Chandra(Moon) was disciple of Guru (Brihaspathi). Therefore he used to stay generally
in the house of his Guru (teacher). Tara the wife of Brihaspathi loved Chandra
very much. He was irresistible to her. She had conjugal love with Chandra one
day when her husband was not at home. She became pregnant. Chandra took her away
from the house of his teacher and kept her somewhere. When Brihaspathi demanded
Chandra to return his wife, he did not care to do so. In this critical time, the
demons who were the enemies of Devathas (Gods) and also of Brihaspathi came to
the rescue of Moon and drove away Brihaspati. Poor teacher had no other go
except to approach lord Brahma the creator and other Gods. In the ‘meantime Tara
gave ‘birth to a male child. Both teacher Brihaspathi and student Chandra staked
claim about the child born to Tara. Unable to resolve the dispute, Brahma asked
Tara to name the father of the child. She simply told that Chandra was the
father of her child. Then the dispute was settled by Brahma. He gave that child
to Moon, .and Tara was returned to her husband from her lover Chandra. The child
born to Tara by Chandra is called Budha (Mercury).
The love affair between the wife of Brihaspathi and birth of Budha is the essence of this
story. Brihaspathi (Jupiter) is a planet. Moon is a sub planet, Budha (Mercury)
is also a planet. The story revolved around them. These are planets, it may seem
unbelievable tool but if one can try to understand that the story has revolved
around not the lifeless planets but the lords of those planets perhaps it may
seem convincing. If that is the case there must be some message. Especially this
story is in Bhaagavatham. How it found a place in the story of God? Such
questions naturally arise.
There is some meaning at least astrologically in this story. Brihaspathi is the embodiment of
knowledge. It means if the influence of Jupiter is great, the people under his
influence will become wise, if we look into the lives of wise and intellectuals,
their lives seem a little bit peculiar. They forget their own telephone numbers.
They don’t know whether they took their food or not. Some may forget their home
address and ring up somebody to find out their own house address.
This is because they don’t pay much attention on trivials. They concentrate on something
big and new. Hence they don’t care about small details. There is a story in this
regard. In ancient days education was imparted in Gurukulas(residential
schools). The principal (kulapathi) used to run the schools with the help of
people, or king, or from the forest produce etc. One day all students were
taking food along with their principal, one student who was sitting beside his
teacher asked his guru: Sir, Today it seems castor oil is served instead of ghee
with this meals.
Then the teacher quipped: Oh! Now you can recognise the smell of castor oil also? Well,
Your education is completed.
It does not mean actually the education of the student was over. It hints that the
particular student has lost concentration on studies, but developed interest in
food and its quality.
If there is concentration on the subject, small items, minor details won’t strike the
mind: Vidyathuranam na sukham nanidra.
Those who are much interested in education, won’t mind about their sleep and luxury.
Is this story real? When it has happened, are futile questions, instead of finding out fault,
it is good to get the essence of it. In the same way let us find out the essence
of the story of Tara Sasanka. Intellectuals who are not mindful of themselves,
naturally cannot pay attention on their children. That is the reason why’ the
children of intellects are not so wise and remain uneducated. ‘Panditha putra’
word derived the negative meaning because of this aspect only.
These who cannot take care of themselves, cannot remember small details, naturally
Brihaspathi might have forgotten the needs of his wife too. Same thing has
happened in the case of Brihaspathi. He is wise and buried in his own thoughts.
He forgot the needs of his wife. So, she sought pleasures from other source. At
that time Chandra was handy. She took advantage, and had her way in getting the
sexual desires fulfilled.
Moon is a fast moving planet and is nearer to Earth. Its brightness increases and
decreases. Moon has great gravitational pull over the earth, especially on
liquids and water. In the same way there is much water content in our body.
Human blood also comes under the gravitational pull of Moon.
That is the reason for raise in the blood pressure on full Moon and new Moon days. There is
some connection between the raise of blood pressure and mental activity and
mind. That is the reason those who are born under the spell of Moon have some
mental problems. They will be uncertain in their activities. Such people
represent Moon in our story Tara Sasanka.
Chandra came to Guru for education. He should have shown interest in education itself. But
what happened? He seduced a women. Who was that woman? The wife of his
preceptor. Those who have lust and erotic feelings have no fear or shame.
Chandra came for one thing but indulged in some other thing. He was not afraid
of the society, nor his Guru. It was adultery, one of the sins among the five
great sins. He was not scared of any. He had his way. Such type of conduct is
seen in the people, under the effect of Moon. This story throws some light in
this direction.
Budha(Mercury) has some general knowledge. He is liked by Moon but Budha has no affection on
his father Chandra. Chandra is enemy for Budha but Budha is not enemy for
Chandra. In astrological sense birth out of adultery does not get respect in the
society. Such people cannot bear the stigma attached to them that they were the
offspring of some body’s adultery and who is responsible for this act? His
father is so such father cannot command respect from his son. Moreover they
nourish hatred against such person. Those who do not care for their father, will
also not pay any attention to any conduct rules set by their father. Instead
they approach others for guidance. This will apply for Budha(Mercury). When he
joins with benefic planets, he gives benefic results, when he joins with
malefic, his results will also be bad. Such people have no independent nature,
but they have great ability in. worldly affairs. They know how to talk, move
with others. More interested in earning than wisdom.
They will have great attraction, with great conversational skills. (Mercury gives business
ability) proficient in Maths, (Mercury gives good knowledge in Maths, accounts).
Although one cannot handle independently atleast knows how to make use of
others. They use others as their own energy. (Mercury gives the effect of the
planet with which he joins). Leaving that ‘illicit offspring’ word, Budha is
great in every aspect. Therefore those who are born under the effect of Budha
will be having as per above nature. They represent Budha character in the above
story.
The above story indicates the characteristics of persons of three types: Guru, Chandra and
Budha (Jupiter, Moon, Mercury). Moon has taken away the wife of his guru without
his knowledge, (In Astrology if Moon is aspected by Jupiter the native won’t be
carried away by impulses, his mind will be firm). Moon took the help of demons (rakshas).
It means that Moon is weak (those who are born under the effect of Moon may be
attractive but they won’t be physically powerful and energetic. The natives
may look attractive but weak in mind, they cannot concentrate on their work or
project if there are no supporters.
If there are no planets on either side of Moon sign, devoid of auspicious aspects from other
planets, and if there is no planet in angles, then ‘Kema druma yoga’ is formed.
Due to this yoga, native will suffer from diseases, poverty, service under mean
people, cruel mentality, misfortunes, disrespect and humiliations. The effect of
Moon if posited alone will be bad. It encourages to indulge in evil deeds. There
won’t be any concentration on any work or project, the native will have wavering
mind
