The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially approved the designation ‘Shiva Shakti’ for the landing site where India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission touched down. This endorsement, made public on March 19, follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of the name in August 26, 2023, after the mission’s success. As per the IAU’s Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, ‘Shiva Shakti’ draws from Indian mythology, signifying the dual nature of existence, with Shiva representing the masculine aspect and Shakti the feminine.
Prime Minister Modi underscored the symbolic significance of the chosen name, ‘Shiv Shakti Point,’ for the touchdown site of the Vikram Lander on the Moon. He highlighted its representation of humanity’s welfare and strength, noting that it signifies unity from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, symbolizing the entirety of India.
