Guru (the great or heavy one) or Brihaspati are the names of the teacher of Gods, a position given to Jupiter in Indian culture.
A prime and powerful member of the Navagraha Mandala, Brihaspati rules the spheres of wisdom and knowledge and is one of the few Graha (planets) that are mostly auspicious for a person.
It is said that even when an individual has a weak Brihaspati in their Kundali or birth chart, the grand planet (due to its massive size), with a big heart, tries its best to bestow them with positive or neutral results.
A planet that guides one as a patient and magnanimous master, Guru or Brihaspati is royalty among the Nine Planets.
Let us know a few interesting things about this great planet-
Beginning with the Vedic Period, Brihaspati is a powerful and divine presence in the literature of India. In the Rig Veda, he is commemorated as the lord of prayers and is one of the most important worshipped beings.
His iconography suggests that he is a four-armed deity, holding Maala (rosary), Kamanala (water vessel), and Danda (rod), and appears on a regal chariot or Ratha driven by eight horses.
4" Small Brass Navagraha - Nine Planetary Gods
An illustrious being since his birth, Brihaspati was the son of Rishi Angiras, one of the Saptarishis and the Manas-Putra (mind-born son) of Lord Brahma.
Brihaspati was born as a result of Angiras and his wife’s austerities and worship of the Lord of Fire, Agni, which is the reason behind Brihaspati’s connections with Agni in literature and culture.
During the Naam-Karana (giving the newborn a name) ceremony, Devarishi Narada proclaimed that the child would grow up to be an immensely intelligent and spiritually powerful being and would be known all over the world for his integrity and wit.
Sure enough, Brihaspati was nurtured by Angiras, and upon growing up, he performed penance for Shiva. Mahadeva was moved by his devotion and blessed him with the charge of the planet Jupiter as well as the post of “Devaguru”, the teacher of Deva or gods.
Brihaspati was married to Tara, the goddess of stars. Their marital bliss was hindered by the arrival of Chandra, the Moon God, whose beauty attracted Tara and she fell in love with him.
Brihaspati was enraged and left his station as the teacher and priest of the Gods. The situation escalated into a battle-like scenario between the gods and Chandra, however in the end, Chandra had to accept defeat and Tara was made to come back to her husband.
Upon her return, Brihaspati discovered that she was expecting Chandra’s child, who came to be known as Budha, the planet Mercury.
While some sources mention that Brihaspati cursed Budha and made him neuter, others opine that Budha became his foster child and was looked after by Devguru.
Navagraha (The Nine Planets) - Brihaspati
Positioned as equivalents and rivals, Brihaspati and Shukracharya or Shukra, the planet Venus in Indian culture holds the posts of the teacher for the gods and Asuras (demons) respectively.
Both were renowned for their mastery of knowledge and commanded respect among all beings of the three worlds.
However, to Brihaspati’s dismay, Shukracharya guarded one Vidya (knowledge or wisdom) with all his power. It was the “Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya”, which had the power to blow life in a dead body.
Due to this awe-inspiring ability, Shukracharya was able to revive those Asuras who fell on the battlefield against the gods and thus, the power of Asuras never seemed to decline.
As the guide of the Devas, Brihaspati felt it was his responsibility to learn the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya and save them from the clutches of death. He entrusted his and Tara’s son, Kacha with the task of obtaining the Vidya from Shukra.
Kacha approached Shukra, who knew him to be Devaguru’s son. Aware of Brihaspati’s ambition to learn the Vidya, Shukra accepted Kacha as his disciple but always kept the mantra for Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya a secret from him.
Meanwhile, the beautiful daughter of Shukra- Devayani and Kacha had fallen in love. The Asuras who got to know that Kacha was learning under the tutelage of their master became doubtful of his intentions.
They planned to secure the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya from falling into his hands, attacked an unsuspecting Kacha, and murdered him. When Shukra found out about his dead body, he brought him back to life by using the Vidya.
This went on for some time- the Asuras killed Kacha, and Shukra retrieved his body and blew life into it with his magical mantra. One day, vowing to put an end to this cycle, the Asuras got creative with their conniving.
They murdered Kacha, burnt his body to ashes, and then mixed it in Shukra’s drink. Unaware of the fact, Shukra drank the liquid containing Kacha’s remains.
When Devayani came to know about the death of Kacha and the deceitful actions of the Asuras, she rushed to Shukra and narrated the whole story to him.
Shukra had the knowledge that if he brought back Kacha to life, he would only come out of his body after tearing his stomach which would, without any doubt, be fatal to the master of Asuras.
Finally, he reached the conclusion that he would have to teach Kacha the mantra of Mrita Sanjeevani. After that, Kacha was revived by Shukra and after emerging from his lifeless body, Kacha used the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya to bring his teacher back.
Kacha finally had what he came for. But the story was not over yet. Seeing him alive and well, Devayani welcomed Kacha back and asked him to marry her.
However, since he had been in the body of Shukra and in the process of Mrita Sanjeevani, was brought to life through his body, Kacha believed that he was now a blood relative of Devayani, and hence could not marry her.
Betrayed and in pain, Devayani cursed Kacha that upon his return to his father Brihaspati, he would forget the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya, the great wisdom that had come between the lovers.
As a result, the Vidya was not gained by Brihaspati and his mission to overpower Shukra failed.
Pukhraj, the glimmering yellow sapphire stone is a powerful object, associated with Brihaspati in astrology. Experts suggest that people who have a weak Jupiter (with the advice of their own Jyotishi) can wear a Pukhraj stone to gain positive effects on the planet.
Guruvar or Brihaspativar (Thursday) is associated with the planet Jupiter in Indian culture, a day when one’s own Guru or teacher and Lord Vishnu are worshipped by many to achieve their blessings in life, which results in a favorable effect of Jupiter.
Shri Brihaspati Yantram
ॐ बृं बृहस्पतये नमः (Om Brim Brihaspataye Namah) or ॐ ग्रां ग्रीं ग्रौं सः गुरुवे नमः (Om Gram Greem Graum Sah Guruvaye Namah) are powerful mantras of Brihaspati, to be chanted especially on Thursday, to attract auspiciousness of Jupiter in life.
An easy way of earning the divine teacher’s blessings is to nurture inquisitiveness, become a lifelong learner, and respect the elders. Doing these simple things pleases Brihaspati, who bestows wisdom, spiritual upliftment, and expansion of mind on an individual, making their lives rich in every aspect.
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