Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

Possessing the same primeval nature as Brahma, Jupiter also has the quality
of arousing whatever is latent in the individual. But unlike Brahma's boons,
even when adverse qualities are accentuated, Jupiter conspires to create a
situation where the individual comes to the right path, after receiving the
natural justice for the misdeeds committed in his arrogance of power.
Legends relate Brihaspati to Brahma, Angiras, Bharadwaja and other sages.
In the Brihadaranayakn Upanishad, Brihaspati is called the Father of Gods.
He is considered to be the son of the sage Angiras and therefore he bears the
patronymic Angirasa. Elsewhere Brihaspati is acclaimed as the father of
Bharadwaja, one of the seven primeval seers. The father-son relationship in
esoteric literature refers to the transmission of consciousness from one to
another. The entry of the life-spark of father into the son is allegorized in
several ways. In all such relationships, the basic point to recognize is the
identity of spiritual knowledge and wisdom between the two. The wisdom of
Brahma that he imparted to Atharvan and which finally reached Angiras, as
contained in the Mundaka Upanishad, is the knowledge by which everything
is known. This knowledge begins by Hstingiiishing the two kinds of
knowledge, one which relates to the world of appe aranccs an( l 'he other to
knowledge of the Self. The lineage represented by Jupiter is concerned with
the dissemination of the higher wisdom. The Jupiterian impact aims at
providing the direct experience of material involvement. The wisdom
inculcated by Jupiter reveals that the scope of the knowledge gained through
the outgoing mind, by its inherently limited nature, must be illusory.
Realizing the illusory nature of knowledge of name and form, one is led to
the higher knowledge, the knowledge of consciousness itself.
The special responsibility of Jupiter is to teach and gently lead his students
on the path of truth. This is apparent from the names given to him. He is
known as Animishacharya, unblinking preceptor; Chakshusa, light of the
eye, teacher of the sacred wisdom; Ijya, teacher of the gods; and Indrejya,
one who has subjugated his sense organs. Jupiter is also referred as Guru,
which means a preceptor and teacher as well as one who initiates the student
into the secret wisdom of the Vedas. One who has established perfect control
over his own impulses and does not permit his desires to cloud his
perception is a real teacher. The "light of the eye" is a suggestive epithet for
Jupiter. The function of the eye is to perceive. It links the object with its
inner reality and communicates it to our inner perception. Some great gurus
teach their disciples through their gaze alone. Jupiter is ever vigilant, has
perfect understanding of the sacred wisdom and is capable of leading the
student to the realities of life. Being a teacher, Brihaspati leads one from the
known to the unknown, from the periphery to the center, from the exoteric to