Planets or Grahas in Indian Vedic Astrology or Jyotish

Illuminating celestial bodies in sky which are stationary are called as constellations & which have

mobility are called as planets. Constellations are clusters of stars. Stars continue to blink whereas glow of planets is always the same. Stars illuminate with there own light whereas planets illuminate by the light of Sun. 

There are total nine planets in Astrology and there are Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. 

It is well known that these planets are very important, when it comes to the calculations made by Vedic Astrology. Several things related to one’s density are directly connected to these planets.

 Let’s discuss each of these planets (Navagraha) in detail - 

Sun or Surya Navagraha is a royal planet and the king in astrology. It represents the soul, will power, father, paternal relations, the king or the high officials. It is hot and angry, colour is red, metal is gold and gem is ruby. Sun represents the eastern direction. The Sun stays in each Sign for one month and takes one year to complete the round of the Zodiac. Its motion is quite fixed and a lot of Indian festivals are as per the Sun’s entry into the various Signs. For example, on January 14, it enters Makara and this day is celebrated as Makara Sankranti. On April 13th/14th, it enters Mesha and this day is celebrated as Baisakhi. The change in seasons is also linked to the Sun’s entry into various Signs and Nakshatra (constellations). Sun is the Pitra karaka or the planet connected with father. 

 

Moon or Chandra Navagraha is also a royal planet and is the queen in astrology. It represents the mind, emotions, sensitivity, the mother, house and domestic comforts, milk, sea and all things connected with the sea, hotel and food industry, textiles and apparels: It is cold and calm, its color is white, direction north-east, metal is silver and gem is pearl. The Moon is the fastest moving of the 9 planets and takes approximately 2-1/2 days to travel a Sign. When the Sun and Moon are in the same Sign, it is called Amavashya or New Moon day or the 1st day of the dark fortnight. The lunar days or Tithi changes with every 12 degree difference between the Sun and the Moon. When the Sun and the Moon are in the exact opposite Signs or 180 degrees apart, it is called Poornima or the Full Moon day or the 1st day of the bright fortnight. Moon is Matra karaka or the planet connected with mother. 

The Sign in which your Moon is placed in your birth chart is called your Janma Rashi/ Moon Sign. The star constellation in which your Moon is placed is called your Janma Nakshatra. 

Mars or Mangala or Kuja Navagraha is commander in astrology. It represents, energy, courage, younger brothers & sisters, armed forces, the police forces, commanders, administrators, men in high position, land, engineering, metals, real estate agents and surgery. Its metal is copper and gem is coral, colour is red and direction is south. Mars takes about 45 days to travel one Sign. He is the Bhatra karaka or the planet connected with brother. 

Mercury or Budha Navagraha is the prince in astrology. It represents speech, intelligence, maternal uncles, short journeys, medical profession, trade, computers and the web, astrology and knowledge of the shastras, accounts, mathematics, journalism, printing and publishing. Its metal is bronze, gem is emerald, colour is green and direction is north. Mercury takes about a month to travel a Sign. It is always within 27 degree distance from the Sun, as per the astrological point of view. 

Jupiter or Guru or Brihaspati Navagraha is known as the “Devaguru” or the guru of the Gods. It represents higher knowledge, spirituality, priests, temples, teachers, research & scientists, layers & judges, children and knowledge of the shastras and astrology. Its colour is yellow, metal is gold, gem is yellow sapphire and direction is north-east. Jupiter takes about one year to travel a Sign. He is the Putra karaka or the planet connected with children. 

Venus or Shukra Navagraha is the “Daitya guru” or the guru of the demons. It represents spouse, sex life, kidneys and sex organ, dance, music, arts, gems and jewellers, wines, bars, gambling places, acting, fashion, cosmetics and beauty products. Its metal is silver, gem is diamond, direction is south-east and colour is white. Venus takes about a month to travel a Sign and completes the round of the Zodiac in 12 months. From astrological point of view, it is always within 48 degrees of the Sun. He is the Kalatra karaka or the planet connected with spouse. 

 

Saturn or Shani Navagraha is the servant in Vedic astrology. It represents hard-work, sorrow, old men, servants and the lower level workers, people in the iron and steel industry, municipality and drainage works. A well-placed Saturn can bestow excellent power, prestige, name and fame, whereas a badly placed Saturn can devastate you. Its metal is iron, colour is blue, gem is blue sapphire and direction is west. Saturn is the slowest moving of the 9 planets and takes approximately 2-1/2 years to transit a Sign and completes the round of the Zodiac in 30 years. It is the Udyog karaka or the planet connected with profession. 

Rahu or Dragon’s Navagraha Head represents foreigners, foreign countries, foreign travel, engineering and the technical trades, smoke, old men, grandparents, theft, gambling, drinking, nonconformists, the underworld and the bad elements in the society. Its colour is black, metal is mixed-metal and gem is Gomedh. Rahu takes approximately 1-1/2 years to travel a Sign and hence completes the round of the Zodiac in 18 years. 

Ketu or Dragon’s Navagraha Tail represents grandparents, technical trades, spiritual inclinations, superstitions and electronics, its colour is brown and gem is cat’s eye. Ketu is always in the opposite Sign to Rahu, i.e., exactly 180 degrees away. Ketu also takes approximately 1-1/2 years to travel a Sign and hence completes the round of the Zodiac in 18 years. 

Each of these 9 planets (Navagraha) produce different results, and at times totally opposite results, while placed in the 12 different Signs (Rashis). Again each has some good results and some bad results in each Sign. This is an important aspect of Vedic astrology which must be remembered. At various specific distances from the Sun, the planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn become retrograde or appear to move in the backward direction. Sun and Moon do not have any retrograde motion. The motion of Rahu and Ketu is always opposite to that of the other planets. 

 

[What are Rahu & Ketu?

In Indian Vedic Astrology Rahu & Ketu have been considered as planets but they don't have any physical existence in actual. They are imaginary planets which are considered as always retrograde & always combust. Moon revolves around the Earth & Earth along with Moon revolves around Sun. Moon while revolving around Earth intersects the Earth's circumference on two points. It means the orbit of Earth & Moon interects each other on two points in which one is called Rahu which is seen to be going from bottom to top & the other point which is just opposite to Rahu is called as Ketu. Rahu is called as 'Ascending Node' & ketu is called as 'Descending Node'.

Orbit of Earth is actually orbit of Sun (from the point of view of relative motion) which is also called as Ecliptic. Moon while revolving around Sun intersects ecliptic at two points making an angle of 5°. This is termed as Celestial Latitude.

There is a famous story in Indian Mythology about Rahu & Ketu. While the churning of Sea a demon secretively drank elixir & became immortal. Indra got angry by this & separated the head of the demon from his body by cutting it. But the demon didn't die because he became immortal by drinking elixir. Head of the demon was termed as Rahu & body of the demon was termed as Ketu. These Rahu & Ketu are always running after Surya (Sun) & Chandra (Moon) & many times eclipse them because Surya & Chandra revealed about the drinking of elixir by the demon to Indra.]