Uttara Kalamrita : Section IV: Sloka 25: Signification, Creation, Gunas of Planets

This sloka describes the Significations, creation and Gunas(disposition) of the planets:

Significations:

1) Sun : Mahesh (God Shiva) and it represents the Soul and Father.

2) Moon: Bhavani, Shakti(Goddess Durga) and represents the Mother

Creation:

1) Mars: Has been created by Prithvi (Mother Earth)

2) Mercury: Has been created by Water(Jala)

3) Jupiter: Has been created by Fire (Agni)

4) Venus: Has been created by Vayu(Air)

5) Saturn: Has been created by Akasa(Ether)

The Gunas of the Planets are:

1) Satvika Planets: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury

2) Rajasika Planets: Mars

3) Tamasika Planets: Saturn

Moon and Sun as Lords of 6th & 8th House

- Even if the Moon and Sun are lords of 6th, 8th house still they are not considered as Marakas (Killer Planets). Though in such situation Sun and Moon may result in problems /malefic results but they are not Marakas (Killers).

Explanation:

The Human Character has all three gunas. To know the personality it is important to understand the position of planets in the horoscope their strenghts and influence.

The Gunas are explained here:

Rajasik: Denoted Action, Denotes ego and luxury, spending, enjoying through positive things.

Tamasik: Denotes deterioration, Non-Vegetarian food, Denotes acts which are considered low, pleasure by giving pain.

Satvik: Kind, Calm, Composed, Vegetarian, Learning.

Tamas is to be understood by its visible deterioration of physical body and mind. Lethargy or Alasya and inaction may give temporary pleasure but it simultaneously disintegrates the body. It is precursory to disease and decay. Eventually the body can not tolerate too long. To resist decay is again our nature. The viveka or intellect revolts saying ‘this can not go on’. And then the ego-self says ‘I must do something about it’.

This awakening of ego is the awakening of rajasik. The tamasik becomes the cause for triggering rajasik as darkness becomes the cause for lighting the lamp.

But rajasik is all action. It is like getting geared up and not knowing the direction to move. It may become recklessly unproductive or may even relapse back to tamasik. That would be disastrous.

But abandoning us to disaster and condemned existence is not in the divine scheme. It is constantly working on us to lift us up again and again. Hence the guidance and direction has to be provided to the soul.

The direction is derived from the knowledge of satvik. This knowledge is provided by the inner voice residing within the innermost center of our existence. It is the extension of the Divine itself ever guiding ever correcting and ever advising us to chose the right conduct.

So all the three gunas with their characteristic nature govern all our actions. It then boils down to which particular guna predominates.

How does one understands what kind of guna at any given time is having a greater influence on him?

If you are more prone to lethargy, inactiveness, diseases and negative thoughts etc it is because of dominance of tamasik. If the mind is running constantly after gains and profits of material nature, and generally unhappy about something or other, it is the rajasik that is riding. With a reasonably unperturbed disposition, having positive thoughts towards all and often finding happiness in thinking of the Divine and his ways one is said to be under the influence of the satvik.

Obviously no wise man would like to be dominated by rajasik or tamasik influences. Satvik is always to be craved for. People speak of eliminating rajasik and tamasik gunas as part of one’s sadhana. That is foolishness. Gunas can not be eliminated. As long as you are living, in this life or next, as long as one remains part of this creation, he can never break away from the shackles of the three gunas.