Shukra (Vedic Saptarishi)

Shukra is a great Vedic Sage (also known as Shukracharya and Asuracharya). He was one of the Saptarishi (Seven Sages) to whom is attributed great knowledge.

Shukra is one of the sons of Bhrigu (another of the Saptarishis) to whom is credited great knowledge — incredibly advanced knowledge, if the legends are to believed — so great, in fact, that he was guru of the Asuras.

In various Hindu texts Shukra is known as Shukracharya and Asuracharya, the sage of Vedic mythology who counselled the asuras. The teacher of arcane knowledge, and councillor to demons (at least to the degree that “demon” actually correlates to “asura”).

Shukra is a Sanskrit word that means “clear” or “bright”. In an account found within the Mahabharata, Shukra divided himself into two. One half becoming the fount of knowledge for the devas, and the other half became the knowledge of the source of the asuras. [1]

Shukra, in the Puranas, is blessed by Shiva (for the feat of hanging upside down from a tree) with the Sanjeevini Vidhya — the knowledge of bringing the dead back to life — which he used on asuras to restore them to life on occasion. [1]

The knowledge of the Sanjeevini Vidhya was later sought by the devas, and ultimately gained by them. [1]

In one story Vamana, the dwarf avatar of Vishnu requests three steps of land from the asura king Mahabali. [1] This donation of land is sanctified by pouring water through a kamandalu. When Shukra finally realized that the dwarf Vamana’s true identity was Vishnu, he blocked the spout of the kamandalu to prevent any water from going through. Vamana pierced the spout with a stick, which blinded one of Shukra’s eyes. [1]

In the Mahabharata Shukracharya is also mentioned as one of the mentors of Bhisham (a major figure since he was the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces during the Kurushetra War) having been taught political science in his youth by Shukra. [1]

Shukra is also identified with a planet in classical Vedic astrology (Jyotisha) that is considered to be among the Navagrahas (Nine Planets) that influence the pattern of life on Earth — representing women, beauty, wealth, luxury, and sex — appearing in various Hindu Sanskrit astronomical texts of the 5th to 8th centuries of this era. [1]