Chandra Beej Mantra

Chandra among the grahas

In Jyotish, Chandra (Soma) governs the mind, emotions, the mother, sleep and fluids of the body. A weak or afflicted Moon is associated with restlessness, anxiety and mood swings, and the remedy most often prescribed is the Chandra beej mantra, chanted on Mondays. Chandra is also the crescent on Shiva's head, which is why Monday (Somvar) is Shiva's day too.

The mantra

• Om shram shrim shraum sah chandramase namah: salutations to Chandra. Shram, shrim and shraum are the bija (seed) syllables of the Moon, with sah as the closing seed. Some sources end the mantra "chandraya namah"; both forms are in use.
• The dhyana verse: Dadhi-shankha-tusharabham kshirodarnava-sambhavam, namami shashinam somam shambhor mukuta-bhushanam. "I bow to Soma, the hare-marked Moon, white like curd, conch and snow, born from the ocean of milk, the ornament on Shambhu's crown." This is Chandra's verse from the Navagraha Stotra attributed to Vyasa.

How to chant it

• On Mondays, preferably in the evening or at moonrise, and especially on Purnima.
• The traditional count for a Chandra remedy is 11,000 repetitions over a set period; daily practice is usually one mala of 108.
• Wear white, offer white flowers, rice or milk, and keep the mind calm, since Chandra rules the mind.

Chandra Gayatri mantra

ॐ क्षीरपुत्राय विद्महे अमृततत्त्वाय धीमहि। तन्नश्चन्द्रः प्रचोदयात्॥
Om Kshiraputraya Vidmahe Amritatattvaya Dhimahi, Tannash Chandrah Prachodayat.

"May we know the son of the ocean of milk; may we meditate on him whose essence is amrit; may Chandra inspire us." Both epithets come from the same story as the dhyana verse: Chandra rose from the ocean of milk when it was churned, along with the amrit, and he is called the store of amrit, which is why cooling and soothing qualities are attributed to him. A second form is also printed, Om Amritangaya Vidmahe Kalarupaya Dhimahi, Tannah Somah Prachodayat: "whose body is amrit, whose form is the kalas", the sixteen digits by which the Moon waxes and wanes. Either may be chanted; keep to one.

All nine graha mantras, with their days and counts, are on one page: Navgrah Mantra.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Chandra Gayatri mantra?

ॐ क्षीरपुत्राय विद्महे अमृततत्त्वाय धीमहि। तन्नश्चन्द्रः प्रचोदयात्॥ (Om Kshiraputraya Vidmahe Amritatattvaya Dhimahi, Tannash Chandrah Prachodayat). It is chanted on Mondays like the beej mantra.

Which day is best for the Chandra mantra?

Monday, Somvar, the Moon's day, and Purnima nights.

Is it "chandramase" or "chandraya"?

Both are found: "chandramase namah" and "chandraya namah" are standard variants of the same beej mantra.

Why is a weak Moon linked to the mind?

In Jyotish Chandra is the karaka (significator) of manas, the mind, so its strength is read as emotional steadiness.

What should be offered to Chandra?

White things: milk, rice, white flowers, silver, and water offered to the moon (arghya) on Monday or Purnima evenings.

Where is the dhyana verse from?

From the Navagraha Stotra ("Japakusuma sankasham...") traditionally attributed to Vyasa; it is the Moon's verse.