In Hinduism, Chandra (lit. "shining)[1] is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma (lit. "juice")[2]. The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation.[1] He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and having in his hands a club and a lotus.[3] He rides his chariot (the moon) across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses or an antelope. Although the antelope is the animal most commonly depicted with Him in iconography, the rabbit is also particularly sacred to him and all rabbits are under his protection.[4] He is connected with dew, and as such, is one of the gods of fertility. He is also called Rajanipati (lord of the night)[1] and Kshuparaka (one who illuminates the night)[5], Indu (lit. The bright drop).[1] He as Soma, presides over Somvar or Monday.

He is the father of Budha, (planet Mercury) the mother being Tara (Taraka). He is married to 27 Nakshatras (constellations), who are known to be daughters of Daksha.

Devanagari चंद्र
Sanskrit Transliteration Chandra
Affiliation Graha
Consort 27 Nakshatras (Daughters of Daksha) including the main consort, Rohini and Tara
Mount chariot pulled by an antelope by ten white horses / rams

From: Wiki
Chandra the Hindu god of the moon is a lunar deity. He holds two lotus flowers in his hands. He rides his chariot, the moon, across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses...

Story of Ganesh and Chandra: In the month of Shravan/Bhadrapad, after a feast of modaks Ganesha was on his way home. He was riding his mouse, a snake slithered into their path, the mouse tripped and Ganesha took a tumble. His stomach split, and the modaks fell out, Chandra (the moon) was watching and he began to laugh. Ganesha picked up the snake and used it as a belt to hold his stomach together. He looked up, cursed Chandra and banned him from the night skies.

Soon the gods and humankind were dazed glare of the relentless sun. There was no respite of darkness when the moon was banished from the sky. The gods took a delegation to Ganesha and pleaded their case. Ganesha gave in, but made an astronomic condition. The moon would never shine like before. Full moon would be just once a month (earlier every day was a full moon). On other days the Chandra as a reminder of his misdemeanor would wax or wane!

From: here
Chandra was the original Indian God of the Moon who was later merged with the Hindu God Soma. Chandra drove the moon chariot across the sky with ten white horses. He was also considered a fertility god, since the dew which falls on the plants overnight and gives them life was seen as coming from the moon. Hence, Chandra was also prayed to when a couple wanted to have a child.

Chandra is said to have been created out of the cosmic ocean of milk, which when it was stirred up by the gods and demons during a battle, Chandra floated to the surface and kept on rising. The other gods decided that Chandra should find a place amongst the sky instead of dwelling in the realm of the other deities.

Chandra is believed to be the father of the planet Mercury, and in Hinduism is considered to be a male god. In the West, it is interesting to note that the name Chandra is usually given to girls. (Either way, we still think Chandra is a beautiful name.)

From: here
Mandala of Chandra, from the description:
The center of this mandala depicts the moon god Chandra flanked by two female archers who shoot arrows of light to drive away the darkness. Chandra holds two lotuses and rides a chariot pulled by seven geese, an arrangement that parallels depictions of the sun god Surya, whose chariot is pulled by horses. Surrounding the central tableau are the nine planetary deities, which includes another depiction of Chandra. Across the top of the painting are the five directional buddhas (tathagatha) flanked by bodhisattvas at either end. The bottom register is divided into three panels that depict, from left to right, a ceremony, a group of musicians and dancers, and a group of patrons. Worship of the moon god Chandra was popular in Nepali Buddhism in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, although it appears to have declined thereafter.

From: here
Chandra Puja
Associated Day : Monday
Gemstone : Pearl
Metal : Silver
Direction : Northwest
Color : White
Grain : Rice
Flower : White
Arali Food : Curd Rice
Dhyan Mantra : Dadhi Sankha Tusarapham Ksirodarnava Samphavam Namami Sasinam Somam Samphor MakutaBhusanam Chandra Gayatri Mantra: Aum Sheer Putraay Vidmahe Amrit Tatvaay Dheemahi Tanno Chandra Prachodayat

Chandra Puja is dedicated to Lord Chandra, the Moon God. Grah Shanti Chandra Puja (Moon Worship) is recommended to those, having malefic Chandra or wrongly placed moon as per the horoscope. The following list includes couple of things associated with Chandra.

Chandra is the name for moon in Vedic astrology. In Sanskrit, Chandra means "bright and shining". The Moon is also known as Soma, named after the intoxicating sacred drink used in Vedic sacrifice. Chandra gives a calm and soothing affect to our life.

Chandra Puja - Moon Worship
The crucial importance of Chandra Grah (Moon Planet) lies in the fact that it controls five senses of human life. Moon is the ruler of mind and all the senses are controlled by the mind. The worship of Chandra can be started from any Monday of the bright fortnight. One should sit facing the northwest direction and chant the following mantra of Chandra.

Aum Shraam Shreem Shroum Sah Chandraay Namah
The jaap of 18 Malas is usually recommended. People can observe fast on Mondays which would be beneficial. They can take meal for one time avoiding salt and grains, if possible. One should offer milk mixed with sugar on Shiva lingam on Mondays.

Position of the Moon
The bright Moon is regarded as benefic of the highest order and the dark Moon is regarded as malefic. The Moon rules over the sidereal zodiac of Cancer. The Moon exalts in Taurus and falls in the sign of Scorpio. Chandra is most comfortable in the 4th house. The Moon is particularly favorable for the water sign ascendants of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Nature of Chandra is watery.

The Moon - Its Significance
Moon is an indicator of the females, the public, general well-being and happiness, femininity and beauty, the eyesight, memory and the mind. The moon or Chandra as the mind shows all the senses and their ability to take life in all its splendors. Due to malefic Chandra, problems like mental retardation, skin and nerve problems, jaundice, fluid accumulation are observed. The above problems can be overcome by praying to Lord Chandra.

From: here
CHANDRA (MOON) is a lovable God - a loving god. Pleasing to children as well as elders universally appealing to everyone whatever may be the religion of the onlooker. Sages and devotees invoke the Goddess Mother in Chandra and meditate for hours.

This griho (Moon) causes nightfall strengthens the mind, purifies the blood and is considered as the mother who radiates nectar (Amrut). Worship of this griha is said to be beneficial for relief from all sorrows, helps in curing mental afflictions. etc. His cool rays radiate happiness around. He adores the head of Lord Siva. Worshipping Chandra on Mondays is said to be very effective in getting one's prayers answered.

In the Zodiac he is the lord of Cancer. He stays 2 1/4 days in each Rasi completing a round of the 12 Rasis in 27 days.

From: here
Chandra Dev, as a God, is fair and youthful in appearance. He is considered wise, peaceful and auspicious. He wears white and carries a mace in one hand and is seated on a lotus which is carried by a shining white chariot pulled by white horses. The Moon rules the zodiac sign of Cancer. The gemstone of Moon is Moonstone and Pearls. The metal representing Moon is silver and direction is northwest. The day representing Moon is Monday. An afflicted Moon may mean personality disorders, difficulties in relating to other people and emotional disturbances. In case of afflictions the mantras of Chandra can be recited or other remedies can be done.

Mantras of Chandradev
‘Om Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah Chandraya Namah’
‘Om Som Somaya Namah’


Navagraha Chandra Mantra
‘Dadhishangkhatushaarabham Ksheerodaarnvasambhavam
Namaami Shashinam Somam Shambhormukutbhooshanam’

Meaning : I bow to the Moon God whose hue resembles the hue of Curds, a conch and the color of show. I bow down to the one who sprang out from the milky ocean and the one who beautifies and adorns the crest of Shiva and who is of the form of nectar.

Chandra Gayatri Mantras

‘Om Shirputraya Vidmahe
Amrit Tatvaya Dhimahi
Tanno Chandrah Prachodayat’

‘Om Kshira puthraya Vidhmahe
Amrithathvaya Dheemahe
Thanno Chandra Prachodayath’

‘Om Padmadwajaya Vidhmahe
Hema roopaya Dheemahe
Thanno Chandra Prachodayath’

From: here
Chandra or moon is a Hindu deity who is also known as, Soma. The `Soma` means juice or sap of the plants and thus Chandra is the lord of plants and vegetation. Chandra is also considered as the Graha or planet according to Hindu astrology.

In Puranas (ancient Hindu legends), Chandra is described as young, beautiful, fair, two-armed god who has club and lotus in his hands. He rides a chariot pulled by ten white horses or an antelope and moves around the sky at night. The other names of moon are Rajanipati (lord of night), Indu (the brighten drop) and Kshuparaka (one who illuminates the night).

Chandra has many wives namely Tara, Rohini, Anuradha and Bharani, who are the twenty-seven Nakshtras (constellations) and daughters of Daksha. Budh (planet Mercury) is the son of Chandra and Tara.

As Soma, Chandra presides over Somvar or Monday. Worshipping Chandra god on Mondays is very effective as it grants one`s prayer. Chandra is also considered as fertility god since the dews that fall on plants; overnight giving them life, seem to come from moon. Thus Chandra is prayed when a couple wants to have a child. As a `Graha` Chandra helps to get relief from the sorrows and cure mental afflictions. According to Puranas, Chandra is thought to adore the head of Lord Shiva. Sages and devotees invoke the Goddess mother in Chandra and meditate for hours.

From: here
SÓMA As the Soma sacrifice formed the centre of the ritual of the RV., the god Soma is one of the most prominent deities. With rather more than 120 hymns (all those in Mandala ix, and about half a dozen in others) addressed to him, becomes next to Agni (i. 1) in importance. The anthropomorphism of his character is less developed than that of India or Varuna because the plant and its juice are constantly present to the mind of the poet. Soma has terrible and sharp weapons, which he grasps in his hand; he wields a bow and a thousand-pointed shaft. He has a car which is heavenly, drawn by a team like Vayu's. He is also said to ride on the same car as Indra. He is the best of charioteers. In about half a dozen hymns he is associated with Indra, Agni, Pusan, and Rudra respectively as a dual divinity. He is sometimes attended by the Maruts, the close allies of Indra. He comes to the sacrifice and receives offerings on the sacred grass.

The Soma juice, which is intoxicating, is frequently termed mádhu or sweet draught, but oftenest called índu the bright drop. The colour Of Soma is brown (babhrú), ruddy (aruná), or more usually tawny (hári). The whole of the ninth book consists of incantations chanted over the tangible Soma, while the stalks are being pounded by stones, the juice passes through a woollen strainer, and flows into wooden vats, in which it is offered to the gods on the litter of sacred grass (barhís). These processes are overlaid with confused and mystical imagery in endless variation. The pressing stones with which the shoot (amsú) is crushed are called ádri or grávan. The pressed juice as it passes through the filter of sheep's wool is usually called pávamana or punaná flowing clear. This purified (unmixed) Soma is sometimes called suddhá pure, but much oftener sukrá, or súci bright; it is offered almost exclusively to Vayu or India. The filtered Soma flows into jars (kalása) or vats (dróna), where it is mixed with water and also with milk, by which it is sweetened. The verb mrj cleanse is used with reference to this addition of water and milk. Soma is spoken of as having three kinds of admixture (asír): milk (gó), sour milk (dádhi), and barley (yáva). The admixture being alluded to as a garment or bright robe, Soma is described as 'decked with beauty'. Soma is pressed three times a day: the Rbhus are invited to the evening pressing, Indra to the midday one, which is his exclusively, while the morning libation is his first drink. The three abodes (sadhástha) of Soma which are mentioned probably refer to three tubs used in the ritual.

Soma's connexion with the waters, resulting from the admixture, is expressed in the most various ways. He is the drop that grows in the waters; he is the embryo of the waters or their child; they are his mothers or his sisters; he is lord and king of streams; he produces waters and causes heaven and earth to rain. The sound made by the trickling Soma is often alluded to generally in hyperbolical usage, with verbs meaning to roar or bellow, or even thunder. He is thus commonly called a bull among the waters, which figure as cows. Soma is moreover swift, being often compared with a steed, sometimes with a bird flying to the wood. Owing to his yellow colour Soma's brilliance is the physical aspect most dwelt upon by the poets. He is then often likened to or associated with the sun.

The exhilarating power of Soma led to its being regarded as a divine drink bestowing immortal life. Hence it is called amrta draught of immortality. All the gods drink Soma; they drank it to gain immortality; it confers immortality not only on gods, but on men. It has, moreover, medicinal powers: Soma heals whatever is sick, making the blind to see and the lame to walk. Soma also stimulates the voice, and is called 'lord of speech'. He awakens eager thought: he is a generator of hymns, a leader of poets, a seer among priests. Hence his wisdom is much dwelt upon; thus he is a wise seer, and he knows the races of the gods.

The intoxicating effect of Soma most emphasized by the poets is the stimulus it imparts to Indra in his conflict with hostile powers. That Soma invigorates Indra for the fight with Vrtra is mentioned in innumerable passages. Through this association Indra's warlike exploits and cosmic actions come to be attributed to Soma independently. He is a victor unconquered in fight, born for battle. As a warrior he wins all kinds of wealth for his worshippers.

Though Soma is several times regarded as dwelling or growing on the mountains (like Haoma in the Avesta), his true origin and abode are regarded as in heaven. Soma is the child of heaven, is the milk of heaven, and is purified in heaven. He is the lord of heaven; he occupies heaven, and his place is the highest heaven. Thence he was brought to earth. The myth embodying this belief is that of the eagle that brings Soma to Indra, and is most fully dealt with in the two hymns iv. 26 and 27. Being the most important of herbs, Soma is said to have been born as the lord (páti) of plants, which also have him as their king; he is a lord of the wood (vánaspáti), and has generated all plants. But quite apart from his connexion with herbs, Soma is, like other leading gods, called a king: he is a king of rivers; a king of the whole earth; a king or father of the gods; a king of gods and mortals. In a few of the latest hymns of the RV. Soma begins to be mystically identified with the moon; in the AV. Soma several times means the moon; and in the Brahmanas this identification has already become a commonplace.

We know that the preparation and the offering of Soma (the Avestan Haoma) was already an important feature of Indo-Iranian worship, In both the RV. and the Avesta it is stated that the stalks were pressed, that the juice was yellow, and was mixed with milk; in both it grows on mountains, and its mythical home is in heaven, whence it comes down to earth; in both the Soma draught has become a mighty god and is called a king; in both there are many other identical mythological traits relating to Soma.
It is possible that the belief in an intoxicating divine beverage, the home of which was in heaven, goes back to the Indo-European period. It must then have been regarded as a kind of honey mead (Skt. mádhu, Gk. methu, Anglo-Saxon medu).

The name of Soma (= Haoma) means pressed juice, being derived from the root su (= Av. hu) press.

From: here
Other related links:
Soma (Wiki)
Profile/Summary
108 Names with Translation [pdf: 91 kb] -- only place I could find with English
Soma, lord of delight & Soma-- off a Vedic site (Soma is the closet to Chandra)
Whole Rig Veda text-- Soma is found in countless hymns.
Article on Chandra
Puja info