Varāha Mahā Purana
35 - Origin of Soma
Mahatapas said:
l. There was the famous mind-born son or Brahma by name Atri. His son was Soma (Moon) who became Daksha’s son in-law.
2. Twenty-seven renowned and honourable daughters of Daksha became his wives and Rohini was the chief among them.
3. He was giving his love only to Rohini and not to others. So, they went to their father and told him about this difference in the treatment accorded to them.
4. Daksha asked him several times to give equal treatment to all wives, but he cared little. Thereupon Daksha cursed him to disappear, and as a result, he waned and vanished.
5. When Soma was thus lost, gods, men, beasts and plants began to wither, particularly the plants.
6. When the plants were thus shrivelling up, gods were worried and said that the moon is the source of all plants.
7. They seriously thought about the matter and resorted to Vishnu, and lord Vishnu asked them what he might do for them.
8. They told him that Soma was lost because of a curse of Daksha and then Vishnu suggested that they may churn ocean putting the plants into it.
9. After telling Devas thus, Vishnu mentally called Rudra and Brahma and also the serpent Vasuki for the churning rope.
10. They all churned the ocean and Soma reappeared.
11. He who is soul within the body and is called Kshetrajna, is this Soma who is the Jiva (life).
12-13. He attained an invisible form which sustains gods and men and these sixteen deities, as also the trees and plants, His visible form Rudra bore on his head.
14. Water also is his form and hence he is considered universal. Brahma then gave him Paurnamasi (Full moon day) as the tithi.
15. O king, if one fasts and gives him offerings on that day, he bestows on him food, knowledge, effulgence, health and wealth.
Summary of chapter 35 of the Varāha Mahā Purana is as follows:
The narrative turns to the heroic deeds of the Divine Mother as She manifests in Her fierce forms to protect the devas from the demonic tyranny of Śumbha and Niśumbha. When the fierce demon generals Chaṇḍa and Muṇḍa attack the Goddess with vast armies of asuras, Mother Parvatī manifests the dark and formidable Goddess Kālī from Her forehead, who roars like thunder and wields a sword and noose. Goddess Chāmuṇḍa Kālī decimate the demonic forces, severing the heads of Chaṇḍa and Muṇḍa on the battleground and presenting them to Goddess Mahāmāyā, earning the glorious name Chāmuṇḍā throughout the three worlds.