Dikshitar's Navagraha Krithis and their Scientific aspects-Chandram Bhaja Manasa (MOON)

Chandram Bhaja Manasa

Raga- Asaveri                                                                                         Taala-Chaturashra Matya 

Chandram bhaja manasa, sadhu hrudaya sadrusham

Indhradhi loka paleditha tharesam,

Indhum Shodasa kala dharam nisakaram,

Indhira sahodharam, sudha kara manisam.

Shankara mouli vibhooshanam, Sheetha kiranam,

Chathur bhujam, madana cchathram, kshapaakaram,

Venkatesa nayanam, viran mano jananam,

Vidhum, Kumudha mithram, vidhi Guru Guha vakthrum,

Sasngam , gheeshpathi sapaa anugraha pathram,

Sarad chandrika dhavala prakasa gathram,

Kankana Keyura hara makutadhi dharam,

Pankaja ripum , Rohini Priya kara chathuram

Translation

Chandram bhaja manasa, sadhu hrudaya sadrusham-

Oh Mind,  sing about the moon,Who is  the heart of the holy ones.

Indhradhi loka paleditha tharesam -The Lord of stars worshipped by Indra and others,

Indhum Shodasa kala dharam nisakaram –One who waters the earth, has sixteen phases and who makes night,

Indhira sahodharam, sudha kara manisam -One who is the brother of Goddess Lakshmi, one who is rich in nectar.

Shankara mouli vibhooshanam, Sheetha kiranam -One who decorates the head of Lord Shiva and has cool rays,

Chathur bhujam, madana cchathram, kshapaakaram -One who has four hands, who is the umbrella of the love God and who makes night,

Venkatesa nayanam, viran mano jananam-One who is the eye of Lord Venkatesa,  who was born out of mind of God,

Vidhum, Kumudha mithram, vidhi Guru Guha vakthrum -One who is friend of night lotus and the face of Guru Guha,

Sasngam , gheeshpathi sapaa anugraha pathram -One who has mark of rabbit and who was cursed and blessed by Jupiter(Guru),

Sarad chandrika dhavala prakasa gathram –One who has the body that produces the brilliance of autumn moon,

Kankana Keyura hara makutadhi dharam -One who wears bangles , armlets, garland and crown,

Pankaja ripum , Rohini Priya kara chathuram -One who is the enemy of Lotus and  who is clever and dear of Rohini.

Scientific aspects of this Krithi:

Chandra, known for his youthfulness, has long been associated with the ‘mind’. I, hereby present some intercepts from this krithi, which indicates some scientific evidences about Chandra and the rest of the celestial bodies.

Shodasa Kaala Dharam Nishakaram: The 16 faces of the moon refers to the calculation of the number of days in a month. Each month being divided into 2 Pakshas(Krishna and Shukla). Each day there is a new face of the moon. 16 faces is referred in the Sri Chakra, where ,on the 16^th day moon is not visible.

Moon’s phase affects rainfall: Recent studies have shown that there is a relation between the water table under the earth and the phase of the moon.Precipitation tended to rise a few days before quarter moon.  Rainfall, by far have been recorded as the highest, immediately after full moon or new moon. Seeds sown on full moon day, are considered to grow better, because, moon’s gravity pulls the water table under the earth towards it. Moon’s orbit could distort earth’s magnetosphere, which consists of ionized particles surrounding the earth’s magnetic field. This might allow more particles from space into the atmosphere, which would trigger rain when they collide with clouds.

Shashaankam: Moon has dark patches on it which shows up like rabbit. Many cultures believe this, which includes Chinese.

Seetha Kirana: Moon rays are cold by nature. Latest findings have proven that Moon is the coldest place in the solar system. Temperatures as low as 26K(-249 deg) has been recorded on the moon.

Pankaja Ripum: Lotus flower always blooms in the broad daylight and gets closed by night under moon. 

Rohini priyakara chaturam: One who is very dear to Rohini(star). Rohini’s astronomical name being Aldebaran, is a 1^st magnitude star. Scientific evidences have shown that, by far ,moon is the only planetary object that can occult Aldebaran. Occultation is an event, when an object in the foreground is hidden by an object in the background.

Without doubt, this Krithi carries with it some of the recent scientific researches.