Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

The human nervous system, rooted in the brain, also hangs downward. The
relationship between the pure subjectivity of the Unmanifest and
differentiated life forms is represented by Shukra hanging himself upside
down in order to protect the Daityas, i.e., to perpetuate the multitude.
Venus emits the creative impulse. His activities are part of the Divine plan of
evolution. He is rooted in the ethereal realm of spirit, but his sphere of
operation is below in the material world. The Sun-Moon-Mercury triad
functions on the level of subjectivity as the higher triad in the septenary
principle, and with Venus begins the journey to the lower quaternary. The
Venusian impulse flows from above downwards perpetuating the outer form
of the world. The smoke which Shukra imbibed refers to the Vedic Yajna or
fire sacrifice for spiritualizing oneself and one's environment. Smoke is a
prelude to Fire which arises during the ritual. Such an act of spiritual
observance is the very antithesis of what Venus is supposed to produce. On
the beginning of spiritual aspiration, whether for outer rituals or inner
knowledge, the involvement of the person in matter must weaken.
Generating the spiritual current represented by the rising smoke helps
Shukra achieve his goal. During this time the individual has to encounter
much inconvenience and temptation. The Venusian impulse which intiti-ally
intensifies material desire, in its deeper nature gives rise to ethical practices
and causes one to aspire for the spiritual life.
Vishnu is the preserver. In his strategy to contain the Asuric realm of
existence, he killed the mother of Venus, that is, he wanted to stifle the
procreative potential of the Daityas. This would have destroyed the plan of
Shukra and ended the course of procreative manifestation. To counteract the
effect, Shukra cursed Vishnu himself to take seven births on earth. This
refers to the seven rounds of manifestation. Venus has the power to restore to
life the dead, so he made his mother alive again, that is, he established his
link with the Divine source of energy which provided him the necessary
vitality to restore the mechanism of procreative existence. Finally, the
marriage of Jayanti with Venus indicates the blending of Venusian
consciousness with the Divine urge for creation.
The Venusian involvement in material existence strengthens the urge for
self-gratification, yet its basic impulse is deeply spiritual, channeling all
energy sources for fulfilling the Divine mission. Venus assists the Asuras but
he does so for implementing the Divine plan. This is corroborated by Venus
siding with Soma, the regent of the Moon, in Soma's conflict with Brihaspati
for the sake of Tara (see p. 54). Soma was assisted by Venus in his effort to
satisfy the inner aspiration of the soul, represented by Tara, when outer
rituals, represented by Jupiter, failed to satisfy her yearning soul.