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{{Short description|Deity of the planet Venus}}
{{About|an Indian term for a planet, a mythical sage and a deity|the Arabic term of gratitude|Shukr}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Shukra cropped.jpg
| alt = Shukra
| caption = A sculpture of Shukra, from the [[British Museum]]
| Devanagari = शुक्र
| affiliation = [[Asuras]], [[Daityas]], [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]], [[Graha]]
| planet = [[Venus]]
| mantra = Om Sri Shukra devaaaye namah. ॐ श्रीशुक्रदेवाय नमः।
| abode = Patala Loka
| god_of = [[Guru]] of the [[Asuras]], [[Worship]] <br> '''[[Venus (planet)| Venus]]'''
| day = Friday
| number = Six (6)
| color = White
| mother = [[Kavyamata]]
| member_of = [[Navagraha]]
| father = [[Bhrigu]]
| mount = [[White horse|White Horse]]
| consort = [[Jayanti (Hinduism)|Jayanti]], Urjjasvati and Sataparva<ref>Puranic Encyclopedia: a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature, Vettam Mani, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1975, p. [https://archive.org/stream/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft#page/760/mode/2up 760].</ref>
| children = [[Devayani]], Arā, Shanda, Tvasthadhar and Marka<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shukra#purana | title=Shukra, Śukrā, Śukra: 39 definitions | date=24 June 2012 }}</ref>
}}{{Color|Blue|}}
'''Shukra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: शुक्र, IAST: {{IAST|Śukra}}) is a [[Sanskrit]] word that means "clear" or "bright". It also has other meanings, such as the name of an ancient lineage of sages who counselled the [[asura]]s in [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic mythology]].<ref name="CoulterTurner2013p108">{{cite book|author1=Charles Russell Coulter|author2=Patricia Turner|title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEIngqiKOugC&pg=PA108 |year=2013|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-1-135-96390-3|page=108}}</ref> In medieval mythology and Hindu astrology, the term refers to the planet [[Venus]], one of the [[Navagraha]]s.<ref name="Dalal2010p387">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA387 | year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|pages=387–388 }}</ref>

== Hinduism ==

In [[Hinduism]], Shukra is one of the sons of [[Bhrigu]], of the third [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]], one of the [[Saptarishi|''saptarishis'']]. He was the guru of [[Daityas]] and [[Asuras]], and is also referred to as '''Shukracharya''' or '''Asuracharya''' in various Hindu texts. In another account found in the ''Mahabharata'', Shukra divided himself into two, one half becoming the fount of knowledge for the [[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s (gods) and the other half being the knowledge source of the [[Asura|asuras]] (demons).<ref name="Dalal2010p387"/> Shukra, in the Puranas, is blessed by [[Shiva]] with Sanjeevini Vidhya after worshipping and impressing Shiva with his devotion. Sanjeevini Vidhya is the knowledge that raises the dead back to life, which he used from time to time to restore life to the [[asuras]]. Later, this knowledge was sought by the devatas and was ultimately gained by them.<ref name="Dalal2010p387"/>

Shukra's mother was [[Kavyamata]], whilst Shukra's wives were the goddesses Urjasvati, [[Jayanti (Hinduism)|Jayanti]], and Sataparva. Sometimes, Urjjasvati and Jayanti are considered to be one goddess.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dikshitar|first=V. R. Ramachandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7bFwZhfSOsC&q=Devayani|title=The Purana Index|date=1996-01-31|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-1273-4|language=en}}</ref> With her, Shukra produced many children including, Queen [[Devayani]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dikshitar|first=V. R. Ramachandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7bFwZhfSOsC&q=Devayani|title=The Purana Index|date=1996-01-31|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-1273-4|language=en}}</ref> Sataparva was childless.

In the ''Mahabharata'', Shukracharya is mentioned as one of the mentors of [[Bhishma]], having taught him political science in his youth.<ref name="Smt. Kamala Subramaniam">{{cite book | last = Subramaniam | first = Kamala | title = The Mahabharata | chapter = Adi Parva | publisher = Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan India | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-81-7276-405-0}}</ref>

==Astrology==

In classical Vedic astrology or [[Jyotisha]], Shukra is considered to be among the Navagrahas (Nine planets) that influence the pattern of life on earth. Shukra represents women, beauty, wealth, luxury, and sex. According to classical astrological texts, a powerfully placed Shukra, aspected by benefic planets such as Jupiter, and in favourable signs and houses in the birth chart, ensures material well-being. Its [[beej mantra]] is "Om Draam Dreem Draum Sah Shukraya Namaha". It is associated with Friday, and the gem diamond. The classical [[shastras]] ordain that the best method to attain the blessings of Shukra is to respect the women in one’s life.

It is also popularly propitiated through Devi Aradhana or worshipping the goddess [[Lakshmi]].

==Planet==

Shukra as a planet appears in various Hindu astronomical texts in [[Sanskrit]], such as the 5th century ''Aryabhatiya'' by [[Aryabhatta]], the 6th century ''Romaka'' by Latadeva and ''Panca Siddhantika'' by Varahamihira, the 7th century ''Khandakhadyaka'' by Brahmagupta and the 8th century ''Sisyadhivrddida'' by Lalla.<ref name="Burgess1989vii">{{cite book|author=Ebenezer Burgess|editor=P Ganguly, P Sengupta|title=Sûrya-Siddhânta: A Text-book of Hindu Astronomy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W0Uo_-_iizwC|year=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (Reprint), Original: Yale University Press, American Oriental Society|isbn=978-81-208-0612-2|pages=vii–xi}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Bina Chatterjee|title=The Khandakhadyaka (an astronomical treatise) of Brahmagupta: with the commentary of Bhattotpala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKOtRmgr1nkC| year=1970|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass| oclc= 463213346 | language=Sanskrit|pages=72–74, 40, 69}}</ref> These texts present Shukra as one of the planets and estimate the characteristics of the respective planetary motion.<ref name="Burgess1989vii"/> Other texts such as ''Surya Siddhanta'' dated to have been complete sometime between the 5th century and 10th century present their chapters on various planets with deity mythologies.<ref name="Burgess1989vii"/>

The manuscripts of these texts exist in slightly different versions, present Shukra's motion in the skies, but vary in their data, suggesting that the text were open and revised over their lives.<ref>{{cite book|author=Lionel D. Barnett|title=Antiquities of India: An Account of the History and Culture of Ancient Hindustan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x40mwFwgK44C&pg=PA190 |year=1994|publisher=[[Asian Educational Services]]|isbn=978-81-206-0530-5 |pages=190–192 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Ebenezer Burgess|editor=P Ganguly, P Sengupta|title=Sûrya-Siddhânta: A Text-book of Hindu Astronomy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W0Uo_-_iizwC|year=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (Reprint), Original: Yale University Press, American Oriental Society|isbn=978-81-208-0612-2|pages=ix-xi, xxix}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=J Fleet | title=Arbhatiya|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1LssAAAAIAAJ|year=1911|publisher=Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society|pages=794–799}}</ref>

The 1st millennium CE Hindu scholars had estimated the time it took for sidereal revolutions of each planet including Shukra, from their astronomical studies, with slightly different results:<ref name="Burgess198926">{{cite book|author=Ebenezer Burgess|editor=P Ganguly, P Sengupta|title=Sûrya-Siddhânta: A Text-book of Hindu Astronomy|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=W0Uo_-_iizwC|year=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (Reprint), Original: Yale University Press, American Oriental Society|isbn=978-81-208-0612-2|pages=26–27}}</ref>
[[File:Venus globe.jpg|thumb|Shukra as the benefic planet [[Venus]]]]
{| class="wikitable" align=center style = " background: transparent; "
|+ Sanskrit texts: How many days for Shukra (Venus) to complete its orbit?
|-style="text-align: center;"
| width=200px | Source
| width=340px | Estimated time per sidereal revolution<ref name="Burgess198926"/>
|-style="text-align: center;"
| width=200px style="background: #ffad66;" | ''Surya Siddhanta''
| width=340px | 224 days, 16 hours, 45 minutes, 56.2 seconds
|-style="text-align: center;"
| width=200px style="background: #ffad66;" | ''Siddhanta Shiromani''
| width=340px | 224 days, 16 hours, 45 minutes, 1.9 seconds
|-style="text-align: center;"
| width=200px | [[Ptolemy]]
| width=340px | 224 days, 16 hours, 51 minutes, 56.8 seconds
|-style="text-align: center;"
| width=200px | 20th century calculations
| width=340px | 224 days, 16 hours, 49 minutes, 8.0 seconds
|}

==Calendar and zodiac==
The weekday ''Shukravara'' in Hindu calendar, or Friday, has roots in Shukra (Venus). ''Shukravara'' is found in most Indian languages, and [[Navagraha|Shukra Graha]] is driven by the planet Venus in Hindu astrology. The word "Friday" in the Greco-Roman and other Indo-European calendars is also based on the planet Venus.

Shukra is a part of the [[Navagraha]] in Hindu zodiac system. The Navagraha developed from early works of astrology over time. Deifying planetary bodies and their astrological significance occurred as early as the [[Vedic period]] and was recorded in the [[Vedas]]. The [[Classical planet|classical planets]], including Venus, were referenced in the [[Atharvaveda]] around 1000 BCE. The planet Venus was deified and referred to as Shukra in various [[Puranas]].

==See also==
*[[Varuna]]
*[[Ahura Mazda]]
*[[Venus (astrology)]]
*[[Venus (mythology)]]
* [[Navagraha]]
** [[Navagraha temples|List of Navagraha temples]]
* [[Nakshatra]]
** [[List of Natchathara temples]]
** [[Jyotisha]]
** [[Saptarishi]]
* [[List of Hindu deities]]
*[[Vishnu]]

==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}

==Further reading==
{{Commonscat|Shukra}}
*{{cite journal | last=Pingree | first=David |author-link1= David Pingree | title=The Mesopotamian Origin of Early Indian Mathematical Astronomy | journal=Journal for the History of Astronomy | publisher=SAGE | volume=4 | issue=1 | year=1973 | pages=1–12 | doi=10.1177/002182867300400102 | bibcode=1973JHA.....4....1P | s2cid=125228353 }}
*{{cite book|last=Pingree |first= David | title= Jyotihśāstra : Astral and Mathematical Literature| publisher= [[Otto Harrassowitz]]| year= 1981| isbn= 978-3447021654 }}
*{{cite book|author=Yukio Ohashi|editor=Johannes Andersen|title=Highlights of Astronomy, Volume 11B|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQYscrT0fgQC|year=1999|publisher=Springer Science|isbn=978-0-7923-5556-4}}

{{Navagraha}}
{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}
{{Hindu astrology}}
{{HinduMythology}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Navagraha]]
[[Category:Venusian deities]]
[[Category:Rishis]]
[[Category:Danavas]]

Shukra - Revision history

ImportMaster: robot: Create/update articles in Category:Hindu gods.