cosmos and origins
What is the moon in Hindu tradition and in science?
Chandra and the tradition
The moon in Hindu tradition is a deity named Chandra. He is seen as gentle and cooling, and tradition connects him directly to the mind. The Sanskrit word for mind, manas, is said to have a close link with Chandra. This is why mood and mental states are often tied to the moon in traditional thinking. Chandra moves through the sky in a cycle, and this cycle sits at the heart of the Hindu lunar calendar. Most Hindu festivals, fasts, and auspicious days are set by the moon's position and phase, not the solar date. The full moon, called Purnima, and the new moon, called Amavasya, both carry their own significance and are marked differently across regions and traditions. Chandra also appears in stories across Puranic tradition, most often as a luminous, wandering figure. In some traditions he is connected with the elixir of life, called amrita, which the gods are said to drink from him. Different sects and regions have their own versions of these stories.
What science says
In science, the moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It orbits Earth roughly once a month, and the changing angle between it, Earth, and the sun produces the lunar phases we see, from new moon to full moon and back. The moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans and is the main driver of tides. There is no strong scientific evidence linking the lunar cycle to mood or mental states, though the idea has been studied. The moon has no light of its own. What we see is reflected sunlight.