Shantikamalakara 2.3.3

2.3.3

“Likewise, the preceptors of the gods and the demons should be yellow and white, four-armed, holding staffs, granting boons, with rosaries and water pots. Having the splendor of a sapphire, holding a trident, granting boons, riding a vulture, holding an arrow and a bow, the son of the Sun should always be made. Terrifying of face, holding a sword, a shield, and a trident, granting boons, and seated upon a blue lion—Rāhu is praised here in this manner. The Ketus are smoky, two-armed, all bearing maces, with deformed faces, and seated upon vultures. (All should always be one hundred and eight digits in height).” In the Skandapurāṇa: “Birthplace, lineage, sacred fire, caste, position, and facing directions—he who performs a propitiatory rite without knowing these is one by whom the planets are slighted. The Sun was born in Kaliṅga, and the Moon at the Yamunā; Mars in Avantī, and Mercury, son of the Moon, in Magadha. Jupiter was born in the land of Sindh, and Venus in Bhojakaṭa; Saturn in Saurāṣṭra, Rāhu in Vairāṭināpura, and Ketu in Antarvedī: such are the birthplaces of the planets. The Sun is of the Kāśyapa lineage, and the Moon is of the Ātreya; Mars is of the Bhāradvāja, and the Moon-born [Mercury] is also of the Ātreya. Jupiter is of the Āṅgirasa lineage, and Venus of the Bhārgava; Saturn is of the Kāśyapa, Rāhu of the Paiṭhīnasi, and the Ketus are of the Jaimini lineage. Next are the fires of the planets: The Sun's fire is named Kapila, the Moon's is called Piṅgala, Mars's is Dhūmraketu, and Mercury's is traditionally known as Jāṭharāgni. Jupiter's fire is Śikhin, Venus's is Hāṭaka, Saturn's is Mahātejas, and the fire of Rāhu and Ketu is Hutāśana. The Sun and Mars are red; Venus and the Moon are white; the Son of the Moon and Jupiter—both of them are remembered as yellow. One should know Saturn to be black, Rāhu dark, and the Ketus multicolored.” Gobhila, however, stated the castes: “Venus and Jupiter are brahmins; the Sun and Mars are kṣatriyas; the Moon and Mercury are to be known as vaiśyas; the remaining are designated as śūdras.” In the Skandapurāṇa: “In the center one should recognize the Sun, and the Moon in the southeast;”