Aries, Taurus and Gemini: the Imagery of the Sages
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Aries, Taurus and Gemini: the Imagery of the Sages by Urmila Shinde.
Different ancient books have described the 12 zodiac signs in their own unique ways.
We will be diving deeper into the details of the first three signs, Aries, Taurus and Gemini as per these three ancient texts - Brihat Parasara Hora Satra, Yavanajataka and Jaimini Upadesa Sutras.
Introduction
In Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (BPHS), the 12 signs are introduced as 12 body parts of the Cosmic Being.
शीर्षानने तथा बाहू हृत्कोडकटिबस्तयः|
गुह्योरुयुगले जानुयुग्मे वै जङ्घके तथा||
चरणौ द्वौ तथा मेषात्ज्ञेयाः शीर्षादयः क्रमात्|
BPHS Chapter 4 Verse 4
The 12 signs beginning from Aries respectively the head (Aries), face (Taurus), arms (Gemini), heart (Cancer), Stomach (Leo), waist (Virgo), pelvis (Libra), private parts (Scorpio), thighs (Sagittarius), knees (Capricorn), ankles (Aquarius) and feet (Pisces) of the Kaalpurusha (Cosmic Being).
Parasara later on discusses the modalities, gender and dosas related to the signs in the following Sutra:
चरस्थिरद्विस्वभावाः क्रूराक्रूरौ नरस्त्रियौ |
पित्तानिलत्रिधात्वैक्यश्लेष्मिकाश्च क्रियादयः||
BPHS Chapter 4 Verse 5
Beginning from Aries the 12 signs are movable (Chara), fixed (Sthira) and dual (Dvi-svabhava), tough and mild, male and female and of Pitta (fiery), Vata (airy), Tridhaatu (all three Doshas) and Kapha (phlegm) disposition respectively.
Aries: Movable - Tough - Male - Pitta
Libra: Movable - Tough - Male - Tridhaatu
Taurus: Fixed - Mild - Female - Vata
Scorpio: Fixed - Mild - Female - Kapha
Gemini: Dual - Tough - Male - Tridhaatu
Sagittarius: Dual - Tough - Male - Pitta
Cancer: Movable - Mild - Female - Kapha
Capricorn: Movable - Mild - Female - Vata
Leo: Fixed - Tough - Male - Pitta
Aquarius: Fixed - Tough - Male - Tridhaatu
Virgo: Dual - Mild - Female - Vata
Pisces: Dual - Mild - Female - Kapha
Rising Direction
For the strength of the signs during day and night, the 1st sign each planet rules is considered as a night strong rasi and the 2nd one is the day strong one. Cancer ruled by Moon is strong at night while Leo ruled by Sun is strong during the day.
Night Strong Rasis
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Sagittarius, Capricorn
Day Strong Rasis
Leo, Scorpio, Libra, Virgo, Aquarius, Pisces
Based on how rasis rise over the eastern horizon, they are classified as Head/front rising or Back rising. All the night strong signs except for Gemini are front rising while all the day strong signs along with Gemini except for Pisces are back rising. Pisces rises with both front and back. The day/night strength and front/back rising characteristics of the rasis are predominantly used in the Horary/Prashna branch of Astrology.
Aries:
Numerological Evolution:
The number one represents the beginning, birth of an individual consciousness. It is when the consciousness identifies itself with an identity and initiates the journey on the path.
Description from BPHS:
रक्तवर्णो बृहाद्गात्रश्चतुष्पाद्रात्रिविक्रमी|
पूर्ववासी नृपज्ञातिः शैलचारी रजोगुणी|
पृष्ठोदयी पावकी च मेषराशिः कुजाधिपः||
BPHS Chapter 4 Verse 6 & 7
The sign Aries has blood red complexion, huge bulky body, is a quadruped sign, victorious during night. It resides in the east, known to the King(well connected to the Royal family) and wanders in hills. It has the predominance of Rajo guna, rises with its back and is fiery. It’s ruled by Mars.
Description from Yavanajataka:
आद्यः स्मृतो मेषसमानमूर्तिः
कालस्य मूर्धा गदितः पुराणैः|
सोsजाविकासंचरकन्दराद्रिस्तेनाग्निधात्वाकररत्नभुमिः||
Yavanajataka Chapter 1 Verse 14
The first sign is traditionally said to have the shape of a ram, it is called by the ancients the head of Kala. Its places are the paths of goats and sheep, caves, mountains, hideouts of thieves and places of fire, metals, mines and jewels.
Interpretation:
Most of the characteristics that we see in the descriptions of the signs mainly come from the planet that rules the sign and the element of the sign. In the description of Aries, the blood red color and fiery nature are derived from its ruler Mars and element fire. Huge bulky body and quadruped indicates power and strength. Since planet Mars is represented as the commander in chief to the King which is represented by the Sun, Aries derives the connection to the Royal family from this role of its ruler. Being ruled by Mars and a fire sign, it is more action and result oriented which makes it a Rajo guna predominant sign.
Representation as head and ruler Mars attribute Aries the logical, rational and intelligent approach to look at the things. The places related to Aries such as caves, mountains, hideouts of thieves are unattainable ones, we need courage to reach these places which indicates the nature of its ruler Mars. Mars is said to be born out of Earth as per ancient myths which correlates to Aries being connected with the metals, mines and jewels which are found underneath the land.
Description from Jaimini Sutras:
पञ्च मूषिक मार्जाराः
Jaimini Upadesa Sutra Chapter 1.2.1-13 Svamsa Verse 2
Jaimini describes Aries as five rats and cats. Five is the number of changes. It indicates the changes we need to make in order to resolve the problems we encounter on our path towards the goal. Cats are enemies to rats since they prey on the rats. Rats are generally seen as problems as they cause nuisance. So, the cats help in resolving these problems caused by rats. This sutra indicates the problem solving ability of the Aries.
In the nutshell, Aries is here to courageously initiate the journey to the unattainable places and resolve the obstacles we face along the way with courage, intelligence and a rational mind.
Taurus:
Numerological Evolution:
Taurus is the 2nd sign of the zodiac. The number two represents coming together, resources, security and support. 2 provides the resources and nourishment needed to survive in order to stay on the journey that began in 1.
Description from BPHS:
श्वेतः शुक्राधिपो दीर्घश्चतुष्पाच्छर्वरीबली |
याम्येट् ग्राम्यो वणिग्भूमिरजः पृष्ठोदयो वृषः||
- BPHS Chapter 4 Verse 8
Taurus is white in complexion and is ruled by Venus. It is long and has a quadruped sign, strong in the night. It resides in the south and represents villages. It is related to commerce/trade, its element is earth, it’s Raja guna predominant and it rises with its back.
Description from Yavana Jataka:
वृषाकृतिस्तु प्रथितो द्वितीयः
सवक्त्रकण्ठायतनं विधातुः |
वनाद्रिसानुद्विपगोकुलानां
कृषीवलानामधिवासभूमिः ||
Yavanajataka Chapter 1 Verse 15
The second is said to have the shape of a bull; it is the mouth and throat of the Creator. Its places are those of forests, mountains, ridges, elephants, herds of cows and farmers.
Interpretation:
A quadruped , earth element and fixed modality indicate the strength and endurance of the Taurus. It is a second sign which represents the resources and is ruled by Venus which deals with the exchange so Taurus is related to commerce and trade. The place of trade is where the humans reside, thus the places related to Taurus are villages. Yavanajataka mentions the places associated with Taurus as forests, elephants, cows and farmers, which are resourcefully rich ones.
Description from Jaimini Sutras:
तत्र चतुष्पादः
Jaimini Upadesa Sutra Chapter 1.2.1-13 Svamsa Verse 3
Jaimini sutra describes Taurus as “there, quadruped” which again reiterates its qualities such as strength, endurance and stability.
In the nutshell, Taurus is about managing our resources to provide us with stability and endurance for survival on the Earth.
Gemini:
Numerological Evolution:
After getting nourished and supported in number 2, in 3(Gemini), the consciousness starts to explore the world. 3 is where it goes through trial and error, it is curious and does the experiments to learn and acquire different skills.
Description from BPHS:
शीर्षोदयी नृमिथुनं सगदं च सवीणकम् |
प्रत्यग्वायुर्द्विपाद्रात्रिबली ग्रामब्रजोsनिली |
समगात्रो हरिद्वर्णो मिथुनाख्यो बुधधिपः ||
BPHS Chapter 4 Verse 9
The sign Gemini rises with its head, it’s represented by a couple(male and female) holding a mace and lute. It resides in the west and its element is air. It is biped, is strong in the night, resides in villages and is windy in temperament. It has an even(symmetric/balanced) body and its hue is grass green and is ruled by Mercury.
Description from Yavana Jataka:
वीणागदाभृन् मिथुनं तृतीयः
प्रजापतेः स्कन्धभुजान्सदेशः |
प्रनर्तकीगायकशिल्पकस्त्रीक्रीडारतिद्यूतविहारभुमिः ||
Yavanajataka Chapter 1 Verse 16
The third is a couple (a woman and a man) holding a lyre and a club(respectively); it is the region of the shoulders and arms of Prajapati. Its places are those of dancers, singers, artisans and women and (places for) playing games, sexual intercourse, gambling and recreation.
Interpretation:
Gemini being a biped sign, it relies more on the human traits such as communication and thinking than the physical strength as seen in quadrupeds. Being a dual sign, also represented by both active masculine and receptive feminine energies and ruled by Mercury which is curious in nature, it has the ability to perceive diverse thought processes and not to get too attached to any specific one.
The places for Gemini mentioned by Yavanajataka such as places of dancers, artisans which indicate people who are expressing/communicating through their skills, places of games, recreation and gambling which indicate Mercury’s youthful and playful nature, places of sexual intercource indicate Gemini’s representation as a couple and playfulness of the Mercury. Interestingly, in sanskrit Gemini is called as “Mithuna” and meaning of this word is sexual intercourse.
Description from Jaimini Sutras:
मृत्यौ कण्डु: स्थौल्यं च |
Jaimini Upadesa Sutra Chapter 1.2.1-13 Svamsa Verse 3
Jaimini sutra describes Gemini as death, itching and obesity. Gemini being an air element sign, dual in nature and ruled by Mercury, promotes movement and flow. Obstruction to this flow or movement could cause the conditions described by Jaimini. Death is caused due to the obstruction to the flow of Prana, itching happens due to the stagnation of toxins, obesity is also the result of stagnation and lethargy. Hence maintaining the flow of energy is extremely important for Gemini.
In the nutshell, Gemini is about curiously exploring and experimenting with the use of our mental abilities, exchanging our ideas with others and developing our skills.