Template:Candra
Candra – (Batara) – Mahabharata
Batara Candra is depicted as a young and handsome god, with two arms and holding a club and a lotus.
It is said that every night he rides his chariot to cross the sky. His chariot is pulled by ten white horses, or sometimes pulled by an antelope. Although an antelope is the animal usually depicted with him in symbols, rabbits are also sacred to him and all rabbits are under his protection. Candra is associated with dew, and he is also one of the fertility gods. Candra as Soma, presides over Somawara or Monday.
In Hinduism, Candra is the god of the moon, as well as a Graha. Candra is also equated with Soma, the god of the moon in the Vedas. The word Soma refers to a sweet drink from plants, so Candra is the ruler of plants and vegetation.
Batara Candra is tasked with lighting up the Arcapada (World) at night, taking turns with his brother Batara Surya, who is on duty during the day. In lighting up the world, Batara Candra together with Batara Kartika provide cool rays to the feelings and views of creatures on earth at night.
In a story, it is told that there was a king of the gandarwa demons named Prabu Kala Rahu alias Rembuculung who wanted to steal Tirta Amerta. Kala Rahu hid in the darkness of the night, but Batara Candra caught him and reported the hiding place to Batara Guru. The leader of the gods then sent Batara Wisnu to capture Kala Rahu. However, when he was about to be captured, the demon king fought back. With the chakra weapon, Batara Wisnu cut off Kala Rahu's head. His body fell to the ground and transformed into a rice pounding mortar. Meanwhile his head continued to wander alive in the sky because it had drunk the water of life and threatened to swallow Batara Candra and Batara Surya at any time. When Batara Candra or Surya is consumed by Ditya Rembuculung, the world becomes dark, a condition called a lunar or solar eclipse. In order for both of them to be released from Rembuculung's mouth immediately so that the earth becomes bright again.
That is what gave rise to the legend of the lunar eclipse, which caused rural communities in Central Java, East Java and Bali to beat mortars when a lunar eclipse occurs. They say that this act is done to ward off Kala Rahu.
Of course, for today such a custom is no longer relevant.
Source: Wayang Kulit Purwo - Suwadi Krijo Taruno – 2012
