Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

At her husband's palace, Devayani continually humiliated and ill-treated
Sharmishtha. The king, however, became fond of her, secretly established a
relationship with her and eventually married her. Sharmishtha had a son
from Yayati. The astrologers predicted a glorious future for the child, while
Devayani's sons were destined to only a mediocre future. This further
enraged Devayani. She banished Sharmistha with her child into exile. She
also complained to her father Shukra against her husband Yayati. Shukra
cursed Yayati to premature old age. Yayati, however, propitiated Shukra and
obtained from him permission to transfer his decrepitude to anyone who
would consent to take it on himself in exchange for his youth. Yayati asked
his sons but all of them refused to do so. Meanwhile, Sharmishtha's son Puru
came of age, heard of the curse and volunteered to give his youth to the king.
Yayati accordingly transferred his old age to Puru. Being once more in the
prime of youth, Yayati passed his time in sensual pleasures. Thus he lived
for a thousand years. But his appetite for carnal gratification did not
diminish. At last, he realised the futility of such craving and with vigorous
determination and effort renounced his sensual life, returned his youth to its
rightful owner, Puru, and making him successor to the throne retired to the
forest for a life of meditation.
This legend presents many features of Venus that are often overlooked.
Venus possesses a life-giving energy which even the preceptor of gods,
Brihaspati or Jupiter does not possess. Venus can restore the dead to life and
perpetuate their existence. This special gift to Venus is directly linked with
his birth from the semen of Lord Shiva, which is the very fire vivifying the
cells of every living being. Procreation and revival to life are both connected
with reincarnation. As the Venusian impulse involves the individual in
material attachments, the thirst for life is accentuated which leads to rebirth.
With every reincarnation, the body of the individual soul is rejuvenated.
Because of their state of consciousness, the Devas cannot be subjected to
birth and death or to the rejuvenating process which only those involved in
material cravings can possess.
Venus is a teacher and as such does not restrict his wisdom to any special
category of students. He teaches the Daityas as well as godly persons like
Kacha. Anyone who can observe the rules of discipleship can learn from him
the secret of life and death. Kacha did it, as did Yayati. Shukra's curse to
Yayati was a method of teaching him the secret of life and death, obtaining
which Yayati retired into the forest for meditation. Venus is moved by love
and affection. Even when he risked his own annihilation, he restored Kacha
to life to please his daughter whom he loved. Narrowness and restrictive
considerations do not motivate Venus to action but he does not interfere in