Aquarius (Kumbh)

Number

11

Element

Air

Ruler

Saturn

Astronomical Introduction

The Kumbha constellation lies to the south of the Pakshiraj, the "king of birds" constellation (the celestial Eagle, Aquila), and it too holds no especially bright stars. This rashi (zodiac sign) takes in half of the nakshatra (lunar mansion) Dhanishtha, the whole of Shatabhisha, and three-quarters of Purvabhadrapada. Shatabhisha is formed of roughly a hundred tiny stars and sits well to the south of Purvabhadrapada. The sign draws its name from a star called Kumbhasya, set in the middle of Shatabhisha.

Puranic Account

Kumbha's mythological link is found in the great legend of the Samudra Manthana, the churning of the ocean. In that churning, visha (poison) emerged first, and at the very end Dhanvantari, an avatara of Bhagavan Vishnu, appeared bearing the kumbha (pot) of amrita, the nectar of immortality. The asuras (demons) carried that pot away, and Garuda brought it back to the earth. Every place where a drop of amrita spilled became a sacred site, and it is at those very places that the Kumbha Parva (the Kumbh Mela) is held to this day.

According to the Brahmanda Purana (3/35/42, 4/17/35, 4/30/4), the rishis (sages) Vasishtha and Agastya were born from a kumbha; for this reason they also bear the name Kumbhaja, "pot-born." In the path of Ashtanga Yoga, too, one stage of pranayama (breath-control) is known as kumbhaka, the retention of the breath.

In the Greek legends this sign is called Aquarius, meaning "the water-bearer." Once, Devaraja Jupiter (Zeus, king of the gods) sent an eagle named Ekavila (Aquila) to carry off by force the beautiful daughter of a certain shepherd. Ekavila was later given a place among the signs of the sky; in its hand was a pot that held not water but amrita.

Nature

Mongoose-coloured, this sign takes the form of a man bearing a water-pot upon his shoulder. Its lord (swami) is Shani (Saturn). No graha (planet) is either exalted (uccha) or debilitated (neecha) in it. In the body it governs both calves. Possessed of all three doshas, vata, pitta, and kapha (the tridosha), its temperament is to stay established in dharma, to deepen its love for humanity, and to keep the mind at peace.

Places

Its dwelling-places: vessels filled with water, public drinking-stalls (pyau), taverns, gambling-houses, storehouses, the workplaces of potters, and beds of kusha grass.

Associated Objects

Lakes, water-born flowers, the lotus, water-birds, fruit, beverages, liquor, dwellings, and arishta and other intoxicating substances.

Effects

If the birth ascendant or the Moon-sign (rashi) is Kumbha, the jataka (native) has beautiful eyes and is compassionate, victorious over enemies, of excellent intellect, and generous by nature. He is diligent in matters of dharma and ritual and is fond of taking part in assemblies and gatherings. He profits through learning, the arts, and political affairs.

Friendship holds with those born under Vrisha (Taurus), Mithuna (Gemini), Kanya (Virgo), Tula (Libra), and Makara (Capricorn); opposition holds with those under Mesha (Aries), Karka (Cancer), Simha (Leo), and Vrischika (Scorpio).

Under inauspicious influence the native becomes poor, weak, and intensely driven by desire, attached to other men's women and to others' wealth; and there is danger of harm from water or from weapons.

Diseases

Dysentery, danger from weapons, a growth (granthi) in the abdomen, deficiency of blood, obesity, disorders of the nerves, and arthritis.