Chandra Monday Vrat Katha

There is a narrative from ancient times that, as per the instructions of Lord Vishnu, the demons and deities were churning the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to obtain nectar (Amrit). As soon as the Halahala poison emerged from the ocean churning, there was an outcry in all the worlds. Due to the effect of the poison, all creatures began to have difficulty breathing. Seeing the entire creation being destroyed, Lord Shiva drank the Halahala poison to protect the world. Lord Shiva held that disastrous poison in his throat, due to the effect of which his throat became blue, and he became famous by the name of Neelkanth.

Due to the effect of Halahala, Lord Shiva's body began to burn intensely, and he started experiencing extreme heat. Even after trying various remedies, when Shiva's pain did not subside, Chandradev (the Moon God) appeared there and said - "O Bholenath! I am famous in the creation for my coolness; therefore, please grant me the privilege of wearing me on your head. By doing so, the heat generated by the poison will surely subside, and you will experience coolness."

Accepting Chandradev's request, Lord Shiva wore him on his head, due to which he attained extreme coolness, and the poison-generated pain ended. At that time, Lord Shiva was pleased and gave a boon to Chandradev, saying - "O Chandradev! You have mitigated our pain with your coolness. We grant you this boon that from today, in the world, along with our worship, your worship will also be performed on Monday. Whoever observes a fast for the sake of Chandradev on Monday with full devotion and completes the fast by offering Arghya (libation) in the evening, all their mental problems will end, and they will attain happiness and peace." In this way, by the blessing of Lord Shiva, Chandradev became worshipable in all the three worlds.

According to the story found in Agni Purana, Lord Brahma created the Mind-born sons (Manas Putras) for the purpose of creation. One of these Mind-born sons was Rishi Atri. Rishi Atri was married to Devi Anasuya, the daughter of Maharishi Kardam. Devi Anasuya received three sons as a boon from the Trinity (Trideva), who became famous by the names of Rishi Durvasa, Lord Dattatreya, and Soma, i.e., Chandradev.

In the course of time, Daksha Prajapati married his 27 daughters to Chandradev. After marriage, Chandra began to love only Rohini excessively and started neglecting the other wives. Hurt by this act of his, the other daughters of Daksha Prajapati described this sorrow of theirs before their father. Daksha Prajapati tried to explain this to Chandradev in various ways. But on Chandradev, who was under the influence of his infatuation for Rohini, Daksha Prajapati's words had no effect. Finally, Daksha Prajapati became angry and cursed Chandradev, saying - "O Chandradev! The beauty and color you are so proud of that you are disrespecting your other wives, may that same form of yours be afflicted with tuberculosis (Kshaya Roga)."

Due to the curse given by Daksha Prajapati, Chandradev was immediately afflicted with tuberculosis. As soon as Chandradev was afflicted with tuberculosis, the sequence of nectar-coolness and rainfall etc. on the earth was obstructed. There was distress all around. Chandradev was also very moved and worried. He had realized his mistake. He told his pain to Devraj Indra. At Chandra's request, the deities including Indra, and the sages including Vasistha, appeared before Brahmaji for the resolution of his problem. Brahmaji said - "O Chandra! For your curse-liberation, you along with other deities, worship Mrityunjaya Lord Shiva in the holy Prabhas Kshetra. By his grace, you will surely become disease-free."

As per the instructions of Brahmaji, Chandradev performed intense penance with the Mrityunjaya Mantra of Lord Shiva. Pleased with the penance, Mrityunjaya Lord Shiva appeared to him and told him to ask for the desired boon. Moon asked for the boon of being disease-free from Shiva. Lord Shiva, granting the boon of immortality to Chandradev, said - "O Chandradev! Do not be distressed; by the effect of my boon, your curse will be mitigated." Saying this, Lord Shiva, being pleased, wore the Moon on his head and became established as Someshwar Nath.

Lord Shiva said - "Maintaining the dignity of Daksha Prajapati's curse, we will not completely break it. But in the Krishna Paksha (waning phase), every day one of your 'Kala' (phases) will diminish, and again in the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase), it will increase in the same sequence. In this way, on every Purnima (full moon), you will continue to attain full lunar status. In addition, any creature who observes the Monday fast and worships and offers Arghya for your sake will also be freed from various types of diseases." On receiving the boon for Chandradev, the creatures of all the worlds were delighted. Lord Chandra began to perform the work of nectar-showering in all the ten directions as before.

॥ Thus ends the Chandra Somavara Vrat Katha ॥