Astrological Mythology The Meaning of ... - Mandhata Global

conform to his highest ideals. He himself lives in the realm of ideas, trying
to create heaven on earth. His weakness is carrying everything to the
extreme. If he undertakes the practice of Yoga, he disciplines himself to the
breaking point, but if he indulges in sex, to which he is greatly prone, he can
carry this also to the furthest degree.
3 KRITTIKA
Krittika extends from 26° 40' to 40° 00' of the zodiac. Its first quarter, upto
30° 00' of the zodiac, falls within Aries ruled by Mars, while the latter three
quarters of the sign, are in Taurus ruled by Venus. The asterism as a whole is
owned by the Sun. Its presiding deity is Agni, the god of fire. Its symbol is a
razor. Its attribute is Rajas, or activity, on both primary and secondary levels,
with Sattwa at a tertiary level. Its primary motivation is Kama or desire.
Krittika consists of six visible stars with a seventh invisible one added to
them. These are the stars of the constellation of the Pleiades. These seven
stars, also called the seven sisters, are said be the wives of the seven great
rishis or seers, who are figured astronomically as the seven stars of Ursa
Major, the Big Dipper. Imagined as a razor, this asterism is a destructive one.
Being connected with the ancient sages responsible for the evolution of our
planet, it channels their guiding force. The relationship between the seven
sisters and the seven rishis, between the Pleiades and the Big Dipper is very
profound and much of its meaning has been veiled.
Krittika's presiding deity Agni, the Vedic fire god, is the central figure in
ancient Vedic literature. Fire in its subtlest form is the initial manifestation of
the Absolute, the Imperishable. Fire is the essence of the Life-force inhering
in every form of existence. On the cessation of this inner fire the cohesion
between all forms of existence disintegrates. There are seven flames
enabling the seven planes of existence to manifest.
On the physical plane, this septenary principle operates through both the
macrocosm and microcosm. In the microcosm, there are the seven sheaths of
the human being and the seven principles vivifying them (see SAO, pp. 220-
239). The highest of these principles is the Atmic or Self principle and the
corresponding sheath through which it operates is known as the Atmic
sheath, which is difficult to comprehend or to describe. The god of fire
connected with the third asterism is this deepest flame of the Atmic
principle, which sustains the wholeness of the being. The aspiration for
radical changes in life comes under Krittika.