A Journey with the Navagraha (Part 1): Chandra - The Moon
- brookecannoot
- Mar 8
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 9
From The Ancient Temples to Your Eight Fields of Living
CHANDRA - THE MOON
OM CHAM CHANDRAYA NAMAHA
It is a Monday. It is cold, snowy, and the moon is full and it is the eve of a lunar eclipse.
The perfect alignment to write a treatise on the second of the Navagraha, The Moon.
The Moon is feminine, soft, compassionate. She is the Mother and as such she is governs the HEART of the human experience. Her power lies in graceful surrender, to let go and let God. It is through our endless devotion to God, to our spouse, to our child, to our own mother, to our friend, or to our beloved pet, that we connect to the flow of grace in our lives.
She is the deep bow, the pranam, at the feet of the divine. Not out of submission, but out of reverence and recognition that there is no separation-As the moon so brightly reflects the light of our star, the Sun, as do we of the divine, in our own hearts.
The Moon brings light to the darkness of the night as above or as below, light to the dark night of the soul.
She is the aspect of our experience that provides nourishment, on the physical level, in terms of food and shelter and on the soul level as meaningful connection and unconditional love.
The Moon is the warm embrace, the gentle, loving gaze of a mother onto her child, and the devotee enraptured to tears by the sound of God’s name.
The Moon is the Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Immaculate Heart of Mother Mary.
The deep devotion of Hanuman to Ram and Sita.
The love to surmount all obstacles and lift us up to the highest.
The Moon governs Bhakti Yoga, The Path of Devotion. The path of the Heart. In many ways, this is the simplest and easiest path. Simply surrender to the will of the divine, not I but thou.
KEYWORDS FOR THE MOON: Nourishment, Devotion, Compassion, Empathy, Heart-Centered
LESSONS FROM THE MOON: Listen to your heart to resolve any issue and choose the option that uplifts and nourishes your heart the most.
THE TEMPLE
Chandiranaar Temple or also know as the Kailasanathar Temple in Thingalur, Tamil Nadu, India.
The estimated age of the temple is over 1,000-1,500 years built during the Chola dynasty but believed to have been renovated or rebuilt in the 16th century.
Shiva is the main deity revered at each of the Navagraha temples (except one). Shiva represents the Father that which is outside of the creation. Shiva is pure consciousness. When the pure consciousness passes through the creation point, differentiation occurs within the hands of the divine mother, the Navagraha are her cosmic DNA. Both the Father (Shiva) and the Mother are typically worshipped in the Navagraha Temples in addition to the Graha.
Within this temple, devotees come to offer pranams and devotion to The Moon.
The Moon Temple was in a word, is serene. Quiet. Gentle. This was the 5th temple that we visited on our pilgrimage but the first one that brought a sense of ease and calm. It was a cloudy day which enhanced the sense of softness. There was not the hustle or bustle. No markets. The Moon is considered a benevolent energy, and devotees come to this temple seeking blessings for marriage and family harmony, for their children and their well-being, for mental peace and tranquility, for maternal health.
As you step into each Temple, you are instantly ‘tuned’ to the vibration of that Graha. For The Moon, the stillness and the quiet were palpable. It felt similarly to walking into a library, called to speak only in whispers or communicate with just a glance. This quality allowed spaciousness to settle down for contemplation and meditation.
A light blue, a blue gray, and white were prominent colors as part of the stone masonry within the grounds as well as the that of the clothing worn by our group. These colors are strongly associated with The Moon.
As I reflect on the feeling I experienced in this temple the only word I can summon is simple - no matter how I try to contemplate on an alternative word that invokes a deeper or more profound expression of the vibration of the Moon at the temple.
Yet, simple is profound. It is The Moon. Simplicity. Simply, open your heart and surrender. Develop an openness and receptivity so that the divine grace can flow to your soul.
HOW DOES THE MOON EFFECT YOU?
The Ancient Ayurveda system describes The Eight Fields of Living: Physical Health, Vitality, Dharma, Creative Play, Career, Relationships, Desires, and—most importantly—Spirituality, or your Spiritual Path.
Each of us carries a unique cosmic blueprint. Within it, the Navagraha—the nine planetary forces—each govern a specific field of living, shaping the distinct expression of who you are.
Depending on which of the Eight Fields of Living the Moon governs in your personal blueprint, it reveals how aspects of the heart, surrender, and devotion naturally guide your life.
THE EIGHT FIELDS OF LIVING: SPIRITUALITY
The most important of the Eight Fields is Spirituality. It is the core—the hub of the wheel—from which all the other fields turn. It is the guide that leads the other seven. If you were to learn only one aspect of your blueprint, this is the one that matters most. It reveals the most harmonious way that you can connect with God and that aspect of yourself that is always and ever connected to the divine, your soul.
Our very understanding of God—from the quantum field of existence to the Beloved as the living embodiment of Love—depends on which of the Navagraha governs your spirituality. The practices, techniques, and methods to reach that individualized definition of God, is also dependent on which of The Nine is at your core.
Each Navagraha rules a specific path to God. We use the language of the Vedic sciences to identify these paths, but they are universal. Separate from any religion or dogma.
The Eight Paths are:
Surya Yoga - The Integral Path - The Sun
Bhakti Yoga - The Path of the Heart - The Moon
Kundalini Yoga - The Path of the Will - Mars
Gyana Yoga - The Path of the Intellect - Mercury
Karma Yoga - The Path of the Action - Jupiter
Raja Yoga- The Path of the Senses - Venus
Hatha Yoga - The Path of the Physicality - Saturn
Tantra - The Path of the Iconoclast - The Nodes
For example, The Moon governs Mackenzie’s Spiritual Path. In the language of Ancient Ayurveda, we would call her a Bhakti Yogi, on the Path of Bhakti Yoga. Which really means, the Path of The Heart and Devotion. She uses the energy of The Moon to connect to the deepest aspect of who she is at her source-to that piece of us that is ever connected to each other, as one.
Mackenzie shared this:
When I learned I was a Bhakti it was like everything clicked into place. I’ve never been very good at describing my relationship with spirit. It’s more a feeling that words simply can’t do justice. Think of the most beautiful landscape or sunset you’ve ever seen. You take a photo and when you look at that photo it just isn’t the same. That was what it was like. I could never find the words because there simply weren’t any that could match the feeling. To live in & through my heart is like being at home. It’s being fully present & surrendered. It’s LOVE. When I’m struggling in life it’s usually because I’m in my head and not my heart. That’s when I know I need to step back, find my way back to my heart, back to the love. And then it all falls back in place.
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW THE MOON GOVERNS YOUR LIFE?
If you are curious to discover where The Moon and each of the other Nine Forces reside within your Eight Fields of Living, I invite you to schedule a personal consultation. Your blueprint is entirely unique — and profoundly revealing. Book your session here.
CONNECT TO THE ENERGY OF THE MOON
Use this Spotify Playlist curated specially to connect you to the vibration of The Moon
READ The Journey of the Navagraha Pillar Blog Post of this series HERE.
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