Unveiling the Mystery of the Moon on Lord Shiva's Head

The supreme Lord Shiva has many symbols, and one of them is the moon on his head. There is a story about this in our mythology. Daksha's twenty-seven daughters were married to God Chandra. One of Chandra's wives, named Rohini, was loved more than his other wives. So, the other wives of the moon complained to their father about this. Daksha warned his son-in-law to devote himself equally to all wives. However, Chandra didn't listen to any warnings from Daksha. Daksha then cursed the moon, saying that it would gradually fade away.

After this, the moon started losing its luminescence every day and didn't know what to do. It got afraid and, with the advice of Brahma, Chandra went to Prabhasa Tirtha and made a linga on the bank of the River Saraswati. There, he prayed to  Lord Shiva for six months. At the end, Shiva appeared before Chandra and granted him a boon. Then, Chandra explained his problem.

Then, Shiva answered that Daksha's curse couldn't be entirely ignored. He said, "During Krishnapaksha, you will wane. In Shuklapaksha, you will wax; this is the solution to this problem." Chandra became very happy and took refuge in Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva wore the moon crescent on his head, making it grow for 15 days and decay for 15 days periodically.

The linga to which Chandra prayed is Somnath, the first of the Jyotirlingas. The legend says that Somnath is the first temple, which was built by Chandra Dev himself. So, Somnath means the protector of the moon god.

• The crescent moon symbolizes that he has controlled the mind perfectly.
• The crescent moon on Shiva's head looks like an ornament. The waxing and waning phenomenon of the moon indicates the time cycle through which creation evolves from beginning to end. Since the lord is eternal reality, but he is beyond time.

Conclusion:
As we've explored the mystery of the moon on Lord Shiva's head, we've uncovered the rich symbolism and spiritual significance that underlies this ancient icon. May this knowledge inspire you to deepen your understanding of Hindu mythology and the divine.

Ready to unlock the secrets of Hindu mythology and spirituality? Explore our resources and courses to further your knowledge of Lord Shiva, the moon, and their significance in Hinduism.