History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.613.2

v6.c82.613.2

The Sun (the giver of all light and support of the world) is called *krūra* or *pāpa* (a malefic) planet along with Mars and Saturn, while Jupiter and Venus are classed as beneficent and the waning Moon is also held to be malefic. Here association of ideas and analogy play a great part Jupiter and Venus are both brilliant and white or whitish, while Mars is red (the colour of blood). Besides, the first two are supposed to be the preceptors of the gods and *asuras* respectively. Therefore, they are beneficent and the blood-red Mars is malefic. The Sun, Jupiter and Mars are said to be masculine, the Moon and Venus feminine and Mercury and Saturn neuter for the same reason, *viz.* association of ideas and analogy. The Moon and Venus are beautiful and mild, therefore they are feminine, while the Sun (that has fierce heat), Mars (with blood red hue) and Jupiter (the *ācārya* of the gods) are masculine. Modern astronomy declares that the Moon is dry and waterless and contains the remains of extinct volcanoes; yet if the astrologers be followed we shall have to regard the Moon as feminine. In classical Sanskrit the Moon is called 'Śaśāṅka'. The Japanese Moon Goddess Gwaten is drawn with a hare. Vide figure opposite p. 18 in Prof. Zinner's 'The stars above us.' Then we may consider the doctrines of *svagṛhas* and *uccas* (exaltations of planets). There are twelve *rāśis* and seven planets;