Overview
Chandra (Sanskrit: चन्द्र, meaning 'shining' or 'moon'), also known as Soma (Sanskrit: सोम), is the Hindu deity associated with the Moon. In the Hindu tradition, he is regarded as the god of the night and is closely linked with plants and vegetation.
Chandra is counted among the Navagraha, the nine planetary deities recognised in Hindu thought. Each of these celestial figures is believed to influence aspects of life and time, and Chandra represents the lunar body within this group.
He is also numbered among the Dikpala, the guardian deities of the directions, who are described in tradition as presiding over the cardinal and intermediate points of the cosmos. In this role, Chandra is associated with one of these directional regions.
The names Chandra and Soma are often used interchangeably in Hindu textual traditions to refer to the lunar deity, reflecting both the visible moon and its symbolic and ritual associations within Hinduism.