Daitya Guru Shubha

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The great Parashara Rishi has openly stated in the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra that for Aquarius ascendent, the planet Venus, also known as Shukra Acharya, the spiritual master of the materialists, is benefic. The rishi tells us: Daitya Guru Shubha. Of course, he says this in relation to the lordship over houses which Venus acquires in relation to that ascendent, but we know that in a broader sense, Venus is a positive benefic all around. For example, in predictive astrology, Venus in a quadrant can counteract a multitude of afflictions by other planets. The very fifth canto of the Bhagavat Purana tells us that Venus is auspicious because it obstructs the influence of evil planets.

 

Venus Rides a white steed with a scroll and pen in hand. The pen and scroll relate to the fact that Venus is the originator of scriptures and religious processes with the purpose of providing reformatory facilities for the materialistic and even demoniac beings. For this reason Venus is considered to be very merciful. One of the 108 names of Venus is Muktidaya, which indicates that the purpose of this planet is to lead one to liberation. The love, love of beauty, refinement, mercy, care and refinement championed by Shukra all have the goal of sublimating and spiritualizing the baser qualities of the matierialists, in a similar way to Beauty to the Beast..

 

The cursing of Maharaj Yayati by Shukra is a good example of this. Yayati had been given the hand of Shukra's daughter, Devayani, in marriage. But he also carried on a secret liason with her maidservant, Sharmishta. For this reason Yayati was cursed to experience immediate old age by Shukra, but was given the boon that the old age could be transferred to a willling recipient. His noble son Puru answered the call and donated his youth to his father, who took advantage to the fullest! But Yayati became philosophical upon noticing that, even thought he enjoyed sensual pleasures to the maximum, his desires never became satiated. It dawned on him how fultile material life is, he became philosophical, returned the youth to his son and then went off to the forest to engage in self realization. The entire episode was all part of a greater plan for the spiritual upliftment of Yayati. Thus the sensuality and materialistic love corresponding to Venus is a part of a greater plan of evolution.

 

In the case of Bali Maharaj, we can hardly blame Shukra for protecting the material possessions of Bali; nor for warning him against awarding the Vamana Avatar His requested donation of three steps of land. Shukra knew that with a mere two steps, Vamanadev would cover all the worlds, and ask for something more, too! But remember, the Venusian way is to elevate one's consciousness by exposure to love, beauty and refinement- to thus re-condition grosser forms of consciousness, such that the Venusian way is hardly appropriate for one who comes to the very point of surrendering all material attachment due to pure love of God. Thus Bali rejected his preceptor's advice, but we cannot be critical of Shukra as he once again taught us by playing his role as a worldly benefic- ultimately, for the spiritual upliftment of society. We can only see such interactions between the leaders of the demigods and the demons as some type of past time enacted for our benefit.

 

After all, Parashara tells us- Daitya Guru Shubha!

 

By Dean Dominic DeLucia, Dharmapada Das