Chandra Mantra - Om Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah Chandraya Namah

The Chandra Mantra — the beej mantra of Chandra (the Moon), chanted for mental peace, emotional balance and a strong Moon.

Meaning

With the lunar seed-syllables, the mantra bows to Chandra, the cooling Moon god, lord of the mind, emotions and nourishment.

Benefits

Chanted on Mondays to strengthen a weak Moon, calm the mind, ease emotional distress and bring peace, contentment and harmony.

How the Mantra Is Built

The seeds Shraam Shreem Shraum carry the lunar sound sha — soft, cooling, watery — through the three vowel energies (aa, ee, au), followed by the release syllable Sah and the salutation Chandraya Namah, "to Chandra, the Moon." In the Vedic scheme the Moon is the mind itself (manas): emotions, memory, the mother, nourishment and inner peace all live in its light. Strengthening Chandra is therefore always, at heart, a practice of steadying the mind.

How to Chant

Chant on Mondays, in the evening or at moonrise, facing north or north-west; white is the Moon's colour, so a white asana, white flowers, rice kheer or plain milk are the traditional accompaniments. The classical vowed count for Chandra is 11,000 repetitions; the everyday practice is one mala of 108 each Monday. Purnima (full moon) evenings are the strongest monthly occasion, and the Mondays of Shravan the strongest season — the Moon Calendar lists every Purnima and Amavasya of the year.

When Astrology Prescribes It

The Chandra mantra is prescribed for a debilitated Moon (in Scorpio), a waning dark-Moon birth, or the Moon besieged by malefics — showing as anxiety, sleeplessness, emotional turbulence, strained ties with the mother, or a mind that will not rest. It is also the steady companion through Chandra dasha. Your Moon sign (Janma Rashi) — the anchor of the whole Vedic chart — comes from the Moon's position at birth: find yours with the Janma Rashi calculator.

Chandra's japa is likewise paired with gentler observances: the Somvar (Monday) vrat, worship of Shiva — on whose crown the crescent Moon rests — and Monday charity of milk, rice or white cloth. The Moon's gemstone is the pearl (moti), set in silver, though as with every graha stone it should be taken up only on proper astrological advice. For the mind, the tradition adds its simplest prescription: regular sleep, calm company and unhurried evenings.

The Chandra Mantra - Om Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah Chandraya Namah above is given in both Devanagari (Sanskrit) and Roman transliteration so you can read it in whichever script you are comfortable with — switch between the two using the buttons above, share the link, or download a PDF.