Planets and The
Elements
There are five elements or ‘Pancha Tattvas’ that are the causal
form of Purusha and make up creation. ‘Pancha’ means five and ‘Tattvas’
mean ‘true essences’. These elements are Fire, Earth, Ether, Water and
Air ruled by the planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn,
respectively, according to this sutra from Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra:
“Fire, Earth, Ether, Water and Air, in that
order, o’Twice Born, from Mars and the other Grahas in their order are the
Tattvas.” -BPHS: Nature and Form of the Grahas, 20
The Vedas contain instructions on how to placate and worship the
elements. The elements are actually the causal manifestation of Purusha
that creates all that is. The Elements came first and then the planets
were born from the Elements.
Each of the Five Tattvas or Elements has a Sattvic, Rajasic and
Tamasic quality. The Sattvic qualities of the Elements manifests through
the five senses. Our senses are called ‘Organs of Knowledge’ in the
Srimad Bhagavatam. These organs of knowledge are necessary for our growth
and evolution. It is only through abuse by human beings that the senses
have been given a bad name. Since the senses are Sattvic, they have an
elevating quality that will bring us closer to the Source if used properly.
The Five Organs of Sense
The Sattvic attributes of the Five Elements are the Organs of
Sense. They are as follows:
Ether is ruled by Jupiter and causes the Sense of Hearing.
Through Hearing we acquire knowledge from Sound. For a person to be able
to hear, Ether must be present. Conversely, for someone to have poor
hearing, Jupiter must be afflicted in the horoscope.
Air is ruled by Saturn and causes the Sense of Touch:
Through Touch we acquire knowledge from Tangibility. For a person to be able to
feel touch and differentiate the object of touch, Air must be present.
Conversely, for a person to not be able to feel or lack acquiring knowledge
through touch, Saturn must be afflicted in the horoscope.
Fire is ruled by Mars and causes the sense of Sight.
Through Sight we acquire knowledge from Light and Colors. For a person to
be able to see, Fire must be present. Conversely, Mars must be afflicted
in a horoscope if the person has poor eyesight.
Water is ruled by Venus and causes the sense of Taste:
Through Taste we acquire knowledge from Flavors. For a person to be able
to taste, Water must be present. Conversely, Venus must be afflicted in
the horoscope if a person has a poor sense of taste.
Earth is ruled by Mercury and causes the sense of Smell.
Through Smell we acquire knowledge of Odors. For a person to be able to
smell, the Element of Earth must be present. Conversely, a person has a
poor sense of smell if Mercury is afflicted in the horoscope.
Because the organs of sense are Sattvic, they are elevating in
nature and pure when the organs of sense are working properly. They are
Sattvic because one acquires knowledge through their organs of sense.
The Five Organs of Action
The Rajasic attributes of the Five Elements are the Organs of
Action. They are as follows:
Fire is ruled by Mars and causes the action of Motion.
Feet hold the primary power of motion, but all motion of the body is ruled by
Mars. Most motion is guided by Sight which is also ruled by Mars.
All motion must have fire, or in this case the electrical impulses carried by
the nerves, which is ruled by Mars. For a person to have afflicted motion
Mars must be afflicted in a horoscope. Notice how people with paralysis
or partial paralysis cannot move, the electrical impulses are not carried along
the nerves or the spinal cord.
Earth is ruled by Mercury and causes the Action of
Excretion. The anus holds the primary power of excretion but all
excretory actions are ruled by Mercury and the Earth Element. Sweating is
also considered to be excretory as well as acne.
Ether is ruled by Jupiter which causes the Action of making
Sound. The power of Sound lies in the vocal chords. If a person
cannot use their vocal chords to make sound, then Jupiter must be afflicted in
the horoscope.
Water is ruled by Venus which causes the action of
Generation. The power of generation lies within the sexual organs, but it
also lies within all tissues that can repair themselves. Water and food,
both ruled by Venus, satiate us after exertion. These things give us recuperation.
Venus also rules ‘Virya’ which loosely translates as semen. Venus rules
the vitality in the body. When Venus is afflicted in a horoscope, then it
takes a long time for the person to recover after exercise or illness.
Air is ruled by Saturn and causes the Action of Manual Skill, of
which the power lies in the hands. Manual dexterity is ruled by Saturn as
is all manual labor. Saturn rules the menial and when manual labor is a
person’s profession, their caste is ruled by Saturn. When a person has
poor manual dexterity, then Saturn must be afflicted in the horoscope.
The Five Objects of the Sense
The objects of the senses are Tamasic, meaning they are
obscuring. The purpose of the five objects of sense is to satisfy the
longings of the heart. Jupiter as Ether produces space.
Saturn as Air produces gases. Mars as Fire, produces fire, electricity
and energy. Venus as Water produces liquids. Mercury as Earth
produces solids. Space, air, fire, liquids and solids can all be
experienced by the senses. The two luminaries, the Sun and the Moon rule
over the Atman or Higher Self and the Jiva or Individual respectively.
The Higher Self and the Individual are the ones experiencing the objects of
sense.
Fear, which is the great cause of all neurosis and psychosis, is
the number one contributing factor to abusing the objects of sense and not
feeling satiated and at peace. When the desires are not satisfied within
a certain time frame, the person begins to fear that they will not be
satisfied, and will crave more satiation through another source. This
gives rise to many different desires cropping up that cannot be satisfied all
at once. So the person half-heartedly pursues many different desires
which cannot all be satisfied in one lifetime. The unmet desires are still
manifest within the psyche when the person dies, so the consciousness must be
reborn to satisfy the numerous desires. The best course to take, to avoid
acquiring numerous desires and having numerous longings, is to concentrate the
mind on satisfying one desire at a time. Turn one’s whole attention on
fulfilling one desire then the psyche can find more peace and satisfy the
desires of the heart
