Chandra Darisanam

Chandra Darisanam

Chandra Darisanam is a Hindu sacred observance performed to pay homage to the moon, also known as Chandra. It is usually observed on the third day of the new moon (Amavasya) every month when the moon is not visible in the sky. On this day, devotees fast and pray to Chandra Dev, the Hindu god of the moon, and break their fast after sighting the crescent moon in the evening. Chandra Darisanam is also known as Chandra Darshan or Moon Sighting.

Significance of Chandra Darisanam

Chandra Darisanam is a very auspicious and vital ritual in Hinduism, as it marks the beginning of a new lunar month and a new cycle of life. The moon is considered a symbol of purity, beauty, wisdom, and prosperity in Hindu culture. The moon is also associated with a person's mind, emotions, and intuition. By worshipping Chandra Dev on this day, devotees seek his blessings for peace, happiness, success, and good fortune. They also thank Chandra Dev for nourishing and nurturing all living beings on earth with his cool and soothing rays.

Legends of Chandra Darisanam

There are many legends and stories associated with Chandra Darisanam in Hindu mythology. One of them is related to Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Parvati. According to this legend, when Goddess Parvati came to visit him, Lord Shiva was performing penance on Mount Kailash. She saw that Lord Shiva had a crescent moon on his forehead, which was shining brightly. She was curious about the moon and asked Lord Shiva about it. Lord Shiva told her that he had placed the moon on his forehead to protect it from a curse given by King Daksha, who was the father of Goddess Sati, Lord Shiva’s first wife.

King Daksha cursed the moon to lose its brightness and beauty because he was angry with him for favoring Rohini, one of his 27 daughters who were married to the moon, over the others. As a result of the curse, the moon started to wane every fortnight and became invisible on Amavasya. Lord Shiva felt pity for the moon and decided to save him from the curse by placing him on his forehead. He also gave him a boon that he would regain his full brightness once every month on Purnima (full moon day).

Goddess Parvati was fascinated by the story and wanted to see the moon on the third day from Amavasya. She asked Lord Shiva to show her the moon on that day. Lord Shiva agreed and told her to fast and pray to Chandra Dev on Amavasya and break her fast after seeing the crescent moon in the evening. Goddess Parvati followed his instructions and performed Chandra Darisanam with devotion. She was delighted to see the moon and thanked Lord Shiva for fulfilling her wish.

Another legend is related to Lord Rama and his wife, Goddess Sita. According to this legend, Lord Rama was exiled from his kingdom Ayodhya for 14 years by his stepmother Kaikeyi, who wanted her son Bharata to become the king instead of him. Lord Rama was accompanied by his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana in exile. They lived in a forest called Dandaka, where they faced many hardships and dangers from demons and wild animals.

While resting under a tree one day, Sita saw a beautiful deer roaming nearby. She was enchanted by the deer and asked Rama to catch it for her as a pet. Rama agreed and went after the deer, leaving Sita and Lakshmana behind. However, the deer was a demon named Maricha in disguise, sent by Ravana, the king of Lanka, who wanted to kidnap Sita. Maricha lured Rama away from Sita by mimicking his voice and calling for help.

Lakshmana heard Rama’s voice and thought that he was in trouble. He wanted to go and help him, but Sita stopped him and accused him of having evil intentions towards her. She forced him to leave her alone and go after Rama. Lakshmana reluctantly agreed but drew a protective circle around Sita with his arrow and told her not to cross it until Rama returned.

As soon as Lakshmana left, Ravana came in the disguise of a sage and asked Sita for some food and water. Sita was hospitable and offered him some fruits from inside the circle. However, Ravana was unsatisfied and asked her to come out of the circle and give him the fruits personally. Sita was naive and did not suspect any foul play. She crossed the circle and came out to provide him with the fruits.

As soon as she did that, Ravana revealed his true form and abducted her in his flying chariot. Rama and Lakshmana returned to the spot and realized what had happened. They were devastated and started to search for Sita. They met Hanuman, the monkey god, who agreed to help them find Sita. Hanuman flew across the ocean and reached Lanka, where he found Sita in a garden called Ashoka Vatika, guarded by demons. He gave her Rama’s ring as a token of his love and assured her that he would come to rescue her soon.

Hanuman also set fire to Lanka with his tail, creating havoc among the demons. He returned to Rama and told him about Sita’s whereabouts. Rama then gathered an army of monkeys and bears and marched towards Lanka. He fought fiercely with Ravana and his army and finally killed him with his arrow. He rescued Sita and returned to Ayodhya with her.

During their exile, Rama and Sita observed Chandra Darisanam every month. They used to fast and pray to Chandra Dev for their safety and reunion. They used to break their fast after seeing the crescent moon in the evening. They believed that Chandra Dev was their witness and protector in their ordeal. They also thanked him for giving them hope and courage in difficult times.

Important festivals associated with Chandra Darisanam

Many festivals in Hinduism are associated with Chandra Darisanam, or moon sighting. Some of them are:

• Karwa Chauth: Karwa Chauth is a festival celebrated by married women, especially in North India, on the fourth day of the waning moon (Krishna Paksha) in Kartik (October-November). On this day, women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life, health, and happiness of their husbands. They also dress in bridal attire and adorn themselves with jewelry and henna. They worship Chandra Dev in the evening and break their fast after seeing the moon through a sieve or a cloth.
• Chhath Puja: Chhath Puja is a festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and his sister Chhathi Maiya, who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. It is celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal on the sixth day of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in Kartik (October-November). On this day, devotees observe a rigorous fast and offer prayers to the Sun God at sunrise and sunset. They also worship Chandra Dev at night and offer him water, milk, fruits, and sweets.

Benefits of observing Chandra Darisanam

Observing Chandra Darisanam has many benefits for the devotees who perform it with faith and devotion. Some of them are:

• It helps purify the devotees' mind, body, and soul.
• It helps attain peace, happiness, success, and prosperity in life.
• It helps enhance the devotees' beauty, charm, intelligence, and creativity.
• It helps in strengthening the bond between husband and wife.
• It helps cure diseases related to eyesight, skin, blood pressure, diabetes, etc.
• It helps in overcoming obstacles and difficulties in life.
• It helps in fulfilling one’s wishes and desires.

Astrological Significance of Chandra Darisanam

Chandra Darisanam has a great astrological significance as well. The moon is one of the nine planets (Navagraha) that influence the life and destiny of a person in Hindu astrology. The moon represents a person's mind, emotions, intuition, and imagination. It also signifies the mother, the home, the family, and the public life of a person. The moon rules over the zodiac sign of Cancer and Rohini's nakshatra (constellation).

The position and movement of the moon in a person's birth chart (kundali) affect various aspects of their life, such as their personality, character, health, wealth, relationships, career, etc. The moon also undergoes different phases (tithi) during its monthly cycle, which affect a person's mood, behavior, and fortune differently.

Observing Chandra Darisanam on the third day of Amavasya can appease Chandra Dev and seek his favor and grace. Chandra Dev can bestow a person with mental peace, emotional stability, intuitive wisdom, and creative talent. He can also protect a person from the adverse effects of the moon's phases, such as depression, anxiety, confusion, or mood swings. He can also enhance the positive impact of the moon's phases, such as joy, optimism, clarity, or inspiration.

Contact Sulekha

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Sulekha Astro is your one-stop destination for all your astrology needs. Whether you want to know about your career, love, health, or future, our astrologers can help you with their expertise and experience. They can also help you perform Chandra Darisanam with proper rituals and procedures.

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