Legend has it that Daksha, the master of civilization, had
married twenty seven of his daughters – the Nakshatras, lunar asterisms, to
moon-god, Chandra. But Chandra ignored the 26 Nakshatrams and was enamored by
only one among them the beautiful Rohini.
The other daughters complained to Daksha about Chandra’s
partisan behavior and this angered Daskha who cursed Chandra that your body of
which you are so proud will fade away.
Soon the body of Chandra started fading away and he
approached Lord Vishnu who asked him to do penance at Prabhas Kshetra to Lord
Shiva who is the supreme physician and the keeper of the sacred herb Soma.
Chandra then did intense Tapas and performed several harsh
austerities at Prabhas Kshetra. Shiva relented and appeared before Chandra who
asked for a solution to escape from the curse.
Lord Shiva helped Chandra in regaining his lost luster and
glory with the herb Soma. But Daksha cursed him again and he took the help of
Lord Shiva and this continued for a long period. Finally, Shiva asked Chandra
to take refuge in his lock of hair on his head where he will find enough soma
to rejuvenate him periodically.
Thus the curse of Daksha causes the moon to wane and Lord
Shiva rejuvenates him to wax again.
Devas who were happy with Shiva finding a
solution to Chandra’s problem asked him to stay at Prabhas Kshetra and bless His
devotees. Shiva agreed to stay at the place and it came to be known as Somnath
and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.