For generations, the term “Chanda Mama” has resonated with countless people, evoking images of the moon as a celestial guardian watching over Earth. Passed down from ancestors, this name has been an integral part of our cultural fabric, connecting us to the night sky in a special way. With recent advancements in space exploration and India’s Chandrayaan missions, our minds are intrigued about the origin of the term “Chanda Mama” and whether it’s recognised under international conventions for naming space locations.
As India celebrates the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon, which achieved a historic feat by touching down on the lunar south pole, Prime Minister Modi announced that the landing site would be named “Shiv Shakti ” in honor of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage and Chandrayaan-2 lander impact place as ‘Tiranga’. The names reflects not only India’s rich legacy but also its aspirations in the cosmic domain.
What’s in a name? A lot, when it comes to space exploration. How do we name the craters, mountains, and valleys on the moon and other planets? Who decides what names are official and what names are informal? How do we balance our cultural and scientific interests in naming space locations? And what does Chanda Mama, the beloved term for the moon or ‘Shiva Shakti’ the landing site and Chandrayaan-2 lander impact place as ‘Tiranga’ names announced by our beloved PM Modi, have to do with all this?
The phrase “Chanda Mama” has a long-standing history within our culture, passed down through the ages. It symbolizes the moon as a gentle, guiding presence in our lives. Similarly, “Shiv Shakti” encapsulates the cosmic harmony of masculine and feminine energies, manifesting through Hindu deities Shiva and Shakti, symbolizing the dynamic forces that drive and sustain the universe in eternal balance while “Tiranga” as it fly high. However, when it comes to the international conventions for naming space locations, the situation is nuanced. While these conventions are not set in stone, they do adhere to certain principles. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) founded in 1919 and has been responsible for planetary and satellite nomenclature ever since. The United Nations also supports the IAU’s role by endorsing its Resolution 13 on Extraterrestrial feature names in 1982, at its “Fourth Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names” in Geneva.
The notion of naming celestial bodies has evolved over time, transitioning from mythological or culturally inspired names to more systematic and scientific ones. The IAU has guidelines for naming craters, mountains, valleys, and other features on celestial bodies. These guidelines aim to recognize the historical and cultural significance of names while maintaining a structured and logical approach. For example, craters on the moon are named after deceased scientists, scholars, artists, and explorers who have made outstanding contributions to humanity. Mountains are named after terrestrial mountains or ranges that are culturally prominent or scientifically important. Valleys are named after lunar or terrestrial features that are associated with nearby craters or mountains.
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The IAU also encourages public participation in naming space locations through various initiatives and contests. For instance, in 2019, the IAU launched a campaign called NameExoWorlds, which invited people from around the world to propose names for exoplanets and their host stars. The campaign received over 360,000 proposals from 112 countries and resulted in 112 new names for 112 exoplanets and their host stars.
Vyom Mitra, the humanoid for ISRO’s Gaganyaan
However, not all names proposed by the public are accepted by the IAU. Sometimes, there are conflicts or controversies over naming rights or preferences. For example, in 2015, NASA announced that it had named a mountain on Pluto after Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two humans to reach the summit of Mount Everest. However, this name was not officially recognized by the IAU, which had its own rules for naming features on Pluto and its moons. According to the IAU, mountains on Pluto should be named after underworld deities from various mythologies.
Similarly, the IAU’s approach to naming celestial bodies is not immune to controversies. The notable reclassification of Pluto in 2006, downgrading it from a planet to a dwarf planet, remains one of the most well-known instances. This decision encountered criticism from both within the scientific community and among the general public, fueling ongoing debates about whether Pluto should be rightfully considered a planet or fall under a different classification.
These examples show that naming space locations is not a simple matter of personal preference or national pride. It involves balancing various factors such as historical legacy, cultural diversity, scientific accuracy, and international cooperation. While some names may have deep emotional or sentimental value for some people or groups, they may not be universally accepted or recognized by others.
So what does this mean for ‘Chanda Mama’ and the landing site ‘Shiv Shakti’ or and Chandrayaan-2 lander impact place as ‘Tiranga’? Well, as of now, these names are not officially endorsed by the IAU or any other international body. They are informal designations that reflect India’s cultural identity and vision for space exploration. However, this does not mean that they are invalid or irrelevant. They are still meaningful and inspiring for millions of people who look up at the moon and see Chanda Mama smiling back at them.
Perhaps one day, these names will be formally adopted by the international community as well. Perhaps one day, Chanda Mama will be joined by other names from different cultures and languages that celebrate our common connection to the cosmos. Perhaps one day, we will all be able to share our stories and perspectives about our celestial neighbors without losing our sense of wonder and awe.
Until then, let us pray for the success of ISRO’s upcoming missions Aditya-L1, XPoSat, NISAR, SPAdex, Mangalyaan-2 and the much awaited human mission Gaganyaan-3 as they endeavor to persistently delve into the depths of our astonishing universe. Let us keep unveiling the mythical veil that shrouds our understanding of the stars and planets. Let us keep dreaming and reaching for new horizons. And let us keep calling the moon by the name that makes us feel at home ‘Chanda Mama’, the landing site as ‘Shiv Shakti’ the centre of cosmic energy and let the ‘Tiranga’ fly high!
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