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In short
Shukra is the Sanskrit name for Venus, the sixth of the nine grahas in BPHS. This app has it rule Taurus and Libra, counts it a natural benefic, marks it exalted in Pisces and debilitated in Virgo, and follows BPHS in making the first half of Libra its Moolatrikona.
What the term means
Shukra is the Sanskrit name for Venus as a graha. On this site "Shukra" and "Venus" are the same body. The engine computes its sidereal longitude, sign, degree, nakshatra and house, and a retrograde flag from its motion over the surrounding day; that flag matters for Venus, because it changes the combustion orb.
Where the term comes from
BPHS Ch. 3 Sl. 10 lists Sukr (the translation's spelling) sixth, and Sl. 11 counts it a benefic. Sl. 14-15 make it a minister beside Guru, Sl. 19 counts it female and Sl. 20 gives it rule of water. Saravali Ch. 4 Sl. 1-2 makes Venus the significator of "comforts", Sl. 26 calls it rajasic, and Sl. 10-11 gives Asphujit, Sita and Bhrigu as other names. BPHS Sl. 49-50 put its exaltation in Meen, deepest at 27 degrees, and Sl. 51-54 say Sukr "divides Tula into two halves", the first its Mooltrikon and the second its own house. The Bhrigu Sutras head its section "the Lover" (Part I, p. 10).
How this app uses it
- Lordship: Venus rules Taurus and Libra.
- Dignity: exalted in Pisces and debilitated in Virgo, deep point 27 degrees. dignityOf() returns Moolatrikona for Libra 0-15 and Own sign for Libra 15-30 and all of Taurus.
- Where the sources disagree: the code records that Saravali and the Bhrigu Sutras give Venus a different Moolatrikona span in Libra, and that it follows BPHS by the owner's BPHS-first policy.
- Nature and friendship: Venus is in the BENEFICS list (see shubha graha); its natural friends are Mercury and Saturn and its enemies the Sun and Moon.
- Combustion: within 10 degrees of the Sun, or 8 when Venus is retrograde.
- Kendradhipathya Dosha: Venus is tested for it, with Jupiter, when it owns a kendra other than the 1st.
- Timing: Venus has the longest Vimshottari period, 20 years (BPHS Ch. 46 Sl. 15).
Pages that use this term
- Venus in Vedic astrology - the full page on the graha.
- Venus Mahadasha - the twenty-year Vimshottari period.
- Libra (Tula Rashi) - Venus's Moolatrikona sign, and where the three texts differ.
- Taurus (Vrishabha Rashi) - Venus's other own sign.
- Pisces (Meena Rashi) - the sign of Venus's exaltation.
- Birth chart calculator - shows Venus's sign, house, dignity and combustion.
Related terms
Guru, Combustion, Tula, Vrishabha and Uchcha.