India | ca. 19th Century
Key Features
Chandra - Lunar Deity of Calm Illumination & Cyclical Time
This 19th-century gouache painting portrays Chandra, the Hindu Moon God, depicted in a rare four-armed form that highlights both his regal divinity and astral symbolism. Although sometimes visually confused with Shiva due to shared iconographic elements, the antelope held in Chandra’s hand - his traditional vāhana - affirms his identity as the deity who governs time, tides, emotions, night journeys, and the waxing–waning rhythm of life.
The Antelope & the Vajra - Emblems of Motion and Radiance
In his upper right hand, Chandra gently holds an antelope, an ancient symbol of swiftness, grace, and restlessness - mirroring the ever-changing phases of the Moon. His left hand wields a vajra (thunderbolt), an emblem of brilliance, clarity, and cosmic force. Together, these objects express Chandra’s dual nature: soothing and luminous, yet possessing penetrating power.
Mudras of Peace & Benediction
Chandra’s remaining hands are posed in protective and blessing gestures - abhaya and varada mudra - signaling reassurance and compassionate support for devotees seeking emotional balance, intuition, and serenity.
South Indian Devotional Style
Rendered with jewel-bright pigments, layered ornaments, and cascading drapery characteristic of South Indian workshop painting, this image would have been created for personal devotion - ideal for spaces seeking quietude, mental calm, and an atmosphere of gentle lunar presence.
18 × 24 in Museum-Grade Print
Produced as an 18 × 24 inch poster on 350 GSM archival matte paper, this reproduction preserves the saturated greens, warm golds, and luminous reds of the original painting - perfect for meditation rooms, astrology-inspired interiors, or altars dedicated to lunar deities.
Why You’ll Love It
Chandra represents emotional clarity and rhythmic balance - a reminder that change and calm coexist. This artwork brings soft illumination into your space, ideal for nightly practices, journaling corners, or moonlit reflections.
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Invite Chandra’s healing lunar presence - gentle, radiant, and ever-watchful - into your home.
Available in 18 × 24 inches, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.