Explanation for the selection of Taurus & Scorpio as the respective signs of exaltation and debilation of the Moon

The 2^nd sign of the Zodiac is Taurus, fixed earthy sign of Rajas nature ruled by Venus. The sign is constituted of three/fourth quarters of the constellation Krittika owned by the Sun, the total four quarters of the constellation Rohini owned by the Moon and the half of the constellation Mrigashira owned by Mars. In Hindu Mythology it is said that Dakshha Prajapati got his twenty seven daughters married to the Moon. Of them all, Rohini was the best in all respects and the dearest of the husband Moon. For this reason, Moon used to come to Rohini more often then to the others. These caused the other twenty six wives of the Moon aggrieved and they lodged complaints to their father in this respect. But inspite of the instructions of the father Dakshha to behave equally to all the wives, Moon did not control himself as the result of which Moon became a victim of the disease consumption by the curse of Dakshha Prajapati. However, later he Moon became partially relieved of this curse by the good grace of Dakshha. The essence of this myth is that Moon becomes most powerful in Taurus. Moon is the significator of mind, domestic happiness, mental feelings, sensations, mother etc. Mind is the controller of all the activities of human being and this is the inherent cause of the life cycles in the terrestrial world. Moon is also the significator of liquids which always tend to move downwards which is also the characteristic of mind. As such, this down moving mind is controlled by Rajas nature leading to desires and passions for earthly pleasures and the sign Taurus, fixed earthy of Rajas nature and ruled by Venus is the center of all material happiness. Being the second sign of the Zodiac, it signifies accumulated wealth, ornaments etc. with which all material enjoyments can be had. Taurus is also the 11^th sign i.e. the house of success counted from the sign Cancer which signifies that the naturally down moving mind finds its best success in material enjoyments. As such, the selection of Taurus as the sign of exaltation for Moon is quite justified.

Scorpio is the fixed watery sign of Rajas nature ruled by Mars of which it is the passive sign. Being the 8^th sign of the Zodiac, it signifies death i.e. longevity, all secret affairs of body and mind including genetic organs, mysterious affairs, occult knowledge, Kula Kundalini Shakti etc. After death, mind along with the body gets destroyed but the ideas inscribed in the brain out of previous deeds remain existent in the soul. Therefore, the mind being abolished after death, it is very natural that the sign Scorpio be the house of debilation for Moon. The sign being fixed, the ever changing mind during life time remains at rest here after death. The sign Cancer is cardinal watery of Tamas nature comparable to the waves of the ocean. The fifth sign counted from Cancer is Scorpio where the mind finds itself at rest i.e. in this sign the natural traits of the Moon are destroyed thus justifying this sign as the house of debilation of the Moon.