Editing Chandra (section)

===Vedas===
[[File:The Moon God Chandra (possibly) in His Chariot with Wife and Attendant, 2nd-1st century BCE, Shunga period, West Bengal.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Possible depiction of the Moon God Chandra in his chariot with wife and attendant, 2nd-1st century BCE, [[Shunga period]], West Bengal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metropolitan Museum of Art |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/65010 |website=www.metmuseum.org}}</ref>]]

The origin of Soma is traced back to the Hindu [[Vedic texts]], where he is the personification of [[Soma (drink)|a drink made from a plant with the same name]]. Scholars state that the plant had an important role in Vedic civilization and thus, the deity was one of the most important gods of the pantheon. In these Vedic texts, Soma is praised as the lord of plants and forests; the king of rivers and earth; and the father of the gods. The entire [[Mandala 9]] of the ''[[Rigveda]]'' is dedicated to Soma, both the plant and the deity.{{sfn|Stephanie Jamison|2015|p=80}} The identification of Soma as a lunar deity in the Vedic texts is a controversial topic among scholars.{{Sfn|Dalal|2010a|p=393}} According to William J. Wilkins, "In later years the name Soma was [...] given to the moon. How and why this change took place is not known; but in the later of the Vedic hymns there is some evidence of the transition.{{Refn|group=note|Wilkins states, "In the following passage Soma seems to be used in both senses—as god of the intoxicating juice, and as the moon ruling through the night. "By Soma the Adityas are strong; by Soma the earth is great; and Soma is placed in the midst of the stars. When they crush the plant, he who drinks regards it as Soma. Of him whom the priests regard as Soma (the moon) no one drinks." In another passage this prayer is found: "May the god Soma, he whom they call the Moon, free me.... Soma is the moon, the food of the gods. The sun has the nature of Agni, the moon of Soma."}}{{Sfn|Wilkins|1913|p=73}}