Candra, Tārā and the Birth of Budha
Candra, Tārā and Budha · candra-tārā-budha, “the Moon, Tārā and the birth of Budha”
Candra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Candra.
In the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 9, Chapter 14, Śrī Śuka Maharshi opens the Candra vaṁśa (the line of the Moon) for Parīkshit Mahārāja with this account. Candra, son of Atri, conquered the three worlds and performed the rājasūya; then, grown proud, he carried off Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati, guru of the devatās, and would not give her back. A war of devatās and rākshasas was fought for her until Brahmā made Candra return her. Tārā then bore a son shining like gold; when Brahmā asked her alone whose child he was, she said softly, “Candra’s,” and Brahmā named the boy Budha. From Budha and Ilā came Purūravas, the first of the kings of the Candra line.
The birth of Candra
Śuka begins: “O Parīkshit Mahārāja! I have told of the Sūrya vaṁśa. This telling of the vaṁśa brings purity of mind. Now I will tell of the Candra vaṁśa; listen. In that line are praised the kings of holy fame who begin with Aila.”
From the lotus born in the lake of the navel of Purushottama, who has endless heads, Brahmā appeared. Brahmā’s son Atri was equal to his father in qualities. From Atri’s tears of joy was born his son Candra, whose nature is amṛta. Brahmā made Candra ruler over the brāhmaṇas, the knowers of the Veda, of the trees and plants, and of the hosts of the nakshatras.
Candra carries off Tārā
Candra conquered the three worlds and performed the rājasūya yāga. Then his pride grew, and he carried off Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati. Bṛhaspati, the guru of the devatās, asked for her again and again, but in his pride Candra would not let her go.
Because of Tārā, enmity arose between the devatās and the rākshasas (the text’s word). The sides were taken in this way:
- Śukrācārya, because Bṛhaspati hated him, took Candra’s side, with the consent of the rākshasas.
- Rudra, always surrounded by the hosts of the bhūtas, took Bṛhaspati’s side with affection, for Bṛhaspati was the son of Aṅgiras, whom the text calls Rudra’s guru.
- Devendra, with all the hosts of the devatās, stood with Bṛhaspati.
In the war fought for Tārā, devatās and rākshasas alike were destroyed. Then Aṅgiras told Brahmā what had happened. Brahmā threatened Candra and gave Tārā back to her husband Bṛhaspati.
The birth of Budha
Bṛhaspati then came to know that Tārā was with child. He said to her: “O you of wicked mind! Put away from the field that is mine the embryo that another has placed in it. Then you will be fit for me. Though you have done wrong, because you are a woman, and because I desire offspring, may I not burn you to ash!”
Ashamed, Tārā gave birth to a son who shone with golden light. Both Bṛhaspati and Candra wanted the boy, and they quarrelled: “This boy is mine, not yours.” The maharshis and the devatās questioned Tārā, but out of shame she gave no answer at all.
Then the boy grew angry and said to his mother: “O you of wicked conduct! Why do you not answer? Your shame is useless. Tell me at once of the wrong you have done.”
Brahmā called Tārā aside to a solitary place, spoke gently to her and asked her. Softly she said: “He is Candra’s child.” So Candra took the boy. Brahmā, the self-born, named him Budha, and Candra, king of the nakshatras, rejoiced in this son of subtle intellect.
After the birth
Śuka goes on, recalling what was told earlier: Budha had a son, Purūravas, by Ilā; he is the Aila, the son of Ilā, with whom the kings of the Candra vaṁśa begin. The same chapter then tells of Purūravas and the apsarā Urvaśī.
Source: Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 9, Chapter 14
Sources
- Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 9, Chapter 14