Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

special benediction, guidance, and association of higher beings with the
world of manifestation. Materialism at this stage gets spiritualized. The
figure continues with a small horizontal line indicating that the benediction
is for undertaking further manifestation of the plan, according to special
assignments represented by the small circle. The right hand convexing arc
points to the evolutionary action following this task. From both these figures
we see that the individual manifestation is over and divine guidance for
impersonal work is bestowed involving yet greater difficulties and struggles.
11 AQUARIUS
KUMBHA
The word Aquarius, derived from Latin, refers to a water carrier, the symbol
of the eleventh sign of the zodiac. The Sanskrit name is Kumbha, which
means a pitcher. This word is associated with Kumbhaka, which signifies the
retention of the breath in yogic practices. It also relates to Kumbhaja,
meaning born of a pitcher, a name for the great sage Agastya, one of the
great seers, who brought the Vedic teaching to south India and one of the
primary guides of this world-age. In its geometric diagram, the
sign is represented by two wavy lines £-. All these relate the sign with water.
Almost all systems of astrology — Indian, Chaldean, Assyrian, Egyptian or
European — have made the pitcher the most common symbol of this sign. It
is often represented as a pitcher with water is flowing from it. As a symbol,
water represents the cosmic life-force, the universal solvent. It quenches all
thirst and absolves the individual from all sins. A dip in running water or a
holy river purifies the individual and spiritualizes his heart. In Alchemical
symbology, water purifies base metal, the worldly man, before it is
transmuted into gold, or restored into his natural state of innocence. In
Hindu mythology, Aquarius is related to the great God Indra, who rules over
the heavenly world where souls dwell as a result of their good karma. Before
creation begins, Vishnu, reclining on the serpent Naga, was floating on the
ocean of pure essence. The Ganges, the heavenly river, falls from the head of
Lord Shiva. The churning of the ocean symbolizes the manifestative process
of the cosmos. From such a wide use of water in spiritual literature,
Aquarius as a pitcher with water flowing from it must be related with the
cosmic life-force in an important way.