the exaltation sign is like a favourite party or picnic; the debilitation sign is like being stuck at a place one hates.

The Moon also has directional strength, called digbala (strength by direction). BPHS says it is strong in the north, which corresponds to the 4th house, and strong at night.

Natural relationships (from PVR Table 7, based on BPHS ch. 3, v. 55) describe which planets a planet gets along with regardless of your chart.

The Moon's friends are Sun and Mercury. Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are neutral. It has no enemies.

What this means in practice: a planet sitting in a friend's sign is said to be in a friendly sign, which is read as a supportive placement. The full grading system, including compound relationships, is covered in the dignity lesson.

A karaka (from karakatwa, signification) is a significator: PVR glosses it as 'one who causes'. PVR's Table 16 lists the Moon's natural significations (naisargika karakatwas) and the house each is read from: mind (1st house), mother and peace of mind (4th house), friends (11th house).

The Moon also rules three nakshatras (lunar mansions, 27 divisions of the zodiac): Rohini, Hasta and Shravana.

In Vimshottari dasha, the dasha (planetary period) system PVR calls the most popular, the Moon's mahadasha (main period) lasts 10 years of the 120-year cycle.

Nakshatra dashas, including Vimshottari, are computed from the nakshatra the Moon occupies at birth.

The moon sign (janma rashi) is the sign the Moon occupies at birth. Chandra lagna counts houses from that sign and shows matters from the mind's perspective.

In motion, the Moon is the fastest graha: B.V. Raman gives about 1 hour 48 minutes per degree, roughly two and a quarter days per sign, and it never moves retrograde (apparently backwards).

Its weekday is Monday. The first hora (planetary hour) after sunrise on that day is ruled by the Moon.

A traditional way in: BPHS's classical description of the Moon, 'She is learned and has a round body. She has auspicious looks and sweet speech, is fickle-minded', is a character sketch of the planet itself, not a reading of your chart.

B.V. Raman cautions that such descriptions 'are only general in nature and should not be applied hastily'.

Skybond's chart shows each planet's sign, house, degree, nakshatra and pada, its dignity, whether it is retrograde (appearing to move backwards) or combust (close to the Sun), and which houses it rules for your ascendant. It uses Vimshottari dasha for timing.

One caution on interpretation, from OnlineJyotish: treat interpretations 'as traditional associations rather than promises'.