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The planet Venus is known as SUKRA in Vedic astrology.
Sukra means "white", or "bright"
in Sanskrit. Venus is a first rate benefic in Jyotish
(predictions). He rules over the two sidereal signs
of Taurus and Libra.
Venus is exalted in Pisces and in his
fall in the opposite sign of Virgo. Venus is a karaka,
or indicator of spouse, love, marriage, comfort, luxury,
beauty, prosperity, happiness, all conveyances, art,
dance music, acting, passion and sex, healing and the
saying of mantras.
Sage Parasara says of Venus; "Venus
is charming, has a splendors physique, is excellent
or great in disposition, has charming eyes, is a poet,
is phlegmatic and windy and has curly hair." Venus
most powerful position is in the 4th House and enjoys
the TRIKONAL Houses, 1, 5, and 9. Venus is a particularly
beneficial planet for Capricorn and Aquarius Ascendants.
Her nature is KAPHA, or watery in disposition.
SUKRA - THE VENUS
Her gem is diamond and her metal is
copper and silver. Venus' direction is Southeast and
her day is Friday. She reaches full maturity at age
25. In Vedic myth Venus, or Sukra, is known as the Guru,
or teacher of the ASURAS, or one of the two camps of
the Vedic deities. Sukra therefore is a Brahmin, or
the highest priestly order, and is considered the forefather
of the Brig lineage of sages from ancient India.
In Vedic myth the Asuras are the demonic
aspect of the divine and, like many of the ancient creation
myths, are locked in eternal battle with the Devas,
the auspicious aspect of the Divine. In one episodic
myth the Devas are particularly concerned in their battle
with Asuras because Venus knows the mantra of immortality
to raise the dead. This of course gave the Asuras an
unfair advantage in their battle with the Devas. So
Jupiter, or Brihaspati, the guru to the Devas, sends
his son Kaca (brightness) to study under Sukra.
Sukra has a beautiful daughter Devayani
(way to the gods), and she is quite taken with Kaca.
Now, the Asuras know what Kaca is up to, so like all
good demons they kill him. Devayani, of course, grieves
for him and tells father, so Sukra repeats the mantra
and Kaca comes back to life. Then the demons kill Kaca
again. Once again Devayani complains, and once again
Sukra repeats the mantra and Kaca come back to life.
Undeterred, the demons go about killing Kaca and Sukra
keeps resurrecting him. So the demons get a particularly
demonic idea and this time they kill Kaca and grind
him up into a fine powder and put him in Sukra's wine.
Sukra drinks the wine, Devayani begins her grieving,
and in response Sukra repeats the mantra, but this time
he has a stomachache as Kaca speaks from inside him.
At last the demons appear to be happy.
But, they ironically bring about the
very thing they were trying to prevent, for Sukra reveals
the mantra of immortality to Kaca, so when Kaca tears
himself out of Sukra's body he will repeat the mantra
and raise Sukra from the dead. This myth explains why
all Brahmins committed to spiritual life are not allowed
to drink wine, and one of the epithets of Venus is:
the one who "produces stomach problems".
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