Certain aspects of human emotion have intrigued great thinkers from times immemorial. One such aspect is associated with the sexual urge of homosapiens. Yet another aspect is related to the strange tendency of man to assume the presence of a great power in the universe which appears to control every process. Venus and Jupiter stand for sex and godliness respectively. If one wishes to comprehend the real meaning of equality of status enjoyed by Jupiter and Venus in the planetary cabinet one has to go deep into philosophy.
The two signs owned by Venus are Taurus and Libra. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, while Saturn is exalted in Libra and Venus gets exalted in Pisces owned by Jupiter, who in turn gets exalted in Cancer owned by the Moon. Consistent with their equality of status, Jupiter and Venus are the only two planets which get exalted in watery signs. The Nakshatras owned by Venus are located in fiery signs owned by the Sun, Mars and Jupiter who are mutual friends. Yet .another important point is that both Jupiter and-Venus are weak in Virgo where Mercury gets exalted. Mercury principally stands for knowledge and is an earthy planet. He no doubt stands for relative knowledge and his activities are associated with a narrow framework. That is why abstract Saturn does not get exalted in Virgo. Jupiter stands for absolute wisdom. Venus and Jupiter are also associated with a certain degree of abstraction. Venus stands for arts. The pleasure one derives from love, music etc., results out of appreciation which springs out of one’s heart. When a person looks at a beautiful picture or hears fine music or enjoys sex, his mind is actuated by a peculiar force and travels in unknown regions, sways hither and thither, dangles in space, dances gaily and volatises in a glorious atmosphere.
Venus uniquely stands for fine arts. Take for example music. The power of music is incomprehensible. The greatest technological revolutions and sociological upheavals have not changed the natural liking and appreciation of human beings for fine arts. Many texts on religion declare that the best way to please God is by way of reciting melodious songs. Venus covers the most important emotional strings which are naturally implanted in human beings. The fact that Moksha (described as Final Bliss) is always compared to the sexual bliss (in the sense that the former is superior and unlimited, relative to the latter which is temporary and limited) gives sufficient clue relating to the philosophy behind Jupiterian and Venusian influences.
The sexual instinct or desire is linked with reproduction which in turn makes a soul revolve in the cycle of births and deaths. Venus actually sustains and protects a soul until the latter identifies Brahman, by which time Jupiter takes care of the soul. Thus a very strange understanding prevails between Jupiter and Venus. Even though saints talk so much about spiritual attainments one should not forget the historical fact that many seers, kings and eminent personalities have yielded to the Venusian influence at one stage or the other. A special reference is to be made here about pure Venusian influence and mixed Venusian influence. Standard astrological texts give combinations for strong sexual desire etc., which can be traced not to strong Venus but to Venus somewhat linked with malefics. However, extraordinary ability in music is certainly indicated only by strong Venus. Venus dwells in two planes. The Venusian role in reproduction is brought about by malefics. In other words Venus as such does not stand for sexual intercourse.
Jupiter, the greatest benefic, stands for godliness. This planet sustains the whole universe. The Sun, Karaka for Atma, and the Moon, indicator of matter (Purusha and Prakrithi respectively) and Mars, Karaka for energy and unlimited force, are all friends of Jupiter. This great planet entirely agrees with the Moon in respect of Karunya (compassion) That is why Jupiter gets exalted in Cancer ruled by the Moon. Jupiterian influences glow brightly in higher planes of consciousness. On the earthy plane the Jupiterian influences cannot be identified. One can easily see that even on the earthy plane Jupiter is the only planet who has got all the key portfolios which make life worth living, namely; progeny, wealth and luck. The only other planet who holds other important portfolios (which of course also makes life worth living) is Venus who is the Karaka for sex, wife, fine arts and vehicles.
Again we see the reason behind the equality of status between Jupiter and Venus in the planetary cabinet. Reverting to Jupiterian influence we can easily understand that this golden planet pumps his grace to a person according to the stage occupied by his soul in the course of its evolution. Irrespective of the key portfolios, Jupiter stands for pure detachment also since his true grace is fully manifested in a person (or soul) at a time when the latter’s net Karma tends to a zero. Even though Mercury stands for knowledge since the Sastras say that knowledge alone cannot lead to consciousness, we infer that the emotional aspect of the human mind is the key to the Final Bliss and that is why Jupiter has been rightly described as the Karaka for Moksha or Final Emancipation.
Venus owns Taurus and Libra. Taurus typifies the lower octave of Venus whereas Libra stands for the higher octave. Taurus being an earthy sign, Venusian links in the physical body are connected with this sign. This is further corroborated by the fact that Taurus is represented by a bull. The Moon, Karaka for matter, rightly gets exalted in this sign. Libra is represented by a balance and hence this airy sign clearly is relatively abstract. Saturn, the planet of justice gets exalted in this sign. The finer qualities of Venus are embedded in Libra.
Jupiter owns Sagittarius and Pisces both common signs consistent with the fact that this planet stands for expansion. Sagittarius is represented by an archer with a body which is partly human and partly animal. This sign indicates that the goal is fixed for a Jupiterian. Strong determination, perseverance, dynamism, drive are also indicated by this sign. Concentration is a special feature of this sign. Coming to Pisces we see that this is the holiest sign in the Zodiac. “Two fishes are present in a great ocean. Both of them are disposed in opposite directions” — this is the typical description of the sign Pisces. The great ocean indicates that herein lies the Ultimate Truth or Brahman. The fishes pointing in opposite directions typify the real meaning and function of Jupiter. The attainment of material things, as well as Ultimate Bliss, is possible only with the grace of golden Jupiter. The ocean is static but also always active due to strong currents. When a person attains Ultimate Bliss his soul rests in a static state. But before one reaches the calm underneath the spiritual sea, one is in a quasi-static state due to strong emotional currents.
Venus gets exalted in Pisces. The enormous quantity of water in the ocean owned by the planet of expansion is ideally suited for watery Venus. Strong emotional currents are aroused by Venusian influence and no wonder Venus becomes extremely powerful in this sign. Venus also stands for Maya which probably took shape in the primordial sea.
Strong Jupiter in a horoscope bestows the best qualities which a person can possess. He enables the native to understand the real meaning of everything including the universe. Strong Venus in a horoscope bestows the pleasant things in life. He also enables the person to identify the plane of emotional appreciation where art dwells.
I have endeavoured to enumerate some salient features of the planets Jupiter and Venus from an astrological standpoint. I think it is a strange coincidence (or more than that) that I wrote this article at a time when I was running Venus Bhukti in Jupiter Dasa! And Jupiter was transiting my radical Moon-sign and Venus, the 10th therefrom!
Courtesy: Modern Astrology (M.S.Narayan)
