Chandra is considered a fertility god as the overnight dew on the plants was seen coming from the planet of moon. Chandra is depicted as driving the moon chariot with ten white horses across the sky. It is said that Chandra had been created out of the cosmic ocean of milk. When it was stirred during a battle by the gods and demons it floated on the surface and kept on mounting. Therefore it was decided by the other Gods that Chandra should be placed amongst the sky. He is supposed to be the father of the planet Mercury.
There are few legends regarding Chandra. He is said to be married to twenty-seven daughters of patriarch Daksha. They are in fact personifications of the lunar asterisms. Among his wives, Rohini was the favourite of Chandra. It is said that he slowly started neglecting all other wives. So, they complained to their father Daksha, who repeatedly requested Chandra not to do that but all in vain. Enraged by the behaviour of Chandra, Daksha cursed upon his son-in-law. Thus, Chandra remained childless and became affected by consumption. Thereafter, wives of Chandra intervened and requested to their father on behalf of Chandra. Then, Daksha modified an imprecation which he could not recall and pronounced that the decay should be periodical only not permanent. Therefore, the moon or Chandra is believed to decrease and increase.
Chandra is considered as a lunar deity in Hinduism. He is also identified with the lunar deity Soma.
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