Excerpts of from the Book of Dzan from ‘The Secret Doctrine’ by the occultist Madame H P Blavatsky. It is inferred that this ‘found’ scripture in its verses contains the origins of beings that predated us on the Earth. For all it’s cryptic nature, it reads like larger than life poetry of existence, of Higher Beings that made the Earth into what it is.
Naturally read with an open mind and a pinch of salt for all errors in translation to our understanding of today. The book itself is worth reading, but presented here are the seamless verses that create a magnificent arc of imagery to ancient divinities :
Helene Blavatsky with Saint Germain (on the right)
The Precursor
“Strange noises are heard proceeding from every point. . . . These are the precursors of the Night of Brahma; dusk rises at the horizon, and the Sun passes away behind the thirteenth degree of Makara ( Capricorn sign of the Zodiac). . . .
Gradually light pales, heat diminishes, uninhabited spots multiply on the earth, the air becomes more and more rarefied; the springs of waters dry up, the great rivers see their waves exhausted, the ocean shows its sandy bottom and plants die. Men and animals decrease in size daily. Life and motion lose their force, planets can hardly gravitate in space; they are extinguished one by one, like a lamp which the hand of the chokra (servant) neglects to replenish. Surya (the Sun) flickers and goes out, matter falls into dissolution (pralaya), and Brahma merges back into Dyaus, the Unrevealed God, and, his task being accomplished, he falls asleep. Another day is passed, night sets in and continues until the future dawn.”
The book of Dzan
Stanza 1
“The Eternal Parent (Space), wrapped in her ever invisible robes, had slumbered once again for seven eternities.
Time was not, for it lay asleep in the infinite bosom of duration. Universal mind was not, for there were no Ah-hi (celestial beings) to contain (hence to manifest) it.
The seven ways to bliss (Moksha or Nirvana) were not. The great causes of misery (Nidana and Maya) were not, for there was no one to produce and get ensnared by them.
Darkness alone filled the Boundless All, for Father, Mother and Son were once more one, and the Son had not awakened yet for the new wheel and his pilgrimage thereon.
The seven sublime Lords and the seven Truths had ceased to be, and the Universe, the son of necessity, was immersed in Paranishpanna (absolute perfection, Paranirvana, which is Yong-Grub) to be out-breathed by that which is and yet is not. Naught was.
The causes of existence had been done away with; the visible that was, and the invisible that is, rested in eternal non-being, the one being.
Alone, the one form of existence stretched boundless, infinite, causeless, in dreamless sleep; and life pulsated unconscious in universal space, throughout that All-Presence which is sensed by the Opened Eye.”
Stanza 2
Where were the builders, the luminous sons of manvantaric dawn? . . . In the unknown darkness in their Ah-hi (Chohanic, Dhyani-Buddhic) Paranishpanna, the producers of form (rupa) from no-form (arupa), the root of the world — the Devamatri and Svabhavat, rested in the bliss of non-being.
Where was silence? Where were the ears to sense it? No! there was neither silence, nor sound. Naught save ceaseless, eternal breath (Motion) which knows itself not.
The hour had not yet struck; the ray had not yet flashed into the germ; the matri-padma (mother lotus) had not yet swollen.
Her heart had not yet opened for the one ray to enter, thence to fall as three into four in the lap of Maya.
The Seven (Sons) were not yet born from the Web of Light. Darkness alone was Father-Mother, Svabhavat, and Svabhavat was in darkness.
These two are the Germ, and the Germ is — one. The Universe was still concealed in the Divine Thought and the Divine Bosom.
— 1: 53-61
Read and heal, as is the way of scripture.
Stanza 3
The last vibration of the seventh eternity thrills through infinitude. The mother swells, expanding from within without like the bud of the lotus.
The vibration sweeps along, touching with its swift wing (simultaneously) the whole universe, and the germ that dwelleth in darkness: the darkness that breathes (moves) over the slumbering waters of life.
“Darkness” radiates light, and light drops one solitary ray into the waters, into the mother deep. The ray shoots through the virgin-egg; the ray causes the eternal egg to thrill, and drop the non-eternal (periodical) germ, which condenses into the world egg.
The root of life was in every drop of the ocean of immortality (Amrita) and the ocean was radiant light, which was fire and heat and motion. Darkness vanished and was no more. It disappeared in its own essence, the body of fire and water, of father and mother.
Behold, oh Lanoo! the radiant Child of the two, the unparalleled refulgent Glory, Bright Space, Son of Dark Space, who emerges from the depths of the great Dark Waters. . . . He shines forth as the Sun. He is the blazing Divine Dragon of Wisdom. . . .
Behold him lifting the Veil, and unfurling it from East to West. He shuts out the above and leaves the below to be seen as the great Illusion. He marks the places for the shining ones (stars) and turns the upper (space) into a shoreless Sea of Fire, and the One manifested (element) into the Great Waters…
Father-Mother spin a web whose upper end is fastened to Spirit (Purusha), the light of the one Darkness, and the lower one to Matter (Prakriti) its (the Spirit’s) shadowy end; and this web is the Universe spun out of the two substances made in one, which is Svabhavat.
— 1: 62-83
Parts of Stanza 4
Listen, ye Sons of the Earth, to your instructors — the Sons of the Fire. Learn there is neither first nor last; for all is one number, issued from no number.
Learn what we who descend from the Primordial Seven, we, who are born from the Primordial Flame, have learned from our Fathers.
— 1: 86-8
Excerpts from the book of Dzan by Helena Blavatsky.
A coat of quotes and passing poetry
"
"I can teach you magic", said the magician to the fool.
"But I can't teach you how to believe.
That dear friend, lies in the jurisdiction of your own soul, even I can't go there."
Then with a wry grin, he added, "But you don't have to know magic but just to know how to live."
And with that, the magician disappeared just as suddenly as he had appeared.
And the fool, no clearer in his doubts and no other recourse but to walk on.
Nearer yet, unbeknownst to his own understanding's despair.
The Wheel turned, the ages the burned. A believer for a Magician, now that's another story. And a pawn in time as a destination for the fool."
A tarot story
Try not even to think of yourself as better than the humblest beggar. You will look the same in your grave.- Dalia LamaNext
2 of Wands – Two of Fire – Possibilities -Vision- Dominion.
2 of Wands card meaning
The two of wands is the card of possibilities.
Nostradamus.
Wands as an element stands for fire, and action. And upon the beginning of that action is the unlimited nature of clarity. That clarity is of possibilities, otherwise perceived as the dominion of action armed with the idea.
To traditional interpretation, the two of wands is the formative idea begun upon its stage of evolution. Dominion as mentioned earlier is a primary facet. To other reads, it is seen as the start of transformation. Osho calls it possibilities.
As the two of light, this stands for vision, and thought having opened to formless boundaries for that un-limiting step for perception.
There is great harmony in this card, with its signals to inspiration in all directions. Such is the nature of fire emerging and converging ideas into action.
The wands as a suit are all action-oriented cards, marking a poise or a stride in the midst of activity, both internal and external.
There is an understated determination in this sign. The will is being forged at this stage, only to solidify with further action to intention.
As the two of light, this is the flame that shines brighter once it has lit another. That the entirety of spirit salutes accomplishment to the soul, and in that act of purity of vision, is found the approval of all spirit and sundry.
Divination : What it means if you receive this card
Crowley
From the synthesis of creation, a new energy of possibility is channeled to awaken through the wands. The Two of Wands signifies a point where these creative energies are brought together to flourish and produce.
Indeed this sign foretells prosperity in partnerships and production. The partnering to challenge and achieve higher goals.
In a situation, this heralds a prosperous venture, a merger of sorts. It is a consolidated first step to a well deliberated plan.
The fire of creative energy or spiritual yearning are the wands; here, it is offered direction toward a specific goal.
Thus, this goal, it is anticipated, and will quench the urge to change. Once determined, change can begin.
This card is about that determination, resolve and discipline. The beginnings of the Transformation.
The Two of Wands indicates that you are moving into your personal power, to move forward with courage, originality and potential.
This first step in a new direction can be empowering so consolidate your steps and accept the road as it is taking you. This would be the time you can alter it to your comfort and with complete clarity.
This is also a sign of possibilities, vision and inspiration. Often even called the Lord of Dominion.
Dali.
Vision, the start of activity.
You can find the courage to take new ideas up and put faith in that invisible creative force that has generated this envision of a new path.
This can be a dramatic display of abilities in controlling and combining the raw energies around you, towards creative will in its most exalted form.
These are indeed the fires of imagination – the ladder of ambitions and aspiration. Creative potential growth of enterprise.
Pythagoras
Reversed 2 of Wands – Fetters and Possibilities
Divination : This sign blocks its own energy, holding back all the potential of the moment.
The reverse 2 of wands is the complexity of blockage in your creative energies.
There may be external issues affecting the chance or possibility for a fruitful partnership. This card advises looking within to find what may be the cause.
Starry Tarot.
And out of restlessness and unformed power one idea leads to another and often the first few are far from the final one.
Reversed, this does not look favorably upon situations involving partnerships or ventures. Prosperity is delayed and there may be an unwillingness to cooperate. External forces, restricting regulations, or a lack of support, may well hamper progress which already is in mere early stages.
There is a slow dissipation of the creative at this stage.
Normally, the fire of creative energy or spiritual yearning is represented by Wands, and given direction at the 2 of wands.
The goal, however blurry would then quench the yearning, dissatisfaction, or urge to change. And so the means to resolves are indeed determination, resolve and discipline. The beginning of the Transformation, albeit repressed.
To its primary meanings, the messages here are of the spiritual realm. Creativity, imagination, Inspiration. Illumination, mysticism, magic. Burning, purifying. Idealistic, ascetic and Fire.
All the same, there is tremendous potential that wasn’t quite able to fructify. The possibilities are still very much there, just a little diminished from whence they began. A little effort, you might find your stride again.
Often, at this time you may find surprise, wonder, enchantment, emotion, trouble, fear.
There may be sudden application of phenomenal. Wilful, imperial. A strong urge for freedom and independence. A refusal to yield to another’s will.
Sometimes to this sign, you may find Strength, domination. Boldness, courage, love of freedom, fierceness, fighting spirit, ambition, refinement, impatience, sagacious withal, yet an unforgiving and obstinate nature.
There is resistance to vision. Restrained beginnings. Cautious action. Inability to see the bigger picture. Possibilities are still there, with a little effort.
Difficulty in consolidation. Obstacles to dominion.
Also shows a fierceness, shamelessness, ambition, restlessness, turbulence. A card of enthusiasm, but strong self-interest.
A coat of quotes and passing poetry
"
"I can teach you magic", said the magician to the fool.
"But I can't teach you how to believe.
That dear friend, lies in the jurisdiction of your own soul, even I can't go there."
Then with a wry grin, he added, "But you don't have to know magic but just to know how to live."
And with that, the magician disappeared just as suddenly as he had appeared.
And the fool, no clearer in his doubts and no other recourse but to walk on.
Nearer yet, unbeknownst to his own understanding's despair.
The Wheel turned, the ages the burned. A believer for a Magician, now that's another story. And a pawn in time as a destination for the fool."
The constant prayer, the inner silence overlapping.
Jubilation’s chair, hope in repair.
Envisioned spectacular ceremonial mapping.
A heightened accord, a breath-full of words.
A heart-warmed ford to breeze through the formless.
Your subtle starlight, strumming reflections elevating the air.
Singing the day’s symphonies, dancing celestials the shadows in busk.
An inner task.
Particulars past.
Temporal to godspeed. Salt to spirit.
A scintillating urgency observations grasp.
Lifetimes in repetition cues muscle-memory for self-discipline’s harp.
The questions queue answers in beat-boxes.
A hastened learning curve twangs to attune the twine.
You in the vowel, my consonant delight. The heart beats a flight.
In another life of delivered letters. Forwards a meter to foot the syllables on your path.
All the earthly in ancient swoon, sunshine the moon and back in your smile.
Upon my lips, it stays awhile. Sating to the shine of your ways, for always.
Above feeling and sensation.
In the place of repose.
In the melding of form to the soul’s reform. The one love that pervades, the universe’s fabric breathes to its cascades.
I enter my Lord’s house, with my bridled’s reflection, the triumph that trumpets, A union of divine circumspect. A devotion inflects.
Amidst the joy, the singing vessel howls a well of tears, a sacred lake in reverence, a river of light flows its deliverance. Time halts its constant march, offering the Moon’s reprieve from eternal parch. The winds spread to nature’s enchant, bowing to ripen and attune the tree of repose to a yearning branch.
This veil of separation, the distance sanctifying in-seams.
The breath in reparation, the soul reaching its light to the finite’s in-between.
Transcendental until manifest, like the spirit dweller upon the threshold, gently waiting to adore. Cosmic the longings implore.
Had of the cup of knowledge, sought and outpoured to healing’s flight and all manners betwixt in mystical rites. The inner temple to house and hearth the temporal toast, divinities in crowns hath not the glory of true reflection, than the accord of the love’s heartened renown.
A celestial profound, to anchor my smile in your surround of eternal resound.
Patience beckons its coast, like the waves merely hover like these words like a pilgrim’s traces.
Lit, the inner lamp yet reaches, heightened to your harmonies.
Like dew in the morning’s apparent adorn.
Asunder this night of form, if you could hear in my heart,
You would me as the shine in your eyes.
And like the sky and its horizon, the sunrise to my surmise.
Slow dawn
A coat of quotes and passing poetry
"
“Awake, Æolian lyre, awake,
And give to rapture all thy trembling strings.
From Helicon's harmonious springs A thousand rills their mazy progress take:
The laughing flowers, that round them blow,
Drink life and fragrance as they flow.
Now the rich stream of music winds along
Deep, majestic, smooth, and strong,
Thro' verdant vales, and Ceres' golden reign:
Now rolling down the steep amain, Headlong, impetuous, see it pour:
The rocks and nodding groves rebellow to the roar.”
Form is as you heighten. Somewhere in the midst of existence is the marvel that you are.
Any that find you, are blessed for it. Such is insight in your envision.
This day is special to history, as with its yearly celebrate, for its kindness blurs the very depth of reality’s perception.
The unreal of attribute superseding even the surreal in a sentiment of tribute.
For the shine will not wane, the ethereal glow that lightens the stupor enlivening into radiance’s sway.
This day to birdsongs and lovingly fawn, doting to the fabric that listens to glisten in endear and ensign.
The timekeeper of skies of ancient mysteries, the regale past the hours of periphery.
The ground that breathes a little deeper today, the sun that shines a little brighter. The Moon as it peers upon your smile, the stars that shimmer a little longer as if just to catch a wish upon your sighs. The solar system switches resonance to your heart strums. The galaxies hitching along for a ride by your side.
Happy to you, and all that is yours, the universe singing a hum to belong.
What a day to be grateful. To move inward to find expression.
The cross-correcting currents in even make, contemplations pure. An odd way to wish, outpouring to affections’ underscore.
A profound precipice this, as with everything of your reflection.
Passages of learning usually in me find your mention, in commune almost like turning to tell you your heart feels like home. But the intensity of the words aside, the place of inner content in reside. The well-wishing sentiment tends to sprint rather than run its course. A cursory glance and fortuity’s balance. A tight-rope to emotion in aesthetic alliance.
Degrees of certainty sifting through errors of parlance.
Revolving doors to the wisdom in ever curling corner smiles, and restful manifest to your grace in childlike eyes of shine.
In a loving universe, your path would be to be loved. The former for me, an aspiration, the latter I perceive the path to you.
If I am a hymn, I would be yours. If life is an ode, then beside you, mine be the road. To hum a melody until the wind traces it to you in a song.
I suppose I could have just said happy to you,
But all of nature and the sky too, to you glow thoughtful and heart-warmed.
To be grateful to all of existence for you, indeed the loving universe wizened to its surrender and splendour.
Wandering witness. Infinity born upon its head. Becoming that which is all-becoming. Then reverting to its true personality. The opposite in reflection.
To all contain, then set out again.
An answer found, now again the question wanders, setting the answer too upon its way. The answer will fit many, and make reflection.
The question comes close, to all of them. Always to find the first answer only when it has changed.
And then in its trueness, the question reveals part of its history.
Every answer that was found, part of its many faces.
The face of the question was the first answer. How far does affinity for a question go? Many questions were asked, only one answered.
The Taurean sat and composed a song. It helmed all the other archetypes into a musical tether. And then hummed for itself another.
One would have thunk, if one was a Taurus, but for that, it fit the Aries. And perfectly allowed the spark into flame to be.
‘I would have to have to find myself’, the Aries returned to thought.
And then as they set out in manifest to that effect, the reflection fell onto the song, and Taurus skipped a beat instead to point to the Gemini.
The triangle of music looked squarely at the thought, and the Gemini felt itself another, both in what had already been. Music dwelled the emotion, and then the Cancer presented a wellspring.
But who would sing? Languages crooned into their own becomings, listening to themselves for themes that would even tame the Moon.
Leo roared to remind them of fire, and who can remind oneself but the one burning brightest.
Taking a moment to breathe and the rest remained. The earthy delight brought the Virgo out constructing the very means of flight.
The song intoned, the torus was three dimensional figure as a visual diaphragm, the Libra pipped and corrected the diagram to balance the diagonal logjams.
The content to emotion brought the momentum to a Scorpio in scores of quantums and asking water scrolls.
The point armed the Sagittarius, intuited to hold the flame, fired like a river onto its banks inspired in arrow. And the brow to furrow.
The Capricorn warmed like a mountain to song, and wound the thought like a string turned tight, tuned to the instrument’s might.
The Aquarius invited itself into reflection like the air hearing breath and breadth into quadrupled boons. And interpersonal swoons.
The Pisces felt it, sussed out the melodies multiplying and played for the moon and back into a corner attuned.
The corner turned, smiling zodiac to weather.
Whether to sing. Or find another in similar feather-strokes.
And the sky to sigh. To the stars and back, in storied twinkling histories.
Asvini Nakshatra. Nakshatras are star asterisms or Moon stations used in Astrology to track the Moon’s journey across the sky and the horoscope.
The first Lunar star asterism is Asvins, the horse healer gods. Asvini the star represents the consort of the twin healer horse-gods(also traditionally known as Usha, the goddess of autonomous self-endowed energy).
The Asvins are among the first gods, and are the only nakshatras to be mentioned (infact frequently lauded) in the Rig Vedas. In so they also contain in their respective beneficent treatises the duality of black and white, and both their healing forms (twin-horses representing eyes for duality).
Although in ancient times, this was the 26th in order, for us however Asvins open the Lunar mansions as the first asterism in the constellation Aries. The original greek name of Aswini is Kakkab gamma, and in the Arabic system is known as Al-Sheraton. The constellation looks like a Horse Head.
Astrologically, Aswini is ruled by Ketu, the Lunar South Node (or tail of the dragon’s tail in planetary system). This would be significant for anyone that makes further studies of astrological aphorisms embedded the Nakshatras.
“aśvinoraśvayujau grāmaḥ parastāt senā’ avastāt.”
– Taitteya Brahmana.
‘Through the Asvin’s path flow the celestials winds with their secrets and splendour of works, its place among the stars for that which is beyond, and its healing armies of remedies to hallow the lands below.’
P.s… Extra information. The Asvins are also invoked in one of the stages of the fire(during meditation and ritual) to open a pathway to the soul through the sky. In the 12 cycles of fires, they represent the Eight, offering healing beneficence invoked as sound. The horse is a very interesting animal to study for occult significance.
The card seventeen of the major arcana is that of the Star. And simply by virtue of being the major arcana, it has the important task of guiding the soul directly.
Osho Zen Tarot
To the occult terms, the number 17 is that of the horoscope, and charts the trajectory of any individual to the choices they make in life. As the individual grows and evolves, so does their orbit to all matters of spirit and soul in their interactions with the world. And with that, their star guides them through their subconscious and allows them to chart their wisdom to their lifetime.
And yes, it is possible to cast in horoscope to a star to map a person’s influences. But then as the older we get, based on the choices made at important junctures in life, the personality starts to become cast as the reflection of the said star of the tarot. And merging of sorts in all heavenly attributes reflected to a person’s star and their earthly qualities as a name living the lifetime.
Osho in his tarot cards calls this Silence, and only the individual knows the real truth of the impressions made of celestial matters in their journey.
And that journey is what each querent makes in the silence of their own contemplation. The star and soul, each guided by the other. That is their ascent to horoscope, and descent to matter.
This card is also connected to the goddess, and naturally all stars in the epitome of a star. A star is born, when another hath arisen.
Crowley
Divination XVII – The Star. Melodies. Horoscope :
Nostradamus
A guiding vision of hope arises, harmonious uniting of heaven and earth, divine protection and power to transcend the mundane world with all its trappings.
This sign is about inspiration, crystallisation, self-confidence, and the conjunction with the universal intellect with the collective unconscious. And it brings the insight that there are endless possibilities of existence we can connect to. With our feeling, instincts, imagination, intuition, hope, optimism, trust, and through faith.
A time of calm follows a time of upheaval. The Star brings a sense of relief and a renewed sense of faith in the universe.
A sense that we are on the right path. The light of the Star is the light of understanding, of awareness, and truth, in stimulating our imagination and restoring our sense of connection to the greater mysteries.
The Star shines above you and reflects you to guide your way, showing you a deeper sense of meaning and direction.
Drawn, it is implied that there is abundant hope in your life.
In situations, this card reflects favorably on any outcome. It also asks to keep hope alive in tougher situations and not to lose faith in any struggle. In relationships, this card implies a positive and balanced ideal relationship between partners.
Reversed – 17 – The Silence of the Stars
Pythagoras Tarot
Divination : Reversed but all the same indicated to this card are gifts of spirit, heightened awareness or experiences, illusions, hidden meanings, and hope shining over clouded expressions.
This could be a sign that you are denying your talents and inner truths, losing yourself in idealism without manifesting your ideals into reality.
The appearance of the Star in a reading suggests an ability to connect to your deeper self and to trust that all will be well. Love and energy flow freely and are available to you as you need them, for yourself or to share. All this is still true to the reverse card, but only after you put in a little effort. That’s the virtue of finding your inner silence to this sign. Your unique personal connecting to everything deeper and more ancient in the universe.
This is a time to align yourself with a higher consciousness, to grow in your connection to spirit, and to honour your creative imagination.
In a situation, a loss of hope may cause tension and a loss of faith in any positive outcome. The signs and suggestions to the shadow or reversed Star card are to briefly lay low and turn inward.
All situations may still turn your way. First you turn inward to the star. Find your sense of self. And optimism will restore and follow.
Does the prospect of luck really come from the stars? Twinkling in the night where the sun don’t shine, driving the nocturnal through all our influences derived of sway.
Or is just the tunings of astrology, taking away from the myths and secrets originally held sacrament to the stars. And handed over to the planets for their prospective narrative pre-productions instead.
But the predilections of fortuity and fruity considerations aside, there are several stars that in their personal history and influence have a direct claim on the concept of fortune. Whether for the knowledge they represent or just their lofty meaning of contemplate, these have all stood taller than the subjective measure of astrology’s optimistic considerations. And in that is their treasure of acquaintance. And better yet, affinity to fortuit.
Sadasūd – Fortunate star of fortune
So there’s a star in Aquarius called Sadalsūd, which means lucky star of luck, or fortunate star of fortune. I’m an Aquarius but it’s clearly not my star. I mean I have the fortune of smiles and the deep privilege of profound knowledge deigns me favour every now and then. But I’m as far from the riches of grandeur as maybe the sun is from the Earth, or at least Mercury or Venus. At least you see a speck of them every so often.
There are 3 other stars in Aquarius associated with the concept of luck, and another far-fetched notion of fortune in one of the stars of Capricorn.
Age of the Aquarius
Taking a total of 5 stars with the word luck in their meaning. These are of the conventional sense.
Of course, most names of astronomy are originally borrowed from the Arabic star systems and the ancients’ work in their culture.
Sadalsūd, or Saldalmasud, the fortunate star of fortune is the Beta, Aquarius. And its contemporary is the Aquarius’ Alpha star, Sadalmelik, the fortunate star of the king.
Lucky or Fortunate star of the king – Sadalmelik
Now you have stars, and you have star mansions, or mini-constellations otherwise called asterisms, where stars are clubbed together into tinier shapes within the larger constellations for the purpose of astrological fine-tuning and reading. These asterisms are then read predominantly from the context of the Moon, given how quickly it moves among the stars.
Anyway, Sadalsūd, tweaked into El Sa’ad el Sūd is one of those said asterisms along with another star, the Xi of Aquarius. Then you have the asterism Sa’ad elAkbir, comprising the stars Gamma, Eta and Zeta of Aquarius, which curiously means the fortunate star of tents. El Sa’ad el Sūd and El Sa’ad el Akbir are the 24rd and 25th Arabic star mansion in sequence respectively.
Many a fortunate star
Prior to these two, there is the asterism,El Sa’ad El Bulah, the lucky star of the swallower,made up of the stars Mu and Nu of Aquarius, the celestial water bearer.
There is an obscure little star also in this region in Mu, Pegasus, the constellation of flying horse. This star is Sadalbari, which means the ‘fortunate star of the excellent one’. Aspirational indeed.
Sadalbari – Fortunate star of the excellent one.
Rounding off this ‘fortunate’ series of stars is one of the asterisms in Capricorn, the 22nd called El Sadalsabih, the lucky star of slaughter, made of Alpha and Beta star of Capricorn, the constellation of the goat.
Naturally one cannot talk of fortunate stars or stars of personal significance without acknowledging the true north, or Polaris, the North Star.
Dhruva – The North Star – Polaris
Although most of the above mentioned stars are in the lower hemisphere, and well into the later half of Zodiac, astrologically their traditional position for the Zodiac stands around midheaven, or just above it. Noted of course, that this moves around us as the sky.
Polaris, meanwhile is a fixed star. And that means it does not move or change its position, relative to us or otherwise. In fact, it is the sun, with us in tow that moves around the Polaris, the north star. It is said in Indian scripture that our entire galaxy as well the universe is moving slowly (spread across eternity) towards the north star. In the Indian pantheon, the north star is Dhruva. In one of the slightly obscure legends from scripture, Dhruva is shown to holding up the sky as the floor of heaven to mark a new age. It was set upon the pre-ancient era when the Asuras, or the giants had taken over all three realms, the underworld, Earth and heaven. And the galaxy was ruled by the giant king Vali, also among the stars.
It is said that darkness covered the Earth, and the dwarf sun could not even stretch his feet (rays) to light the poles of the Earth. Sophocles of the Greeks has a dwarf appearing on Orion’s shoulders in similar grain. And in another mythology, at the time the leader of the starry sky was supposed to be the Sirius, called Tistrya by the Persians (Zend Avesta) and Lubdaka-Vishvamitra by the Indians. The Indian pantheon has him called the old Nakshatra Tishya, which means Archer.
But the end of the epoch arrived, the sun matured, and according to the Sanskrit scriptures, Vishnu in the form of a dwarf brahmana called Vamana devised recourse. He sequestered of the giant Asura king Vali a small ask that Vali obliged. And that was dominion over the distance of his three steps.
At the appointed hour, Vamana Vishnu changed form, growing larger and larger until he stood an unfathomable giant even to the greatest giant king time would see, as or until Vali. Vishnu, for his appropriation marked his three steps, the first for the underworld, the second of the Earth and sky. And with his third step, he stepped upon heaven, closing it on Vali and the rest of Earthly sentience. But as his foot stepped down, he wrent asunder heaven by pressing down his toe. And underneath his toenail, he created a crevice, letting in the waters from outside of this universe.
Dhruva – The fountainhead of stars.
Underneath Dhruva held up the sky, shouldering its weight to balance. And through him, the holy waters flowed, and onto the Milky Way for sanctification.
In time the Milky Way of the stars would fall upon the Earth as the river Ganga in another legend.
This step of Vishnu was called the Trita Parama pada, or the Vishnu Parama pada, the third and supreme step of Vishnu. And Vishnu as a solar god of the Sun, as his right decreed as an Aditya, handed over the heavens to Indra, and the sky to Surya-Mārtanda.
Dhruva-tara aka Polaris, can be seen exactly at the same spot every night. Which geographically if you’re at the line of equator, is directly overhead. I still have to arch my neck where I live, but well its always north as a direction, naturally.
According to scripture, Dhruva-tara serves as the holiest of holies as a star. Just the mere act of seeing it at night is sanctifying and healing, it is said the day’s sinfulnesses stand cleansed on the nights that one advents to see this star, the true north.
Sirius much
Naturally, Sirius also has its legacies fortunate to its history. To the ancients, naming the stars to shape was not merely regarded to shape of illusion to eyes. But rather they looked to the observable effects and remarked to the life around them; plants, animals of husbandry, hunter observations, just as to matters of sea-faring. This dog-star of a constellation housed the then star-king Tistrya, or the god Merodokh of the Babylonians. This ‘bright and scorching’ as its name translated, was the rain indicator, associated also with the phrase ‘dog-day afternoons’ for the thirst of it. This was also the original hunter in the stars of the Indian pantheon as Tishya, where Rudra, the shiva form marks his abode, its remain as the ‘sweat maker’ Nakshatra Arda, 6th of the Indian pantheon.
This star was called Kakkab Si-Sa among other things by the ancients Euphrateans, meaning star-king of the heavens and its great station.
Of course, in the Indian legends or otherwise, this star is connected to the giant of Orion in its rising and setting in the sky, abiding to its eternity of influence.
Another interesting facet about Sirius is in its nature as a double-star. While its star-double Sirius B is moving towards the Earth, the larger body Sirius A is moving away (from the Earth) with equal force. And the two of them share their orbit with each other. Its volume is also 500 times that of the Sun as a star.
Leo
Lion’s share of fortune
Leo as a constellation has always been associated with kings and king-making. Its primary star Regulus, also called Basilkos in greek, meaning king. This as a larger association is not a difficult make. For in the ancient era upon a different pole-star, called Thuban, Alpha Draconis, Regulus stood the highest star upon the solstitial colure. The solstitial colure is the line that cuts the elliptic on the path of the sun. The highest star upon it after the North Star, was naturally considered king of the stars at the time. As in the Indian Nakshatra systems as well, this was one of the stars associated with the Nakshatra Magha, the 10th, also called Aghạ in ancient eras.
The Babylonians called this the Ziqqurat.
So the only really fixed star is the North Star. All the other stars move, albeit slowly altering their native place of sky. And as all the stars were collectively dealt as fixed in the ancient systems for convenience of use, the planets came to be called on as wandering stars, and attributes appropriated to them that were the domain of the stars.
The original wandering star, however was quite a different one. The star Alcor in the Ursa Major is an intriguing one. It makes a perfect double to the sky with the star Epsilon of Ursa Major, otherwise called Mizar. The star Mizar has another smaller star in its direct orbit, and so its pairing with Alcor rends and lends it a perfect optically blue sight. Mizar is also one of the chief stars that comprise the Seven Sages of the Ursa Major, which as a constellation moves around Dhruva, or Polaris. It is, in fact the sun that follows the Ursa Major around Polaris. Where the sun marks the time in the day, the seven sages offer time of night by encircling the North Star through its nightly coursing. In the Indian pantheon, this wandering star Alcor is called Arundati, or the evening. And her consort is the Sage Vasishta of the Saptrishis. The pair of Arundati-Vasishta count as the stars of marriage in traditional marriage ceremonies. On the night of their betrothal, the groom is supposed to locate the star Vasishta in its place in the sky. And then carefully trace the star Arundati twinkling right beside it to his naked eye. Upon finding it, he has to direct his bride’s attention to it and ascertain that she too can see both Vasishta-Arundati twinkling right beside each in succession. Between the two of them, they constitute one of the heaven’s gates, and the doors of matrimony. The smaller tiny star next to Vasishta is called Sandhya, which means the morning, while Arundati refers to the evening. Sandhya as a form is shared with Arundati, in that Sandhya is the maiden who transforms into the devoted Arundati matrimonially.
Arundati, the wandering star of Ursa Major.
Arundati was originally part of the the Pleiades, who were collectively the consorts of the 7 sages, or saptrishis. And while 6 of them were made to shift their place in the sky when the constellations reshuffled, Arundati’s star remained, tethered as it was to Vasishta. Arundati then consorted all 7 of them as a constellation so their duties would not fall remiss. In so, she is looked upon as their collective feminine patronage. For her own part however, while always beside her other in Vasishta, she holds her own orbit in the sky, coming to be known as the wandering star.
The star that was Sandhya, in the meantime came to be regarded as a mythical creature for its place, called Kāmdhenū, the creative wish-fulfilling cow that was always in the keep of Sage Vasishta in his musing ancient myths.
Pleiades
The rest of the Saptrishi consorts or the Pleiades were then moved as their place in the sky to the Zodiac constellation of Taurus right beside the star-cluster of the Hyades, which means hues in ancient tongue.
The Pleidies is the 3rd Arabic star mansion as El Thorreya.
In the Indian pantheon, they are called the Krittika Nakshatra. And it is the Krittikas that set in cycle the ancient moon calendar of the Nakshatras through the stars, which stands today as the 3rd Nakshatra in a sequence of 27.
The Krittika Nakshatra is also inhabited by a star cluster called the Matri-Mandala with the Pleiades being its brightest distinguishable stars.
The are 4 star clusters of note in the Indian pantheon of stars.
Matri Mandala or the constellation of the mothers.
The Matri-mandala figuring supreme of the star clusters, as with the Pleiades is regarded as the feminine principle. Where image enlivened consciousness, it was numbers that animated it to splendour. When vowels formed building blocks, alphabets propagated their application. In the numerical, Matri-mandala was the supreme producer’s womb.
What is remarkable is that while the Matri-mandala is several dozen un-spottable stars, the Krittika Nakshatra in its shape creates a fire flame, empowered of the inherent star cluster Matri-mandala. Naturally then, Krittika as an asterism is associated with Agni, the fire god.
The second star cluster of significance is the M 44 star cluster in the constellation Cancer. In the Indian pantheon, it is called the Madhu-chakra, the nectar or honey repository. It stands mounted on the back or shell of the crab, as if a luminous jewel being carried slowly to a star journey. In so, the chariot seen on the back of the crab became the grand Ratha, or the emperor’s chariot to divinity in Dasaratha, who was the reigning ruler in India at the time of the Ramayana epic.Seen in its rising in the sky as if guiding the sun on the horses of the previous Nakshatra the Asvins, the Madhu-chakra itself is signified in the eighth and fortuitous asterism, the Nakshatra Pushya. The other name for Pushya is Tishya, which belonged originally in another era to another star.
Star Clusters
The next star cluster of note is the constellation Crux, or the southern cross. In the Indian pantheon, this was called Trisanku mandala. This cluster contains several stars creating the optimal illusion of a perfect moon, making it impossible to tell any single star apart by the naked eye. In the ancient era, Trisanku was the sun god, possibly even served greater roles. Crux as a constellation in the sky naturally represents integrity. Interestingly, this star as a result of its optical illusion makes reflection of neighbouring stars, in colour.
The fourth star cluster of significance in the Indian Pantheon is the Nakshatra Shatabhishta, the 24th. This star cluster has 100 stars in it in the shape of a circle, and in the olden era stood for prowess over chance, marking the skill in telling its pieces apart. Then its influences became one of ritual and sacrifices, and finally it came to be looked upon as 100 physicians, in compensation of a 100 afflictions. It still astrologically has challenges to health represented in its synastry. This star cluster as with the first few of this article, are in the constellation Aquarius.
Bohenian Stars
Bohenian stars are a set of stars considered of deeper and magical significance among the Arab and Western medieval astrologers. The word Bohenian means root, and so their influences were looked upon as superseding other aspects of divination. 15 of these are considered of special import. Of them, so far we’ve covered Regulus and Sirius. Alcyone, the Eta of Taurus, indicative of the Pleiades, is another.
The Alpha star of Taurus, Alderberan, the eye of the bull, is yet another. Alderberan is the closest influence or in so home, of the Hyades as well. Now Alderberan literally means the follower of the Pleiades. And the Pleiades stand for colour. So the hues in Hyades naturally follow the trail of colour in the sky. In the Indian Pantheon, Alderberan constitutes the Nakshatra Rohini, the 4th in the lunar route, referred to, astrologically as the moon’s favourite. The star itself was is called Rohit.
In Arab star mansions, Alderberan is fourth as put forth.
Bully for you, saith fortune to fate.
Nishthya, the goddess or Arcturus.
The star Arcturus, the Alpha star Bootes is also a bohenian star. In the Indian pantheon, it is called Nishthya. This star is considered so bright and effervescent (can’t tell colour apart) that upon seeing it, the beauty captures the heart and stays with us. In the Purana scriptures, it is cited that Nishthya removes tamah, darkness from the soul. There are other considerable consciousness practices associated to Nishthya as goddess ritual or form. In the the lunar system, Arcturus is in the Nakshatra Swati, the 15th, which means the sword of light that cuts through darkness.
Bootes – The rein holder
The remaining ten Bohenian stars with their Indian names are as follows.
Other Bohenian stars
Algol, the Beta Perseus. Meaning the ghoul or the changeful. A variable star (changes its light in the sky). Called Mayawati in Indian astronomy.
Algorab, Delta Corvus. Another name for raven. Among other stars in the 14th Nakshatra Hasta, which is in the shape of a hand.
Alkaid, the Eta Ursa Major, the Saptrishi Marichi (Also known as the revolving star).
Alphecca, Alpha Corona Borealis. Also called Gemma, for gem, and Al Kāsā, the dervish’s dish.
Antares, Alpha constellation Scorpio. In the Indian pantheon, Angaraka as a star, and Jyeshta as a Nakshatra asterism, the 18th. It is the 18th Arabic star asterism as El Kalb, the heart.
Capella, Alpha Auriga. Brahma-Hridaya, or the heart of Brahma in the Indian charts.
Procyn, Alpha Canis Minor. Called Sārama in vedic legends and astronomy.
Spica, Alpha constellation Virgo. The ear of the corn, in Indian astronomy also known as Tara within the Nakshatra Chitra, the 15th. In the Arabic asterisms, Spica is in El Simak, the 14th.
Vega, Alpha Lyra. In Saraswati’s constellation of the Veena, Vega is called Nila–mani, and used to exist in ancient Nakshatra Abhijit among some of the constellation’s other stars. To today’s use of Indian astrology, its transitions to the sky are still utilised to calculate muhurata, the providential hours or days.
Two other stars of note that don’t appear in the Bohenian stars, or the ‘lucky’ series but are still worth mention would be the stars Alpheratz and Mira.
Alpheratz is the Alpha star of the constellation Andromeda. It is also in the constellation Pegasus, one of the only two stars to cross over into other recognised constellations, both of which are from Pegasus. Alpheratz is in the head of the chained woman of Andromeda, also the belly of the aerial horse. Its other name is Sirrah, which means navel. Along with Gamma Pegasus, Alpheratz also makes the 27th Arabic asterism El Farg El Mukhar, which means the joy succeeding. The star mansion prior to it in sequence was Alpha and Beta of Pegasus as the asterism El Farg El Mukdīm, the joy proceeding.
In the Indian pantheon, Alpheratz or Sirrah, with another makes the 26th Nakshatra Uttara Bhadrapa.
Star Poetry – Horace
Mira – The Cupid’s Star
And finally, Mira, the wondrous. To the greeks this star was also called Mara, and even to the ancients in their crafts has cupid inferences associated with it. In the Indian Pantheon, this is the cupid’s star as avatar. Omnicron Cetus, in the constellation of the celestial whale.
Mira, or Kamadeva, this star is also known as a Kāmārupa-tara, i.e ‘changing at its own pleasure’, in that it is a variable star. Over an interval of 331 days and 8 hours, it brightens and fades, maintaining maximum brightness for a period of 15 days, when it is the second-brightest in the sky. Then over 3 months, slowly it completely disappears from the sky. For 5 months thereafter, it cannot be seen, when it re-appears continuously increasing in brightness over the next three months. At its peak, it is the second brightest of night skies… briefly.
Indeed, the cupid’s star, whom might it charm in arrow?
Stars, when read to astrology for subjective influence alter to a querent’s tide and times. In that, what is opportune today turns contrived tomorrow.
But fortunate are those that have relevant knowledge recollected to them at its required time and application. Redeemed and astute to observation, starry or otherwise.
But hey, we can all use a bit of luck, if the stars be listening in akasha-vani (celestial grape-vine).
The very nature of a tarot game (AI) is an infinity of variables.
And so as the prospect of making an app of the tarot has come about, the journey so far has been understanding how to sift and move to it.
A sense of Cosmos to an order through chaos.
The connecting of numbers to the idea is the essence of tarot divination.
Connecting the idea back simplified and de-mystified is a turn of this Wheel of Fortune. That would be the 1 and 0 from the number 10. If I didn’t agree, I would be reversed of that card.
But I would have to walk a mile and through several smiles before I could change the occasion or influence into that of another card.
For a Fool in its essence contains the Universe (the card 21), and all the other elements also in parts. (wands, cups, swords, pentacles)
The Fool is a horse without a name. He’ll carry you as a burden or you can find valour in his transport.
But once the read begins, you’re no longer the fool unless the cards say so. The cards too for that while become part of the self, your self.
But if you place a fool before the magician, you merely have a magician and a start of a story.
But when you place a Magician before the Fool. Then you know you have met me.
Now that you’re a magician yourself, you can think back on it.
It is indeed a crazy world in which I make sense. Indeed, I’m often Incense.
The Fool card meaning
The Dali deck of the Tarot has three characters in the card of the Fool.
The Spirit, the mystic and the horse.
As the fool, you are the message. Which character do you want should carry it for you?
That is the self. Some days you feel like the spirit, some days you feel like a mystic. Other days you just feel like the horse.
The card of the Fool represents the Self, and in all its infinite glory. And all that you shall consider in the entirety of your existence, and in everything you are as yourself.
The fool is the hero of the story, the 0 stands for all that is, and is naught.
But this is not the Dali tarot deck, and spirit and the horse cannot be seen. And so you reflect yourself into the mystic.
“With the Wand createth He. With the Cup preserveth He. With the Dagger destroyeth He. With the Coin redeemeth He.”
Since you are here, and this is indeed the start, should you want to know what it means if you received the Fool card in a reading. Read on.
The Fool
Divination meaning :
This a sign of the roots of one’s abilities, talents and sheer potential. A decision to start afresh, opening to new possibilities within, not explored yet. The sudden impulse which comes “out of the blue”. Like a young animal driven into life by instinct, not yet conscious or possessed of understanding.
The hero of your journey represents the irrational impulse toward change and opening life’s horizons into the unknown. These irrational impulses can sometimes be destructive and sometimes creative and often they are both at the same time. This is the willingness to risk, the courage to stand by oneself, independence, freedom, and following one’s own sense of idealism and inspiration.
“Thou art the breath, caressing my cheek, in thine incessant going; yet Thou art with me always.”
In spiritual matters, The Fool means idea, thought, spirituality, that which endeavors to transcend mere audacity.
When the time comes, as it always does, when the old rules, conceptual structures, prejudices and beliefs are not longer adequate to the challenges at hand, then a Divine Maniac is needed. Who lives in their own little private world, and so is not bound by the shared conventions, preconceptions or predispositions. The Gods of chance are at play. Are you that change?
The Fool represents the irrepressible Vital Spirit, overflowing its banks, roaring across the landscape, and carving new pathways where it will.
The blessed fool is the greatest possibility of understanding because the blessed fool has come to know that knowledge is futile. He has come to know that all knowledge is a barrier to knowing. Knowledge is a barrier to knowing, so he drops knowledge and becomes a pure knower. He simply attains to clarity of vision. His eyes are empty of theories and thoughts. His mind is no longer a mind; his mind is just intelligence, pure intelligence. His mind is no longer cluttered with junk; his mind is no longer cluttered with borrowed knowledge. He is simply aware. He is a flame of awareness.
You are that Fool, this is your time.
Reversed 0 – The Fool – Self inverse
Like a young animal driven into life by instinct, not yet conscious or possessed of understanding. The hero of your journey represents the irrational impulse toward change and the opening of one’s horizons into the unknown. These irrational impulses in this case may likely be destructive, possibly creative and certainly cusping sheer chaos for your sanity.
However and just the same, to this, there is an originality, an audacity, a tendency to iconoclasm, a venturesome quest of higher truth. The Fool especially reversed disturbs habits, breaks up customary modes of expression, forces readjustments. Thus, whenever the Zero card appears in a Tarot layout it signifies sudden readjustment, and often indicates the unexpected onset of chaotic conditions. In spiritual matters this is all too good.
“Thou art the breath, caressing my cheek, in thine incessant going; yet Thou art with me always.”
The Scintillating (or Fiery) Consciousness. It is the essence of the veil that is placed before the ordered arrangement of the Powers. Who walks this way acquires a special dignity: he can stand face to face before the Cause of Causes.
On a personal level, there are times in all of our lives when customary thought patterns have outlived their usefulness. Then it is time for a shake-up. And even if you don’t do consciously, matter sooner or later catches up to spirit. And thrown you into the void, the mystics of old. This is a time time of confusion, chaos and an ineffable craziness.
There are no rules for this. The only escape is inspired frenzy and the blind leap into the abyss. For you already there. Yes a sudden inspiration may suddenly bring you back to pure sanity. Until then, get to know prudence and tread accordingly to the reverse of the fool.
– 10 eternal pairings of Indian mythological characters in the stars.
Eternity is a strange notion, but one that the promise of affection always covets. Naturally, most romantic notions start in the stars, the becoming of the sun and the subsequent reflection of the moon. In that then springs the belief that no grandly loving entity would be denied its consort’s song.
To that inspiration and perspective, we turn into ancient Indian astronomy, and look at some of the oldest star couples in mythology, and the best known to be their respective lover’s love.
Agni – Swaha
Agni – Star Nath, Beta Taurus. The god of fire.
Swaha – Star Zeta Taurus. The holy word offered to the fire.
Agni, the god of fire is attributed several glories to creation and man, and in so, even predominates most of the hymns of the oldest known Indian scripture, the Rig Veda. Swaha, his consort is supposed to be the shape of the offering as the holy word offered to the flame in rituals.
There is a curious story associated to their union set in one of the lunar moon stations, the Nakshatra Krittika (the Krittikas are the Indian version of the Plieades).
Agni, when as a brash young god was besotted with the virtues of the wives of the 7 heavenly sages, the Saptrishis of the Ursa Major constellation. Agni, overwhelmed in unrequited love resolves to set himself ablaze in a forrest of stars and exist no more. Swaha, sister to the 7, herself harbours immense desire for Agni, and catches wind of his designs. She takes her plight to the great lord Shiva (Shiva’s consort Parvati is also Swaha’s sister to scripture). The lord Shiva blesses her and offers her with solution. Swaha, then approaches Agni and proposes that she transform and don herself in her sisters’ likeness in order to satiate his desires. And that her own desire in his acceptance stood sated. Agni, moved at the gesture and touched of its kindness, accepts. Their union commences, and she takes on the avatar of her sisters, one by one in shapeshifting glory. On her part, she is able to guise herself in the form of 6 of her sisters, but not the seventh, known as Arundati, whose sense of devotion is considered penultimate.
A son is born to them, who goes on to be called Skanda, eventually to marshal and lead the heavenly host of armies against darkness.
Incidentally, the Nakshatra or star asterism Krittika is in the shape of a fire flame, testament of Agni’s supernatural glories.
Vasishta – Arundati
Vasishta – Star Mizar, Epilson Ursa Major. One of the 7 sages.
Arundati – Star Alcor, Ursa Major.
The stars of Vasishta and Arundati mark one of heavenly gates in the stars of Indian religion. In fact their names are invoked still in traditional marriage ceremonies in many a part of India. And there is an interesting ritual about them as part of the husband’s beginnings as responsibilities to spouse.
Vasishta and Arundati form a double-star to the eye if seen in the Ursa Major constellation. As part of the ritual, the groom has to point out Vasishta in the sky, and trace Arundati as its twinkling twin. The groom then, upon successfully finding it has to point it out to his bride, enabling her as well to see Vasishta-Arundati twinkling in succession right beside each other in the sky.
Vasishta is one of the Saptrishis, otherwise known as the seven sages, and has several legends associated with him including pivotal arcs in the religious epic Ramayana. Astronomically, his star is a formerly known north pole star of ancient times.
Arundati’s star, Alcor is also called the wandering bird, and perfectly hides behind Vasishta’s star or Epilson Ursa Major. Only upon concentrated focus, a brighter blue emerges from her star, right beside her consort. According to mythology, Arundati was the only one of the Krittikas (Plieades) who did not move her place in the sky when reshuffling of stars happened, but chose instead to stay not just with Vasishta but all seven of the sages to provide anchoring in the sky. As power to her mythological character, Arundati is also associated with the phenomena of the evening, apart from just being a marriage star.
Soma – Saraswati
Soma – Star Castor, Alpha Gemini.
Saraswati – Constellation Lyra, also known as the Veena.
Soma and Saraswati’s love story is a strange one indeed. And one in which most of ancient creation legends of the Indian pantheon converge. Soma as a god becomes part of all the other gods, and Saraswati emerges as the creativity of the entire universe. According to another legend, at the time of the great war of the gods and demi-beings, the Gandharvas, or the celestial musicians kidnapped Soma, and ransomed him back to the gods only if Saraswati was given to them in turn. Saraswati then took another form called Vāc that stayed with the gods, while her former self in creativity merged with the music of the Gandharvas.
In the western pantheon, Castor represents the immortal twin in Gemini who gave up his immortality to his brother Pollux, and their story is considered a reflection of the sun and moon.
Saraswati is known as the goddess of creativity, and is considered one of the most important in the grandest scheme of things. She also had a river to her name that flowed through the Earth as well as the skies of the Milky Way galaxy.When her river dried up (in north-western India) is supposed to be the start of the dark ages of Kaliyuga which are said to exist today.
The Veena or the Lyra as an instrument of music and as a constellation are amongst the oldest known. Vega, the brightest star of the constellation would become the next north star of the Earth in a few thousand years.
Soma is also known as two other forms. The first being the entire Milky Way stream part of the stars in the namesake galaxy, also known as Soma-pavamana, the heavenly stream.
And the other is as the Moon, who is then consorted with 27 lunar moon stations called the Nakshatras. In another legend, the planet Mercury or Budh is born to Soma, in his moon-form of Chandrama.
Agastya – Lopamudra
Agastya – Canopus, Alpha Argo Navis.
Lopamudra – Rho, Dorado.
One of the most enigmatic couples in Ancient Indian history are the sage Agastya and Lopamudra. The star that is Agastya is also known as Māna, meaning the pilot as Canopus of the great ship of the heavens, Argo Navi, the largest constellation in the ancient era. Lopamudra as the star of its consorting accord is also known to be a vanishing star, that after shining brightly for a time disappears completely in intervals. Lopamudra is a rarity as a mythological figure in that she is also a philosopher, considered at par with her more fabled ancient male contemporaries. So much so, a large chunk of hymns in the Rigveda are attributed her authorship. Most of the content curiously is to do with a husband’s responsibilities and expectations from his wife. Nevertheless, she is supposed to have swayed the ancient rishis (sages) with her intellect, and influenced the earliest traditions of coupling.
Agastya for a considerable time in prehistoric eras was the south pole star. Among other achievements to his glory, once drank up the entire waters of the oceans on the Earth. In its consequence was also tasked with guarding the highest abode of the gods(and Indra) at Mount Meru from all mountainous, cloudy and giant threats.
Lopamudra’s disappearance from the sky periodically is linked to still other obscure legends of the Sage Agastya’s apprentices bringing her to him after and upon completion of specified tasks.
The Indian Sky.
Shiva – Parvati
Shiva – Body of the entire universe. Constellation Bootes.
Parvati – The one that becomes the goddess. Spica, Alpha Virgo.
The highest divinities of the Indian pantheon are Shiva and Parvati, which for consciousness become Shiva-Shakti, and for all others, they each transform and bless any manifest from their origin. The story illustrated here is of two of their forms, their relationships gleaned.
Bootes, in Indian astronomy is called Bhūtesā, or Siva-Bhūtesā, the god of the ghostly hosts. And in the western constellation of the rein-holder of the chariot, is also sometimes associated with a sword. Bootes is right beside the Virgo.
The star Spica, the Alpha Virgo is also known as Tara, or Sati. The shape of this star is an irregular Y. Curiously, the Nakshatra Chitra includes this star in a mini-asterism following the same shape. And then the entire Virgo constellation of 33 stars, three times over takes the same irregular Y shape.
This star Sati-tara is also associated with an ancient starburst that birthed the original Sanskrit alphabets of language and merged them with 51 of the oldest known constellations. According to their legend, in her oldest form, Sati was the daughter of a star-creator sage Daksha and was married to the great ascetic god Shiva. And when Shiva is insulted by her father and his party, Sati immolates and sacrifices herself to his honour. When Shiva learns of this, in grief and anger, begins the grandest dance of destruction of the universe, the Tandav, and his force of rage ripples asunder to recreate the heavens to eternity.
Shiva then secures a piece of Sati as Parvati and crowns her as a crescent moon above his brow as perpetual consort.
Varuna – (Akasha-ganga) Varuni
Varuna – Epilson, Ursa Minor.
Varuni – The Milky Way stream of stars.
Among the lesser known gods in the Indian pantheon is this pair. Varuna is supposed to be the god of the waters, and is an Aditya, one of sun’s divine brothers. Varuni, is the name invoked as his consort but traditionally Varuna is set to consort the entire Milky Way stream of stars as his place in the heavens.
The Milky Way stream of stars hangs like soft and shining sheet of thousands of twinkling stars stretching across almost the entirety of sky. The oldest keynotes of creations are set to be concealed in its folds. In its earliest name Via Lactea, it was known in the Indian pantheon as Chhayapath, or the shadow path, and as Somadhara.There are some marvellous legends of how waters from outside the known universe would be led into the Milky Way stream of the galaxy and eventually even down to Earth to replenish the oceans having been dried up to the Sage Agastya’s prowess. Most likely owing to his place in the sky, the star Varuna is accorded the consort of the Milky Way and to be the guiding force of emotion to the galaxy. In his place in the Ursa Minor, along with another star Kochab (Indra), Varuna stands as one of the guardians of the Pole protecting Dhruva, or Polaris the north star from any or every turmoil.
Saraswati – Brahma
Brahma – Auriga, the constellation.
Saraswati – Lyra, the constellation.
This is more a figurehead couple than consorts in the traditional sense. The creator of the universe, Brahma for his place in god hierarchies needs a pair, and for that purpose, the goddess of creativity is seen as paired with the god of creation. A similar grain of legends shows Brahma coupled with Sandhya (Arundati’s maiden avatar), when the great figure of Orion in the sky as Rudra shoots an arrow at Brahma-Sandhya causing several constellations of sky to break apart and stopping Brahma from expanding creation any further. Most likely these pairings are indicative of the earliest alignment of stars when a star-figure called Abhijit (represented as Brahma) was as the first known North Pole star, and Sandhya-Arundati were aligned underneath for balance.
The Saraswati river in ancient India also flowed right beside another early river called Brahma-putra (translating into son of Brahma) merging into each other.
Brahma is said to have had 5 heads enabling him to see all directions. According to yet another legend, one head is cut off, but he has a consort for each head. Sātarupa, Savitri, Saraswati, Gayatri and Brahmani are said to be the 5.
Eventually Brahma started to be looked at as the planet Brihaspati or Jupiter, consorted to star Tara (Spica, Alpha Virgo). But Soma, or the Moon whisked away Tara and their union led to the birth of Mercury called Budh in the Hindu pantheon. This according to yet another legend.
Vāsudeva – Radha
Vāsudeva Krishna – Star Altair, Alpha Aquila.
Radha – Nakshatra Visākha, stars Alpha and Beta of Libra.
No talk of couples in Hindu mythology can ever be complete without the mention of Krishna and Radha. By all virtue, the youngest god of the Indian pantheon, Krishna as a figure in the stars is actually a reworked version of a much more ancient god in the skies as Narayana. In fact Krishna, as a word meant dark, and his adopted mother Yashodhara’s name translates into bestower of resplendence or light. Originally Krishna was representative of a Sun-god, while the sun was yet coming into complete grace. It was then that one of the Nakshatras was known as Radha, otherwise known today as the Nakshatra Visakha. The asterism succeeding it is still called Anuradha to this day (translates into the one after Radha). Such is the figure of Krishna that he always has a peacock feather in his hair. The same peacock feather is represented as the bright colourful lights of the Ursa Major (One of its names in old languages is Chitra-Sikhandi, the peacock’s visage), with Krishna’s crown as the north star or the roof of the world.
In that manner, Krishna’s stories get spread over several stars and constellations that are connected to Vishnu (one of the principle gods), the one Krishna is referred to as the incarnation of. But to origin, Vāsudevais said to reflect this place in the sky. The name, changed in accent as Vasudeva, and was proffered to Krishna’s father on Earth, with Krishna-Vāsudeva left indicative as Krishna, son of Vasudeva.
Arjuna – Draupadi
Arjuna – Nakshatra Uttara-Phalguni and Purva Phalguni, Leo/Virgo.
Draupadi – Star Zavijara, Beta Virgo.
Amongst the last stars to be named in the skies of Indian astronomy are these, for all study after this era then turned to astrology and the latter was considered a fixed sky.
Arjuna was great hero of the epic ‘Mahabharat’, said to have taken place a few thousand years B.C. He is guided to the victory that becomes the nation, by an incarnated god-form as Krishna and is exceptional in his skill as an archer. Arjuna is also called Phalguna, and two Nakshatras are named after him, both said to the epitome of pairs. This trait of pairing well with others is also something Arjuna is excellent at, with Krishna, Draupadi, his various brothers and yet still others.
Draupadi, is the primary wife of Arjuna, and at his behest agrees to consort him as well as his 4 other brothers. She is seen as the perfect dutiful wife, whose honour and life often come to peril in Arjuna’s many adventures.
Her star is at the navel of the Virgo constellation, and in so is also called the Nabhi-tara. Draupad, her father (the world-tree) is also represented in the stars along with one other of Arjuna’s brothers from the Mahabharata.
Kapota – Kapoti
Kapoti – Constellation Lepus.
Kapota – Constellation Columba.
Although not mythological figures per se, this twining of constellations from the early skies is too precious to avoid mention.Both of these constellations comprise of 8 stars each, and are in similar configurations. Although in western context, Lepus is called the Hare, while Columba, the dove. In Indian astronomy, both are seen as the pairing of stellar doves.
Columba, of course is also called Noah’s dove.
Happy stargazing.
Eternal repair in pairs
Star light often pairs.
A coat of quotes and passing poetry
"
He who bends to himself a joy,
Does the winged life destroy ;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies.
Lives in eternity's sunrise.
If you trap the moment before it's ripe,
The tears of repentance you'll certainly wipe ;
But, if once you let the ripe moment go.
You can never wipe off the tears of woe.
"
Winged Life | The poetry of Horace
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.- Dalia LamaNext