Śukra is both the planet Venus and the guru of the asuras. In the Vaiśnavite literature, he loses an eye from his encounter with the dwarf incarnation of Viṣṇu. The Sanskrit also means “bright.”

“The Bright One.” The planet Venus.

The name of the deity identified with the planet Venus and Friday.

The planet Venus.

Venus; the deity of Venus.

Venus; the deity of Venus.

In Indian astrology, the presence of Venus in the night sky is one of the indicators of future rains because it is considered to cancel out the influence of heavenly bodies that obstruct rainfall.

See “Śukra.”