Shiv Shakti Point

Shiv Shakti Point is the landing site of Chandrayaan-3, the third lunar mission of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission's lander Vikram and rover Pragyan landed 600 km from the south pole of the Moon on 23 August 2023.[1][2][3] The landing site was named on 26 August 2023 at the ISTRAC headquarters in Bengaluru,[4] after India became the fourth nation to make a successful soft landing on the Moon and also becoming the country that landed closest to the lunar south pole.[note 1] Shiv Shakti Point is located at the coordinates 69.373°S 32.319°E / -69.373; 32.319[7][8] and lies between the lunar craters Manzinus C and Simpelius N.[9]

Name

The name Shiv Shakti (Hindi: शिव शक्ति) is derived from the names of Hindu deity Shiva, who is also associated with the moon, and Shakti, the divine feminine energy, who is often depicted as the consort of Shiva.[10]

Announcement

The name was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 26, 2023 while meeting ISRO scientists in Bangalore.[11] Prime Minister Modi noted that the selection of "Shiva-Shakti" was based on concept of "Shiva" as humanity's determination and "Shakti" as the capability to actualize these humanitarian ambitions, while further noting that "Shakti" is also a tribute to the women scientists.[12][13]

Reaction

The naming of the point as "Shiv Shakti" drew criticism from certain sections of opposition political parties as the site was named after Hindu deities.[14] However the government countered the criticisms by stating that the hard landing site of Chandrayaan-1 was named after India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.[15]

ISRO chairman S. Somanath said that there is no need for controversy over the naming as governments are allowed to name sites on lunar surface[16][17] and that there have been precedents of names being assigned to lunar features. "It's not the first time such name has been given. Indian names are already there. We have a Sarabhai Crater on the Moon. Each country can give their names. Naming is a tradition. There is no controversy over the matter," he said.[18] Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair also echoed this and said that the whole controversy was completely based on 'misinterpretation'. He said 'shakti' refers to the 'force' that is behind the creation of this universe. "Our pandits and rishis named it Shiva. Our Puranas gave it a form as people could not understand the concept of the force, and that is how the human form and Kailasa all came. It is a different matter. This underlying principle is known as 'shakti' and we do not have to attribute religious motives to it," he concluded.[19]

See also

References
  1. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/explained-why-did-chandrayaan-3-land-on-the-near-side-of-the-moon/article67235632.ece
  2. Kumar, Sanjay (23 August 2023). "India makes history by landing spacecraft near Moon's south pole". Science.org. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  3. "Chandrayaan-3 launch on 14 July, lunar landing on 23 or 24 August". The Hindu. 6 July 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  4. "Modi in Bengaluru Live Updates: Touchdown point of Vikram lander will be known as 'Shivshakti', says PM". The Indian Express. 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  5. Karanam, Durga Prasad; Bhatt, Megha; A, Amitabh; G, Ambily; Sathyan, Sachana; Misra, Dibyendu; Srivastava, Neeraj; Bhardwaj, Anil (2023-08-03). "Contextual Characterisation Study of Chandrayaan-3 Primary Landing Site". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. doi:10.1093/mnrasl/slad106. ISSN 1745-3925.
  6. "LVM3-M4/CHANDRAYAAN-3 MOON MISSION" (PDF). isro.gov.in.
  7. "Mission homepage". Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. Chandrayaan 3 - After The Landing What Happens Next?, retrieved 2023-08-28
  9. "India launches Chandrayaan-3 mission to the lunar surface". Physicsworld. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  10. "PM addresses Team ISRO on success of Chandrayaan-3". 26 August 2023.
  11. "Chandrayaan-3's Touchdown Point To Be Called Shiv Shakti: PM Modi At ISRO". NDTV. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  12. "What is 'Shivshakti Point'? India's lunar landing site on moon's South Pole". Live Mint. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. Sharmila Kuthunur (2023-08-29). "India to name Chandrayaan-3's moon landing site 'Shiv Shakti Point'". Space.com. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  14. "Chandrayaan 3's Landing Site Sparks Controversy, Opposition Questions Shiv Shakti Point | Top News". TimesNow. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  15. "Shiv Shakti vs Jawahar point: Naming of Chandrayaan-3 touchdown site sparks row". India Today. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  16. "Shiv Shakti, Jawahar Sthal: How are spots on the Moon named?". Firstpost. 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  17. "No controversy, it was PM's prerogative: ISRO chief on row over 'Shiv Shakti Point'".
  18. "No controversy on naming Chandrayaan-3 landing point as 'Shiv Shakti': ISRO chairman". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  19. ""Even Einstein Referred...": G Madhavan Nair On Temple Visits By Scientists". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2023-08-29.

Notes
  1. While media often calls the landing site as "polar region", the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 is in fact out side the Lunar Antarctic circle (80ºS). ISRO scientists involved in selecting and characterizing the landing site call it a “high-latitude location".[5] or "near polar region"[6]
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