Vedic Astrology Glossary
Planets of Vedic Astrology
Graha is the Sanskrit term for the planets used in Vedic astrology. The nine grahas — Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangal), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Guru), Venus (Shukra), Saturn (Shani), and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu — form the complete set of influences analyzed in a Jyotish birth chart. Unlike planets in astronomy, Rahu and Ketu are mathematical points, not physical bodies.
The word graha literally means "to seize" or "to grasp" — reflecting the classical belief that planets seize human consciousness, drawing its focus toward their domains. Each graha rules specific aspects of existence, body parts, materials, time periods, and psychological drives.
The nine grahas (Navagrahas):
| Graha | Sanskrit | Rules | Nature | |-------|----------|-------|--------| | Sun | Surya | Soul, authority, vitality | Malefic (mild) | | Moon | Chandra | Mind, emotions, mother | Benefic/Neutral | | Mars | Mangal | Energy, courage, conflict | Malefic | | Mercury | Budha | Intellect, communication | Neutral | | Jupiter | Guru | Wisdom, expansion, dharma | Benefic | | Venus | Shukra | Love, beauty, luxury | Benefic | | Saturn | Shani | Karma, discipline, delay | Malefic | | Rahu | — | Ambition, obsession, foreignness | Malefic | | Ketu | — | Liberation, spirituality, past-life | Malefic/Spiritual |
Functional benefics and malefics: Beyond their natural status (above), each graha functions differently depending on the lagna (ascendant). A planet that rules auspicious houses from the lagna becomes a "functional benefic" for that chart; one ruling difficult houses becomes a "functional malefic." This makes every planet's role chart-specific. Saturn, naturally malefic, becomes highly beneficial for Libra and Capricorn lagnas, for example.
Graha strength (Shadbala): Classical Jyotish uses Shadbala — a six-strength system — to numerically assess each planet's power in a chart. The six components include positional strength (Sthana bala), directional strength (Dig bala), temporal strength (Kala bala), motion strength (Chesta bala), natural strength (Naisargika bala), and aspectual strength (Drik bala). A planet with high Shadbala delivers its results more completely; a weak planet underdelivers.
Graha and dasha: Each graha rules a specific Vimshottari dasha period: Ketu 7 years, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19, Mercury 17. The graha ruling your current dasha dominates your current life chapter. Understanding each graha's nature, strength, and placement in your natal chart is central to reading your dasha periods accurately.
Navagraha worship: In Hindu tradition, each graha has an associated deity, metal, gemstone, day, and mantra. Navagraha temples (particularly common in South India) allow devotees to propitiate all nine grahas in sequence. Specific gemstones — ruby for the Sun, pearl for the Moon, red coral for Mars — are traditionally worn as planetary remedies.
The nine grahas are: Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (North Lunar Node), and Ketu (South Lunar Node). Rahu and Ketu are not physical planets — they are the two points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic. Together these nine grahas form the complete planetary system used in Jyotish (Vedic astrology).
Rahu and Ketu are the north and south lunar nodes — mathematical points representing the intersection of the Moon's orbit with the Sun's apparent path. Rahu (north node) is associated with desire, obsession, worldly ambition, and foreign influence — the direction the soul is moving toward. Ketu (south node) is associated with past-life wisdom, spiritual detachment, isolation, and moksha — what the soul is moving away from. They always sit exactly opposite each other in the chart, separated by 180°.
Vedic astrology uses only nine grahas (including Rahu and Ketu but excluding the outer planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto). Western astrology typically includes all planets up to Pluto and sometimes Chiron. The Vedic system does not use outer planets because classical texts predate their discovery; traditional Jyotish holds that the nine grahas are sufficient for a complete chart analysis. Another key difference: Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac (based on actual star positions), while Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac (based on seasons).
Surya
The Sun — Soul and Authority
Chandra
The Moon — Mind and Emotion
Mangal
Mars — Drive, Courage, and Action
Guru
Jupiter — The Great Benefic
Shukra
Venus — Love, Beauty, and Desire
Shani
Saturn — The Lord of Karma
Rahu
The North Node of the Moon
Ketu
The South Node of the Moon
Budha
Mercury — Intellect and Communication
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