A TO Z INDIA SPECIAL ISSUE PAGE 7 Moon (Chandra): In the images, he is never portrayed as a complete person. Only his upper body with two hands holding a lotus each, riding a chariot pulled by 10 horses is shown. He is also known as Soma. The Mantras and meanings: Dadhi Shankha Tusha Raabham Kshiiro Dhaarnava Sambhavam Namaami Shashinam Somam Shambor Mukuta Bhushanam Meaning: The one who has the hue of curd and icebergs, who rose from Ksheasagar and who adorns the head of Lord Siva. I prostrate to the Moon, the ruling deity of the soma juice. Gemstone is Pearl. The planets, their representations and favorable days to chant: Moon (Chandra) – Mind, queen, mother. — Tuesday Literature: The origin of Soma is traced back to the Hindu Vedic texts, where is he is the personification of a drink made from a plant with the same name. Scholars state that the plant had an important role in Vedic civilization and thus, the deity was one of the most important gods of the pantheon. In these Vedic texts, Soma is praised as the lord of plants and forests; the king of rivers and earth; and the father of the gods. The entire Mandala 9 of the Rigveda is dedicated to Soma, both the plant and the deity. The identification of Soma as a lunar deity in the Vedic texts is a controversial topic among scholars. In post Vedic texts like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas, Soma is mentioned as a lunar deity and has many epithets including Chandra. According to most of these texts, Ch andra, along with his brothers Dattatreya and Durvasa, were the sons of the sage Atri and his wife Anasuya. The Devi Bhagvata Purana states Chandra to be the avatar of the creator god Brahma. Some texts contain varying accounts regarding Chandra's birth. According to one text, he is the son of Dharma; while another mention Prabhakar as his father. Many legends about Chandra are told in the scriptures.