Justification for the nomenclature of the line designated as Girdle of Venus in a palm

A minor line in palm is “Girdle of Venus” although it is not found in all palms. The line starts from the middle of the mounts of Jupiter and Saturn and is usually extended through the fields of Saturn and Sun and ends in the middle of the mounts of Sun and Mercury in the palm. In some cases, the line is extended from the mount of Jupiter and ends in the mount of Mercury above the line of heart as termed in Western Palmistry. Regarding the effect of this line, different opinions have been made by eminent palmists. If the line be unbroken or not intersected by any other line and at the same time continuous and not very thick or faint, the native will be endowed with self-control, warmth of heart etc; otherwise loss of control, bad habits like masturbation, bad character, neurological troubles and hysteria will be the result. But the most important question is about the nomenclature of this line because it is in no way related with the field of Venus in its course according to both oriental and western system. In this matter doubt has been expressed by the eminent scholar Shree Jyoti Bachaspati in his research oriented works “Hat Dekha”. The subject of concern of this article is justification of this nomenclature in terms of Astrology.

In the planetary kingdom of our solar system, Venus is the significator of material desires, fine arts, literature, applied sciences, love, romance, lust, creation of new body as the result of the destruction of the old one etc. According to Hindu Mythology, the Master of the Demons i.e. Venus teaches his disciples the lessons of material enjoyments but the source of immortality is beyond his knowledge although he knows the mechanism of creation of new life by the destruction of an old one, a discipline combined of chemistry and biology. But this knowledge is beyond the reach of the Master of the Deities i.e. Jupiter who, however, has the knowledge of immortality in all mortal living and non-living beings. According to Greek Mythology, Venus is the goddess of beauty and therefore is the representative of all beauteous things in the world.

In the planetary kingdom as classified in Astrology, Venus belongs to the destructive group together with waning Moon, Mercury, Saturn and Rahu while in the creative group are included Sun, waxing Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Ketu. It is to be noted in particular that Venus gets debilated in Virgo, the sign ruled by its friend Mercury, but becomes exalted in Pisces, the sign owned by its enemy Jupiter. Virgo is the sixth sign in the Zodiac of Sattwik, dual and earthy nature ruled by Mercury which is also the sign of exaltation for the lord. The sixth house signifies enemies in the external world as also in the human nature itself expressed as the six complexes which induce an individual in worldly activities. However, the sign being Sattwik and earthy in nature manifesting the characteristics of Mercury viz. rationality, practical senses, analytical mindedness etc., it can not provide an individual with uncontrolled sensual desires. Therefore, in a normal case, Venus is unable to express its bad effects i.e. it is weak in this sign but if it be afflicted by malefics, its Sattwik senses and rationality will yield to uncontrolled sensual desires thereby finding way for debilated Venus to extend its evil effects. On the other hand, the twelfth sign in the Zodiac is Pisces which is Sattwik, dual and watery in nature as well as the passive field of the ruler Jupiter. The twelfth sign being the seventh sign counted from the sixth sign Virgo signifies the detriment of sensual desires which actually means that the native being freed from complexes reaches its ultimate goal by reuniting with the Supreme Soul. The twelfth house also signifies sacrifice, expenditures for others etc. and as such it is classified as “Paratantra’ meaning one which is influenced by others. Since Venus is exalted in this sign, it gives its best results here through the sacrifices of accumulated wealth for the good of others and thereby gets rid of the complexes and reunites with the Supreme Soul. This has been expressed by the sages of Hindu Upanishad as “enjoy through sacrifices”.

Therefore, it appears that in human life, the signs Virgo and Pisces are intimately associated with the function of Venus. Therefore, in the palm the relation of the line connecting the mounts of Jupiter and Mercury in respect of the function of Venus is very clear. Again, in the Zodiac, on one side of the line connecting the signs Virgo and Pisces are the two signs ruled by Saturn viz. Capricorn and Aquarius and on the other side just opposite to these are the signs Cancer and Leo respectively ruled by Moon and Sun. During night time in absence of the Sun, Moon functions in many ways like the Sun so far as terrestrial phenomena are concerned. As such, in most of the palms having the “Girdle of Venus” it is seen that this line starting from the middle of the mounts of the Jupiter and Saturn ends in the middle of the mounts of Sun and Mercury. If this line be unbroken, not-intersected or devoid of any malefic symbol, the native will enjoy the good effects of Venus through the entire life whereby he will gradually crossing over the physical level rise up to the higher spiritual world wherein the Divine Love will be realized. In such a native, artistic activities of very high level will be manifested and he will have the characteristics of doing the good for others. Since, Venus is actually characterized by the warmth of pure love, social outlook and cordiality, polished intelligence and intellectual wisdom, therefore it is natural that this line will function as a sister line for the heart line as designated in Western Palmistry. Therefore, the position of this line is quite in harmony with the corresponding astrological criteria.

Saturn is characterized by loneliness, reluctance to project the self in the external world etc. Therefore, for a relation between Venus and Saturn by deposition or aspect in the natal chart, the native will feel hesitation to express the earthly love or romance and even not at all. In such a situation, the native will try abnormal processes like masturbation for sensual pleasures. For a relation between Moon and Venus, the native will always seek for female contacts while for relation between Sun and Venus; the native may be deviated from morality in character leading to social defamation, health break, neurological problems etc. In such a case, for a relation with the Sun the native may become a patient of hysteria even. In keeping with this, the “Girdle of Venus” if broken or intersected, the disease related to the field of such break or intersection will be developed in the native in course of time.

Therefore, it is seen that although the line termed as the “Girdle of Venus” is in no way connected with the field of Venus on the palm described either in oriental or in western language, yet it is related with the field of Venus in oriental or western system viz. the sign of exaltation i.e. Pisces and with the field of Mercury designated as the sign of debilation for Venus remaining above usually the heart line on the palm and through this line the different traits of Venus as described in Astrology are manifested. Again, when broken or intersected by any line, the functions of this line related with the mounts of the planets on the palm are connected. Therefore, it may be concluded in fine that this nomenclature as “Girdle of Venus” is quite justified.