Candra and Somnātha
The Somnātha Jyotirliṅga at Prabhāsa began with a śāpa (a curse). Prajāpati Daksha cursed his son-in-law Candra, the Moon, because Candra gave all his love to one wife, Rohiṇī. The curse was kshaya (wasting disease), and Candra began to lose his light. On the advice of Brahmā, Candra did tapas (austerity) at Prabhāsa, and Bhagavān Śiva appeared to him. The liṅga that Candra made there became the first and best known Jyotirliṅga, Somnātha.
The twenty-seven wives of Candra
Prajāpati Daksha gave his twenty-seven daughters to Candra in marriage. These daughters are the twenty-seven nakshatras (lunar stars) of the lunar calendar: Aśvinī, Bharaṇī, Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī, Mṛgaśīrsha, Ārdrā, Punarvasū, Pushya, Āśleshā, Maghā, Pūrvaphālgunī, Uttaraphālgunī, Hasta, Citrā, Svātī, Viśākhā, Anurādhā, Jyeshṭhā, Mūlā, Pūrvāshāḍhā, Uttarāshāḍhā, Śravaṇā, Dhanishṭhā, Śatabhishā, Pūrvabhādrapadā, Uttarabhādrapadā and Revatī.
Among these twenty-seven, Candra showed great favour to Rohiṇī. He spent most of his time with her and neglected the other twenty-six. The other wives were unhappy. They went to their father Daksha and told him how their husband behaved.
Daksha’s śāpa
Daksha called Candra and told him to treat all his wives with equal love. Candra agreed, but his behaviour did not change. The nakshatras came to Daksha a second time in distress. Then Daksha pronounced the śāpa: kshaya. Candra would shrink and waste away, and his brightness would fade day by day.
So the Moon began to wane without a stop, and his light grew less. This brought distress to all three worlds, because the health of the Moon governs plants, the oshadhis (healing herbs) and the well-being of all living beings.
Brahmā’s advice
Candra was afflicted by the curse and fading fast. He went to the devas, and they sent him to Brahmā. Brahmā heard him and said:
The curse of Daksha is the direct result of your own adharma toward your wives. But the remedy is in your own hands. Go to the sacred tīrtha of Prabhāsa on the western ocean. There, worship Śiva, the Mṛtyuñjaya, with the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra. No power in the universe can override the grace of Parameśvara.
Candra’s tapas at Prabhāsa
Candra went to Prabhāsa on the shore of the western ocean. Three rivers, Sarasvatī, Hiraṇyā and Kapilā, flow into the sea at that place. He made a pārthiva liṅga (a liṅga of earth) of Śiva and began the japa (repeated recitation) of the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra with full devotion.
For six months, without a break, Candra recited the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra ten crore times (10,00,00,000). His tapas came with strict fasting (upavāsa), one-pointed mind and complete surrender.
Śiva appears
Parameśvara was moved by Candra’s sincere and steady devotion. He appeared at Prabhāsa in a divine form that lit all the directions. Bhagavān Śiva said:
I am pleased by your tapas. The curse of Daksha cannot be made void, for he is a Prajāpati and his word carries force. But I grant you this settlement: you shall wax for fifteen days (śuklapaksha) and wane for fifteen days (kṛshṇapaksha). In this way both the curse and my vara (a boon) are honoured.
Candra bowed in thanks. His brightness returned in part, and from then on it rose and fell in the steady rhythm of waxing and waning.
Somnātha is established
Candra asked Bhagavān Śiva to stay at Prabhāsa for ever as a Jyotirliṅga, for the good of all devotees. Bhagavān Śiva agreed. He took the form of a liṅga there and the name Somnātha, which means master of Soma, the Moon (soma = the Moon; nātha = master). Candra himself is Soma, so the name Somnātha means both the one whom Soma worships and the one who saved Soma.
Prabhāsa was declared supremely sacred. One who bathes in the three rivers and worships Somnātha attains moksha (liberation). Somnātha is regarded as the first and foremost of the twelve Jyotirliṅgas.
Sources
- Śiva Purāṇa, Koti Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 14