MYTHOLOGY
In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was the goddess of love. She is known as the Daughter of Heaven and Sea or the child of Uranus and Gaia. Her story tells of fertility, love and pleasure. She along with her son Cupid (Eros) became a metaphor for sexual love. Venus represents the feminine aspect in us. She is the creational Earth Mother. Often seen as the bright, silvery morning or evening star, and is the brightest object in the sky after the sun and the moon.
There are two conflicing stories of how venus was born.
1. She is said to have been sprung from the foam of the sea. Titan Cronus severed his father's (Uranus) genitals and flung into the sea, the blood and semen caused foams to gathered and floated across the sea to the island of Cyprus. There Aphrodite rose from the sea from the foam (hence her name came from the word aphros, which means foams). She had experienced no infancy or childhood. She was grown, young woman.
2. The Clam Shell version. In the second version by Homer, she was known as the daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Dione. The Cherubs Version. She was married to Hephaestus (Vulcan) but had numerous affairs with gods and mortals, the most notorious of these, the goddess' long affair with Ares (Mars) god of war. She was the mother of Eros (Cupid), Deimus (Fear), Phobus (Panic) and Harmonia, wife of Cadmus.
Sucra
The planet Venus is known as SUKRA in Vedic astrology. Sukra means "white", or "bright" in Sanskrit. Venus is a first rate benefic in Jyotish (predictions). He rules over the two sidereal signs of Taurus and Libra. Venus is a karaka, or indicator of spouse, love, marriage, comfort, luxury, beauty, prosperity, happiness, all conveyances, art, dance music, acting, passion and sex, and healing.
Venus is a particularly beneficial planet for Capricorn and Aquarius Ascendants. Her nature is watery in disposition. Her gem is diamond and her metal is copper and silver. Venus' direction is Southeast and her day is Friday. She reaches full maturity at age 25. In Vedic myth Venus, or Sukra, is known as the Guru, or teacher of the ASURAS. Sukra therefore is a Brahmin, or the highest priestly order. So Jupiter, or Brihaspati, the guru to the Devas, sends his son Kaca (brightness) to study under Sukra. Sukra has a beautiful daughter Devayani (way to the gods), and she is quite taken with Kaca. Now, the Asuras know what Kaca is up to, so like all good demons they kill him. Devayani, of course, grieves for him and tells father, so Sukra repeats the mantra and Kaca comes back to life. Then the demons kill Kaca again. Once again Devayani complains, and once again Sukra repeats the mantra and Kaca come back to life. Undeterred, the demons go about killing Kaca and Sukra keeps resurrecting him. So the demons kill Kaca and grind him up into a fine powder and put him in Sukra's wine. Sukra drinks the wine, Devayani begins her grieving, and in response Sukra repeats the mantra, but this time he has a stomachache as Kaca speaks from inside him. At last the demons appear to be happy. But, they ironically bring about the very thing they were trying to prevent, for Sukra reveals the mantra of immortality to Kaca, so when Kaca tears himself out of Sukra's body he will repeat the mantra and raise Sukra from the dead. This myth explains why all Brahmins committed to spiritual life are not allowed to drink wine, and one of the epithets of Venus is: the one who "produces stomach problems". Sukra bestows long life, wealth, happiness, children, and property and good education. He is the Guru for Asuras. Sukra is considered a beneficial Devata. He blesses the devotees with power to control one's Indriyas (Sense organs) and enables the devotee to obtain fame and name. In the Zodiac, he is the Lord of Tula. Sukra takes one year to complete the Zodiac cycle living one month in each Rasi. Fridays are considered to be effective for the worship of Sukra.