Planets, Signs and Houses: Vedic Astrology Myths and Facts, Chapter I, Part - 9

Continuation…

Dr. Shanker Adawal

The Sun is eternal as well as transient, both unity and multiplicity. He is the cause of the creation but also part of it and one with it. The solar deity is the Primordial Essence, the Atman of the universe. During the course of the evolutionary process it assumes different forms at different levels, but also pervades the universe with its radiant energy and remains in wholeness by itself.

The visible Sun can be considered the heart of the solar system while its brain is the solar deity behind it. From it sensation is radiated into every nerve centre of the great body and waves of the life-essence flow into each artery and vein of the solar system. The planets are the limbs and pulsations of the Sun.

Describing the lineage of the Sun, Surya is said to be the son of Kashyapa and Aditi. Kashyapa is a designation used to refer to several degrees of creative energies. In the Vedas he figures in an important way. As a Prajapati or Creator he fathered gods, demons, mens, beasts, birds and reptiles.

According to the Mahabharata and other accounts, he married Aditi and twelve other daughters of Daksha. He begot the twelve Adityas through Aditi, and from Diti (which means splitting or division) he fathered the Daityas or demons. Surya, our Sun, was the eighth Aditya born to Aditi and Kashyapa. The Sun belongs to a large family with many brothers and sisters.

The Moon

The Sun bestows life to the whole planetary system, while the Moon gives life to our globe. This is the main difference between the two luminaries.

The human being in their spiritual sense have come from the Moon. The Moon functions at astronomical, physiological and psychical levels of human existence simultaneously. It is reflected in stories concerning the Moon’s origin.

One legend makes the Moon a child of Dharma or righteousness. A third makes the Moon’s father to be Prabhakar, which means the Sun, Fire, Ocean and Lord Shiva. From the Moon was born Budha, Pururavas, Ayus, Nahusha and the Kurus, the last who fought in the great battle of the Mahabharata which represents the complete destruction to the world. The Moon is the progenitor of the Lunar dynasty of kings, as the Sun is that of the solar dynasty. The difference between the two dynasties consists in the solar kings being righteous, wise, courageous, invincible and strictly adhering to their promises, while the lunar kings are courageous and learned but susceptible to worldly vices and suffer from internal conflicts.

The allegory of the churning of the ocean describes the battle between the gods and the demons. This yields several powerful important things including poison, Lakshmi or the goddess of fortune, the immortalizing nectar, and the Moon. As there was no place suitable for the Moon, it was placed by Lord Shiva on his forehead. Hence, the Moon is known as Shiva-Shekhar, meaning the crest of Shiva. From the Moon thus placed pours the celestial nectar which nourishes the universe and a few drops of which can give immortality.

The nature of the lunar influence is revealed by the names assigned to the Moon. Soma, nectar; Aushadpati, lord of herbs; Kumud-pati, lord of the lotus; Nakshatranath, husband of the asterisms; and Shwetajaji, drawn by white horses, are important names of the planet. Soma is a name given to the Vedic deity worshipped for “strengthening our life and conquering what opposes us.” The Rig Veda regards him as the inspirer of all auspicious activities and the bestower of all desirable qualities, the progenitor of life on earth and the source of all wisdom.

The Moon is the deified soma-juice because it contains the celestial nectar that is the drink of the gods.

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Shanker Adawal

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