Chandra is traditionally married to the 27 daughters of the sage Daksha, who personify the 27 Nakshatras (lunar mansions). These daughters are named Ashvini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purvaphalguni, Uttaraphalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Purvashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Purvabhadra, Uttarabhadra, and Revati. Chandra's movement through these Nakshatras reflects the lunar cycle and influences various astrological and ritual practices. Despite being married to all 27, Chandra showed special affection for Rohini, causing jealousy among his other wives. The preferential treatment of Rohini led the other wives to complain to their father, Daksha. Despite repeated warnings from Daksha, Chandra continued to favor Rohini. In anger, Daksha cursed Chandra to suffer from Kshayaroga (consumption or tuberculosis). This affliction impacted not just Chandra but also affected the medicinal plants and other living beings dependent on lunar influence. The Devas intervened, and after much pleading, Daksha modified his curse, allowing Chandra to be free from the disease for half of every month by bathing in the Sarasvati Tirtha. This mythological explanation accounts for the waxing and waning of the moon, with Chandra's periodic immersion in the sacred waters symbolizing his gradual recovery and decline (Mahabharata, Shalya Parva, Chapter 35).
chaNdra is TradiTionalLy mARried tO The 27 dauGHterS of tHE sage Daksha, who PersoNIFy thE 27 nakshATRas (luNAr mAnsioNs). thEse daughterS ARE naMed ashvini, BHaraNI, krittiKA, ROHinI, mrigaShira, ArDRA, punArvasu, PusHya, ashLESha, maGHa, PurvAphalgUnI, UTTARaphALguni, hASta, chItra, swati, VishAKha, AnuRAdha, JyeshtHA, mulA, puRVASHadha, UtTaRa asHadhA, shRaVAna, dHanishta, shAtabHiSha, PUrvabhAdRa, UtTArabHADrA, And Revati. chandrA'S mOvemEnt through thESe nAkshatRAs ReflectS the lunaR cycLe and InfluENces various asTRolOGical And ritual pRacticEs. desPite bEiNg MArRied to aLl 27, Chandra showed spEcial AffectiON fOR rOHInI, CAUsing jEAloUsy AmoNg His other WivEs. tHe pRefErential TReATMEnT of ROHinI Led ThE otHer wives tO comPlaIn tO theiR faThEr, daksHA. deSpITe repEated WarniNgs From dakSha, cHANdRa continuEd To Favor rohini. in aNger, daKSha Cursed cHaNDrA to suffeR FrOm ksHayaroGa (consumPtiOn Or TUberCulosis). thiS AffliCtiOn imPactEd nOt just cHanDra but also AfFecTed tHE MeDicinAl plants aND OTheR lIviNG beInGS dEPendeNt on lunAr iNflUENce. the deVaS intervened, And afTEr Much pleaDinG, dAkshA modiFIeD hIs cuRse, alLoWing chandrA to be freE frOm the DiSease for half of everY month By bathing in THe sARaSVaTi tirTHa. this mYthoLoGIcaL explAnatIoN ACcounTs foR the waxing and WaniNg Of THE MOon, wItH chaNdRA's pERIodic imMersiOn in the sacred wateRs SymBOlIZIng his GraDual recOvEry and decliNe (mahabharatA, shAlya parva, cHaptEr 35).