When Lord Rama Refused the Order of His Guru
Jupiter is the Devguru (teacher of the gods), while Venus is the Asurguru (teacher of the demons). Jupiter and Venus despite being archrivals, come together in Pisces, ruled by Jupiter, where Venus becomes exalted. Pisces is associated with the idea of nothingness, an abstract world without set principles or boundaries. It is like an ocean where anything and everything can be found, and represents unity in diversity. In Pisces, the good, the bad, and the ugly coexist without any discrimination. This is the true nature of a Guru, and both Jupiter and Venus are considered real Gurus who find mutual respect in Pisces.
Sagittarius teaches the difference in principles and Pisces teaches to evolve through them, both are ruled by Jupiter.
A true Guru teaches one to find wisdom and shows the path to freedom (moksha) by letting go of differences, but in order to do so, one must first understand the differences. This is why Sagittarius, the sign of dharma, which is based on the principles of natural law, justice, morality, purpose, duty, and religion, is the first sign in the zodiac belt ruled by Jupiter. However, dharma evolves in a self-contradicting way based on time, place, and situation. This is where Pisces, the second sign ruled by Jupiter, comes in, representing nothingness, an abstract world without boundaries, where everything coexists regardless of their differences. For instance, religion teaches us to wake up at Brahma Muhurta and recite mantras in reverence of Sun God (Surya), then follow our material duties. Spirituality, on the other hand, sees no difference between God and material, recognizing that all are one and the same. A spiritual Guru sees God in anything and everything, guiding one to grow and evolve beyond set rules and principles. Sagittarius teaches us to learn the differences, while Pisces teaches us to evolve through them. Both signs are ruled by Jupiter.
Lord Rama and Sage Vishvamitra in the Forest
The conversation between Lord Rama and His Guru Sage Vishvamitra is a perfect example of how dharma evolves. Upon becoming the students of sage Vishvamitra, Lord Rama and Lakshmana were entrusted with the task of guarding the sage's yagyas performed deep within the forest which were facing relentless disruptions from the rakshasas Maricha and Subahu. In response to the this, Rama and Lakshmana accompanied him on their journey through the dense forest. As they made their way, a gigantic woman named Tadaka charging fiercely towards them from a distance. Sensing the imminent danger, the sage commanded Lord Rama to kill her. However, Rama refused to do so, citing the teaching of his previous Guru Vashishta that killing a woman isn’t a dharmic act. Vishvamitra smiled at Rama and explained that Tadaka, despite her appearance as a woman, was a monster (rakshasi) who had killed and ate everyone in his village, and killing her was the only dharmic act. Lord Rama remained unconvinced and asked Vishvamitra why he was still alive if Tadaka had eaten everyone in his village. The sage explained that he was a yogi who constantly performed tapas and did not consume anything, which meant there was no flesh in his body. Therefore, Tadaka left him uneaten. Rama remained hesitant even after hearing this, but the sage urged him to listen once again. He explained that dharma is not a fixed and immutable concept; what Rama had learned from his previous Guru was valid but only within a specific context, dependent on the time, place, and situation. Without evolution, dharma could lead to great disasters. Hearing this, Rama became convinced and acknowledged that he had not heard such a perspective before. He declared that he would no longer hesitate to perform his duty and shot her with his bow and arrow right away.
Importance of Two Gurus in Life
According to the Shastras (sacred scriptures), including the Puranas (mythology) and Itihasas (history) one requires two distinct Gurus in life. The first Guru teaches you the initial principles of dharma, the foundation of your life, as depicted by astrology's connection to the 9th house (Sagittarius). The second Guru guides you on the path towards spirituality and moksha by revealing the evolution of dharma (Pisces). Both are indispensable and represent two sides of the same coin. By comprehending both, one can attain spiritual enlightenment. This pattern holds true for all types of education, where the first Guru teaches the basic principles, the second Guru helps you to advance your knowledge.
Venus is known to bestow blessings upon his devotees swiftly compared to other celestial bodies, which is why he is associated with the themes of love and marriage. The saying "love is blind" may have originated from the fact that when people are in love, they tend to overlook other aspects and solely focus on their affection. Even Venus, the deity of love, is depicted as one eyed.
The Feminine and Masculine Wisdom of Venus and Jupiter
Both Venus and Jupiter are Gurus, possessing great wisdom and beneficence. However, the planet Venus is associated with femininity, while Jupiter is associated with masculinity. This can be attributed to Venus' emotional and nurturing nature, like a woman, whereas Jupiter's approach to love is more logical and analytical, even extending to his relationship with Indra, the King of Devas. According to Puranic accounts, Venus' emotional nature led him to jump to the defense of the asuras, despite their negative tendencies. His love for the underdogs blinded him to their flaws, causing him to act as their Guru. In contrast, Jupiter may have felt pity for the asuras but would have been more cautious, considering their asuric tendencies. In essence, the difference between Venus and Jupiter lies in their approaches to love and guidance.