Why Lord Shiva with Crescent Moon

* Why Lord Shiva with Crescent Moon *

Often depicted on Lord Shiva’s head is a crescent moon, representing the cyclical nature of the universe. The waxing and waning of the moon symbolizes the cycle through which creation evolves. Furthermore, since Lord Shiva is the Eternal Reality, He is beyond time and the cycle of creation.

There are other mythological stories too for that-

Twenty-seven of Daksha’s daughters were married to the moon-god Chandra. One of these wives was named Rohini and Chandra loved Rohini more than he loved the other wives. The other wives felt neglected and they complained to their father. Daksha repeatedly warned his son-in-law to devote himself equally to all twenty-seven wives. But Chandra was in no mood to listen.
Daksha there upon cursed Chandra that he would gradually fade away. Chandra didn’t know what to do. He went and sought advice from Brahma and Brahma told him that the only rescourse was to pray to Shiva. Chandra went to Prabhasa tirtha and made a linga on the banks of the river Sarasvati. He prayed to Shiva for six months.
At the end of the meditation Shiva appeared before Chandra and offered to grant him a boon. Chandra explained what the problem was.

Well, said Shiva, Daksha’s curse cannot be entirely ignored. Let us have a compromise. During krishna paksha you will wane. And during shukla paksha (the bright part of the lunar fortnight) you will wax. That should satisfy everybody.
Thus being the graceful Almighty, Lord Shiva wore the moon crescent on His head, making him grow for 15 days and decay for 15 days periodically.Chandra was delighted. The linga to which Chandra prayed is SOMNATHA, the first of the jyotirlingas.
Other beliefs are also about to have cooling to sooth the effect of poison.

Moon is karka for Mind (mann) and wearing moon shows that Lord Shiva has complete control over mind ,may worshiping the lord Shiva helps all to balance all their emotions.