The fifth volume in the Predictive Astrology series explores an in-depth study of the characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and other significations of the planet Moon.
Moon:
Moon is considered the queen of the planets and is the other luminary. In Sanskrit, the Moon is known by many names such as Chandra, Soma, and Shashank. The Moon represents mother, happiness, emotions, travel, willpower, silver, pearl, health, and stability.
A strong Moon—when placed in its own house Karkataka, exalted in Vrishabha, or when conjunct or aspected by benefic planets like Jupiter—bestows a positive attitude, strong willpower, wealth, health, and happiness. A well-placed Moon also grants a harmonious family life, a positive attitude, a pleasing personality, intuitive, and a strong desire for wealth and worldly pleasures. As the planet of emotions and feelings, the Moon influences a person’s ability to learn and comprehend. Individuals with a strong Moon tend to be nurturing and caring by nature.
Physically, the Moon gives a fair or white complexion, a corpulent body, beautiful watery eyes, black and thin hair, a mild temperament, and sweet speech.
The Moon is considered weak when placed in its debilitated sign Vrischika, or when conjunct or aspected by malefic planets such as Saturn, Rahu, or Ketu. A weak Moon can result in ill health, mental ailments, depression, a negative attitude, poor adjustment with family and relatives, excessive anxiety, and indecisiveness.
The Moon is the fastest-moving luminary and is the karaka of the mind. Therefore, afflictions to the Moon often lead to psychological disturbances, along with arrogance and false prestige.
Facts about Planet Moon:
Deity: Lord Shiva
Element: Water
Rasi(zodiac sign): Karkataka (Cancer)
Caste: Vaishya
Color: White, silver
Day: Monday
Body part: Breast, ovary, uterus
Gem: Pearl, Moon stone
Metal: Silver, bell metal
Family: Mother
Season: Rainy (varsha rutu)
Element: Water
Flora: Creeping vines
Places: Watery place, residences
Gender: Female
Direction: North West
Aspects: 7th house (directly opposite)
Basic nature: Rajasic
Exaltation: Vrishabha(Taurus)
Debilitation: Vrischika (Scorpio)
Friendly planets: Sun and Mercury
Neutral planet: Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn
Adverse planets: No
Transit time : 2.25 days
Remedies for Moon:
1. Pray to Lord Shiva on Mondays. Even performing abhishekam to Lord Shiva will be beneficial.
2. On Pournami(full moon day) in the night recite Lalitha sahasranama.
3. Respect and take care of Mother or elderly females.
4. Donate food to the needy on Mondays.
5. Taking care of children- donate for their maintenance or studies.
Mythology:
The Trimurthys—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—once visited the house of Sage Atri to test the devotion of his wife, Anasuya, towards her husband. The Trimurthys demanded that Anasuya feed them milk from her breasts. Through her spiritual powers, Anasuya understood the true intent behind their test. She transformed the three gods into infants and fed them as desired. Immensely pleased with her devotion and purity, the Trimurthys blessed Anasuya with illustrious children. With Shiva’s blessings, she gave birth to Rishi Durvasa; with Vishnu’s blessings, she gave birth to Dattatreya; and with Brahma’s blessings, she gave birth to the Moon.
The Moon married all the twenty-seven daughters of Daksha, who are represented as the twenty-seven Nakshatras or constellations. However, out of these twenty-seven wives, the Moon favored only Rohini and spent most of his time with her. The remaining twenty-six sisters pleaded with the Moon to spend equal time with them, but he ignored their requests. Distressed, the twenty-six sisters complained to their father, Daksha. Daksha tried to reason with the Moon, but the Moon did not heed his advice. Enraged, Daksha cursed the Moon to suffer from consumption.
As a result of the curse, the Moon began to wane each day, gradually losing his brilliance, and no remedy could cure him. The gods became alarmed at the possibility that life on Earth would be affected without the Moon. They approached Daksha and requested him to modify the curse so that life on Earth could continue. Daksha agreed and altered the curse on the condition that the Moon must spend one day with each of his wives. Accordingly, the Moon would suffer from the effects of consumption for fourteen days and regain his strength and brilliance over the next fourteen days. Thus, the Moon waxes and wanes in a continuous cycle of twenty-eight days. The first fourteen days (waxing) is known as Shukla paksha and the next fourteen days of waning is known as Krisna paksha.
In another legend, the Moon, having attained great fame and glory among celestial beings, became extremely arrogant. He eloped with Tara, the wife of his Guru, Jupiter, with her consent. Despite repeated requests from the gods, Jupiter, and even Indra, the king of the gods, the Moon refused to return Tara. Finally, when Brahma intervened, the Moon returned Tara—who was pregnant—to Jupiter. From Tara, Mercury was born. As Mercury did not receive affection from his real father, the Moon, nor from Jupiter, he developed a strained relationship with both the Moon and Jupiter.
