Does it not sound beautiful, saying Lunar Mansions. When we think of mansions, most of us imagine a beautiful house with gardens, fountains and singing birds bathed in moonlight.
However, Lunar means pertaining to the Moon and Lunar mansions are constellations composed of stars. Then what is a star? It is six pointed and is called a Shatkona. It is made of two interlocking triangles. The upward pointing triangle represents Shiva (Purusha), the supreme being and the downward pointing triangle represents Shakti (Prakriti), the mother nature. Their union is the source of creation, and the symbol represents the divine masculine and feminine energy.
Different constellations
It is also a sacred symbol for Kumara (Kartikeya), whose sacred number is six. It is a Yantra representing the divine feminine (Shakti) and divine masculine (Shiva). It also represent feminity, motherhood and angelic beauty in Hinduism. It symbolizes the union of Shiva and Shakti. Lunar mansions change daily and we can see the different constellation in the celestial sky.
Lunar Mansions or Nakshatras are used in Hindu astrology. There are 27 nakshatras, each with a name and a principal star. The astrological significance is that the Nakshatra is determined by the position of the moon at the time of birth. The idea behind the Nakshatras is that one understands how one behaves and what are the influences and what is one’s destiny. The nakshatras also determine what is an auspicious time for an event.
Lunar mansions are divisions of the sky along the Moon’s path with each mansion representing a specific area of stars or a constellation. They are also known as the celestial wives of the Moon. The Moon is said to travel through each mansion, every night to please the wives. This story symbolizes the dynamic relationship between the mind and the cosmic forces.
Praying to the Moon is an effective method of appeasing the nakshatras. The moon transits daily through each nakshatra. It carries the energy of that nakshatra. One pays homage to the entire cosmic cycle. This then creates a positive and harmonizing effect on one’s life.
Chandrama Meditation
Chant ‘Aum Chandraya Namaha’. Concentrate especially on the Moon on Mondays. Worship Lord Shiva as he wears the crescent moon on his head. This pleases the Moon. You can observe the lunar phase. You can intensify your prayers during important phases such as the full moon (Purnima), or the new moon, because one can get rid one’s negativity and past trauma.
To please the Moon
- Be kind and compassionate towards all. Be even more so to women, especially your mother.
- Pray to Parvati or Shiva.
- Be generous. Donate white items like milk, rice etc.
- Conserve water, commune with nature.
- Practice your daily sadhana.
To please your vanity
Wear silver, pearls or moonstone. Silver jewelry. And silvery white clothes.
Dear ones, regarding vanity, it is your choice.
Aim Hrim Klim
Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash