Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

2 BHARANI
Bhatani extends from 13° 20' to 26° 40' of the zodiac, thereby also falling
within the sign of Aries ruled by Mars. The asterism itself is ruled by Venus.
Bharani has the basic attribute of Rajas or activity on primary and secondary
levels, with Tamas on a tertiary level. Its primary motivation is Artha,
directed activity. Three important keys to reveal its inner meaning are found.
First is its symbol, the yoni or female reproductive organ. Second, is its
basic principle (tattwa) Shakti, the cosmic passive principle, and third, is its
presiding deity is Yama, the god of death.
Ashwini, the first asterism, represents the cosmic energy in its latent state,
differentiated from the void or nothingness, yet not in its kinetic potential.
The second asterism symbolized by the yoni or female reproductive organ
establishes this potential as the channel for creation.
The Sanskrit name for the female generative organ, bhaga, has several
meanings. In Hindu rituals and observances the feminine creative energy has
great importance. It relates symbolically to the arghya, the chalice used for
pouring water on statues of deities, signifying thereby a means or channel
for expressing one's devotion to the supreme. The cosmic feminine force is
often compared with a boat which transports people and goods from one
place to another. Water symbolizes the movement of the life-force. The
second asterism also has the connotation of transporting souls from one
realm of existence to another, or from the realm of subjective to objective
manifestation. The word bhaga also means that which is auspicious, and is
derived from the root 'Bhaj* which is connected with nourishment. It shows
Bharani's function as a conduit through which the divine energy flows to
nourish the manifestation. The Arghya with which water is poured to express
one's devotion also symbolizes a bridge between the human and the Divine.
Noah's ark which resembles arghya, is also a conduit, a channel through
which the divine seed or energy is transported to a safer time and space for
its flowering. It also is a symbol of the feminine creative power. In Vedantic
philosophy, the two primary powers of manifestation ai said to be Shiva
tattwa and Shakti tattwa, the active and the passive principles, the
centrifugal and the centripetal forces in nature on whose polarization and
interaction depends all subsequent manifestation. Ashwini is of the nature of
Shiva whereas Bharani represents Shakti. As a powerful attractive center
drawing to itself the kinetic potential, it directs the energy on its course.