Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

Brihaspati's (Jupiter's) wife, from which union Mercury was born. This
seduction of Jupiter's wife by the Moon caused a great war in heaven, about
which we have spoken elsewhere. The symbol assigned to this asterism is
the head of a deer, which in Hindu mythology also relates to the Moon.
Many auspicious events are associated with this asterism. In the Bhagavad
Gita Lord Krishna identifies himself with the month ruled by it
(Margashira). The Shiva Purana states that the birth of Shiva's consort,
Uma, took place under Mrigashira and they were also married under the
same asterism. Kali Yuga, the dark or Iron Age, the present era of human
history, also began with the vernal equinox in Mrigashira. In some occult
literature mention is made of the shift of the earth's poles from North to
South and vice versa. The last shift of the poles, which caused important
geological changes as well as the influx of new evolutionary impulses, was
said to have occurred under this asterism. All these phenomenon relate to the
revival of life on a global scale.
The beginning of a new life-giving impulse is described in the story of the
Moon and Jupiter's wife. In this connection, one should note that the word
Tara, the name of Jupiter's wife in the story, means a star in general, and the
asterisms in particular. Soma, the Moon, found himself attracted to Tara and
under the pretext of getting Jupiter to begin his religious rituals earlier than
the scheduled time, got Jupiter to leave his house. Then Soma went to
Jupiter's house, eloped with Tara, and seduced her. Not finding Tara at home
on his return, Jupiter went out and searched for her. When he found her with
Soma, he demanded her return. Soma refused to give her back and Tara was
also reluctant to return. When the gods intervened, the Moon was persuaded
to return Tara to her rightful husband. But Tara, pregnant from her
relationship with the Moon, would not disclose the identity of the father.
However, even when the Moon became known as the real father of the child,
Mercury or Budha, the child was so charming that Jupiter agreed to be a
father to him.
A similar story exists about Tara, who was a wife of Sugriva, the younger
brother of the powerful monkey king Bali. Bali was so powerful that he kept
Ravana under his armpit. Ravana was the demon king who abducted Sita,
Rama's wife, and was finally slain by Rama in a great war. This powerful
monkey-king once went to subdue another adversary of his and did not
return for some time. Believing him to be dead his younger brother Sugriva
took his throne. On his return, Bali, thinking his brother had stolen the
throne, drove Sugriva away into the forest and captured his wife, Tara. On
befriending Rama, when he was on his way to fight Ravana, Sugriva made
Rama kill Bali to enable him to recover his wife Tara.