Virgo (Kanya)

Number

6

Element

Earth

Ruler

Mercury

Astronomical Introduction

The Kanya (Virgo) constellation has six principal stars. They are blue, red, and yellow in hue, and for this reason the rashi (the zodiacal sign) is also called vichitra, "the many-colored." One star lies in the maiden's head; a second is the navel-star; two stars are set on the left side of her body, and two more on her right leg. In the lower part of this sign lie the star-groups named Kansya ("bronze") and Suparna ("the fair-winged"); to its north falls the constellation named Shiva-Bhutesha. The sign occupies the remaining three-quarters of the nakshatra (lunar mansion) Uttara Phalguni, the whole of Swati, and one half of Chitra.

Puranic Description

The divine maiden also appears, in one of her forms, as Draupadi, the common consort (sahadharmini) of the five stars of Simha (Leo), the Pandavas. By another view, Kanya rashi is the Mohini form of Lord Vishnu, bearing in her hand the pot of amrita, the nectar of immortality. The sign takes its name from the maternal goddess Kumari:

kanyā rūpeṇa devānām agrataḥ darśanaṃ de (Vrihad Purana 1.19.62)

"In the form of a maiden, she grants her darshan before the gods."

The temple of Kanyakumari is of course well known. In her left hand is a star named Vatsa; in her other hand she holds barley, and she herself rides upon a boat. A description of her is found in the Atharvaveda as well:

madhye divaḥ taraṇiṃ bhrājamānam (Atharvaveda 13.2.36)

"the radiant taraṇi shining in the midst of heaven."

On the banks of the river Phrat (Euphrates) in Babylonia she was held to be the form of the goddess Ishtar. In Greek and Roman legend too she was worshipped as the maiden goddess. She is the goddess of justice and purity, who later, seeing the ingratitude of humankind, withdrew to remain in the sky; there she appears in maiden form, behind Simha (Leo).

Nature

This yellow-hued sign takes the figure of a maiden seated in a boat amid water, a lamp or flame in her hand. Its lord (swami) is Budha (Mercury), and the sign is also the exaltation (uccha) sign of Budha himself; Shukra (Venus) stands debilitated (neecha) in it. In the body it governs the intestines, the gallbladder, and the appendix. Of vata constitution, the sign's disposition is to acquire knowledge and to labor diligently for its own advancement and for the winning of honor in the world.

Places

This rashi dwells in land covered with fresh grass, in granaries, in places of dance and song, in restaurants, brothels, boats, fishermen's settlements, places of learning, in maidens, in schools, and in the grounds of craft and artisanry.

Substances

Its substances are moong (green gram), groundnut, sesame (til), rajma (kidney beans), peas, linseed (alsi), and trees with a firm, pithy rind such as bamboo, and the like.

Effects

If the janma rashi (the birth, or Moon, sign) or the naam rashi (name sign) is Kanya, the native (jataka) is fair, tall, of well-built body, with beautiful eyes and long hair. Such a native gives happiness to family and friends; he is wealthy, accomplished in the arts, learned in the shastras (scriptures), intelligent, and a pleasing speaker. He is skilled in study, and observant of custom and rite in matters of dharma and religious duty. He is amorous and popular, and seeks out new modes of pleasure. He profits from dealing in education, medicine, and foodstuffs, and acquires the property of others.

He keeps friendship with those born under Vrishabha (Taurus), Mithuna (Gemini), Tula (Libra), Makara (Capricorn), and Kumbha (Aquarius), and enmity with those under Mesha (Aries) and Vrishchika (Scorpio). Under inauspicious (ashubha) influence he has few sons and many enemies, and does not enjoy good relations even with his own wife.

Diseases

Danger from weapons; disorders of the abdomen; cholera; constipation; ailments of the digestive faculty; dysentery; obesity; appendicitis.