© SARAJIT PODDAR, 15 FEB 2020

1.1 .1. 1
GO V ER N AN C E OF S ENS E O RG ANS

According to Phaladīpikā 2.26, Candra represents the body and Sūrya,

the soul. Maṅgala and the other Grahas denote the five senses. The enemies of
Sūrya and Candra, viz. Rāhu Gulika and Ketu causes trouble to the body and
the soul. (a) Budha: Smell (nose); (b) Śukra and Candra: Taste (tongue); (c)
Sūrya and Maṅgala: Sight (eyes); (d) Bṛhaspati: Sound (ears). (e) Śani,
Rāhu and Ketu: Touch (skin).
The association of the Sense organs are based on the Tattva of the
Grahas. The association of the senses with the Tattva are (1) Agni Tattva –
sight, (2) Pṛthvī Tattva – smell, (3) Vāyu Tattva – Touch, (4) Jala Tattva –
Taste, and (5) Ākāśa Tattva – Sound. The organs are assigned to the Grahas
based on the tattvas. This is different from the assignment of the body organs
where eyes are assigned to Śukra and Skin to Budha. Normally, the skin
diseases are seen from afflicted Budha, but the inability of the skin to receive
feeling of heat or cold, the feeling of touch (sparśa) etc. should be seen from
Śani instead. Likewise, the eye defects or disfiguration or beauty of the eye
shape etc. should be seen from Śukra, but the ability of the eyes to see clearly
must be seen from Sūrya and Maṅgala.

Table 1

# Graha Sense organs Sense Tattva

1 Sūrya Eyes Sight Agni Tattva
2 Candra Tongue Taste Jala Tattva
3 Maṅgala Eyes Sight Agni Tattva
4 Budha Nose Smell Pṛthvī Tattva
5 Bṛhaspati Ears Sound Ākāśa Tattva
6 Śukra Tongue Taste Jala Tattva
7 Śani Skin Touch/ Feel Vāyu Tattva
8 Rāhu Skin Touch/ Feel Vāyu Tattva
9 Ketu Skin Touch/ Feel Vāyu Tattva