Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on August 26, 2023, that the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 would be called ‘Shiv Shakti’. Nearly seven months later, on March 19, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved this name. According to the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has given the name ‘Shiv Shakti’ for the landing site of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander.
PM Modi Named The Site ‘Shiv Shakti’
Three days after Vikram Lander’s historic landing on the Moon on August 23, 2023, PM Modi announced the name ‘Shiv Shakti’ at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (Istrac) in Bengaluru. The Prime Minister explained that Shiva represents determination for humanity’s welfare, while Shakti provides the strength to achieve those goals. This ‘Shiva Shakti Point’ on the Moon symbolizes a connection from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari.
Chandrayaan-3 Landing Site: Naming The Moon Landing Site
The Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander began marking a spot near the Moon’s south pole. According to the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, the name is derived from Indian mythology, referring to the masculine ‘Shiva’ and feminine ‘Shakti’ aspects of nature. The landing site of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander will now be known as ‘Shiv Shakti’.
Chandrayaan-2 landing point was named ‘Tricolor’
Fifteen years before Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing, India’s Chandrayaan-1 Moon Impact Investigation (MIP) occurred on November 14, 2008. This impact site was initially called ‘Jawahar Point’ or ‘Jawahar Sthal’ and was notified by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). In addition to ‘Shiv Shakti’, PM Modi announced that the spot where Chandrayaan-2 left its mark would be called ‘Tiranga’. He emphasized that it would inspire every Indian effort and remind that failure is not the end.
Describing the ‘touchdown moment’ as one of the most inspiring of this century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the entire world acknowledges the strength of India’s scientific spirit, technology, and scientific temperament. ISRO Chairman S Somnath expressed happiness over the Prime Minister’s emotional reaction to this historic event and the naming of the two sites.
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