Deities & devotionNavagraha: Venus
Shukra
Venus, the graha of beauty and the arts.
Try it at home
On a Friday, chant Om Shukraya Namah, or spend a few minutes on music or art.
Optional, as always. Adapt it to your family, region and health.
The wisdom
Shukra is the planet Venus as a god and the guru of the asuras, the gods' rivals, said to know the secret of reviving the dead. Friday (Shukravara) is his day.
Shukra shows that great learning can be found on every side of a story.
What the evidence says
Evidence: TraditionalThe value rests on lived tradition and reasoning, not on tests.Astrology's claims that the grahas shape people's lives are not supported by research. Worship of the grahas is a matter of faith and tradition.
How we rate evidenceSignificance
What it means to the people who keep it. Faith-based meaning is described as belief, not as proven fact.
He is linked with love, beauty, art and comfort. Venus shines brightly as the morning and evening star.