Nature of the Graha’s

“Each planet in its orbit gathers in and gives out forces, and thereby transmits a particular wavelength of energy necessary for
maintaining the order of the solar system. The planets are perpetually flashing forth with energy in different patterns and cycles of
transmission weaving the web of life and creation.”

This energy, as described by Frawley, determines the quality of the time phases in which we live. In other words, the planets
affect the condition of each particular chapter of our lives. Planets are described therefore as grahas, because of the way they take
hold of and influence life.

Vedic astrology pays attention to nine grahas, which are collectively referred to as the navagrahas, with nava meaning nine. They
include the sun (Surya), moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangala), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Brihaspati), Venus (Shukra), Saturn
(Shani), Rahu (north node of the moon), and Ketu (south node of the moon).

Rahu and Ketu are subtle grahas with no actual mass. They represent the two points in space where the orbital path of the sun and
moon intersect. Because eclipses block light and occur in connection to the nodes, Rahu and Ketu are often called “shadow
planets,” and are generally indicators of negative influences.

According to the Vedas, each graha represents a particular aspect of life, and each is under the jurisdiction of a particular deity.
Just as Jeff Bezos is the personality behind Amazon and Elon Musk is the personality behind Tesla — companies which are
distinct for having certain qualities and providing certain services, there are personalities behind grahas, which are distinct for
delivering and maintaining the different conditions of an individual’s life.

Life is ultimately meant for spiritual growth. This growth is enabled by karma, the Hindu concept that every thought and action
has a corresponding reaction.

Through karma, good acts uplift one’s consciousness to a more selfless plane of living, while bad acts lower the consciousness to
a more self-centered plane. Thus, a person experiences lessons in empathy, and is encouraged to live a life of love and gratitude.
People experience karma over a series of lives in a cycle of birth and death known as samsara, in which they are faced with the
lessons they must go through in order to grow.
The deities of the navagrahas are in charge of delivering us these lessons, and therefore play an integral role in helping to
facilitate our spiritual development.
Venus, for example, is ruled by a deity called Shukra. Including other things, Venus generally represents the wife in a man’s
horoscope. Hence, a poorly placed Venus can often indicate marital problems, or even issues in finding a wife.
Perhaps in a past life, a man took his wife and marriage for granted and as a result, is now having a hard time finding a partner.
Seeing a poorly placed Venus, the astrologer might recommend the man perform some sort of puja to appease Shukra into
minimizing the bad marital karma.
As stated before, life is ultimately meant for one’s spiritual evolution. Experiencing troubles in finding a partner is not Divinity’s
way of enacting revenge. It’s to help a person better appreciate the value of such a partner.
A person, therefore, should not view hardships merely as hurdles on the path of hedonistic pursuit. Life’s obstacles should be seen
as opportunities for gaining spiritual maturity, and the deities of grahas should be approached as revered teachers of these
lessons.
Reference and Suggested Reading: “Astrology of the Seers,” David Frawley

Nature and Characteristics of Planets

Planet Number Day Gender Element Inherent Nature

Sun 1 Sunday Male Fire / Agni Malefic

Benefic
Moon 2 Monday Female Water / Jaal (Waxing Moon of Sukla
Paksh)
 Malefic
(Waning Moon of Krishna
Paksh)

Mars 9 Tuesday Male Fire / Agni Malefic

Mercury 5 Wednesday Neuter Earth / Bhoo Benefic

Jupiter 3 Thursday Male Ether / Aakaasa Benefic

Venus 6 Friday Female Water / Jaal Benefic

Saturn 8 Saturday Neuter Air / Vaayu Malefic

Rahu 4 Saturday Female Air / Vaayu Malefic

Ketu 7 Tuesday Neuter Fire / Agni Malefic

 Planetary
Planet Guna Type Guna Meaning Governs
Cabinet

Sun Sattwik Purity and truthfulness in one’s thoughts and action King Soul

Moon Sattwik Purity and truthfulness in one’s thoughts and action Queen Mind

Commander in Strength and

Mars Taamasik Dark, mean and depraved spirit in thoughts and actions
Chief Courage

Mercury Raajasik Passion, energy and impurity in thoughts and actions Crown Prince Speech

Chief Advisor / Knowledge

Jupiter Sattwik Purity and truthfulness in one’s thoughts and action
Guru and Happiness

Passion and
Venus Raajasik Passion, energy and impurity in thoughts and actions Minister
Desire

Saturn Taamasik Dark, mean and depraved spirit in thoughts and actions Servant Grief
 Worldly
Rahu Taamasik Dark, mean and depraved spirit in thoughts and actions Army Soldiers
Illusions

Moksha or
Ketu Taamasik Dark, mean and depraved spirit in thoughts and actions Army Soldiers Final
Liberation

Planet Key Characteristics

Sun is the karaka planet of soul. It has red or saffron orange colour. Its temperament is stable, assertive,
domineering, self-centered. It has anger but it is momentary. Its place is in temples and represents the season of
summer. The direction of Sun is East. The element of Sun is gold and its gem is Ruby or Red [Link] Sun’s
position in a horoscope should be studied for information about the person’s extemal appearance and behavioral
traits, for all things related to the father, for the person’s power, health and leadership ability, and for their depth
of knowledge of the self within. The Sun represents people in government service, person working within a church
Sun
or temple, people connected with gold trading, those in health-related industries, and those who are famous or
popular. The Sun is the king of planets and supplies light (vision) and heat to all. Thus the Sun’s position is
considered to see how powerful or influential a person is, or how noble, or how self-realized a person may be. Of
course you should also check the situation of the houses connected to these affairs, for example: look to the ninth
house and the Sun for a person’s spiritual realization, and look to the tenth house and the Sun for a person’s
professional status.
 Moon is the karaka of mind, and its colour is pale white or cream. Its temperament is variable, empathetic,
humane. It is a planet related to water and thus, its season is monsoon. Its direction is North-West. Lunar planet
has moral properties. It controls the sense of taste. Silver is the element of Moon. White Pearl is the prescribed
gemstone. The Moon represents the subtle mind, and thus a person’s thinking, feeling and willing processes will
Moon correspond to the position of the Moon in the horoscope. The Moon is a soft, feminine planet representing
interactions with the public, business affairs, and all karma having to do with the mother. It represents watery
places, public businesses, sensitivity towards other’s feelings, women, milk and other liquids. Emotions,
motherhood and health in the period of youth are also to be interpreted from the Moon position. It is most
important to study the position of the Moon in the chart. More discussion on this topic may be found in the
chapters on how to interpret your horoscope.

Mars is the karaka of strength and courage power, achievement and anger. Its colour is yellowish red. Its
temperament is aggressive, spontaneous, purposeful. It represents first place, summer season, south direction,
vengeance, bitter taste. Its element is bronze. The gems prescribed are Red Coral and Pink Coral. Mars is a
masculine planet, fiery in nature, which signifies the energy of the living being and how it is used. Mars is the
karaka or indicator of energy, competitive spirit, athletics and electricity or fire. Thus machinery, electronics,
Mars
restauranteurs or cooks, soldiers, etc. all come under the category of Mars. It also represents the real estate and
construction businesses, and all matters pertaining to property, determination and courage, military affairs,
strength, attachments and sexual strength or passion. Affairs relating to brothers should be determined by a study
of Mars (and the third house) in a horoscope. When Mars is powerful, the person is energetic, constructive and
helpful to good causes. If Mars is afflicted, they will be erratic and waste energy on worthless things. Mars is a
naturally malefic planet and can indicate violence and destruction when badly placed in a chart.

Mercury is the karaka of voice. Mercury represents green colour. Its temperament is moving, changing, multi-
faceted. The season of Mercury is autumn. North is the direction of this planet. It is administrative in nature. The
Mercury
sense of smell is given to mercury. The element of mercury is Kansya. The gemstone is Green Emerald. Mercury
represents the intelligence, and thus education, literary affairs, communication of ideas, advertising, lecturing, etc.
all come under the category of Mercury. Mercury is young, sexless, and fast- moving by nature. People who are
 playful, enthusiastic and talkative have an influential Mercury in their horoscope. Mercury signifies, to a certain
extent, the Vaisnavas or devotees of Krishna. Astrologers, office-workers, accountants, sculptors or people who
use their hands in their profession will also be found to have a prominent Mercury in their charts. Knowledge of
languages, memory, learning of the scriptures, business acumen and the ability to speak convincingly all come
under the jurisdiction of Mercury. Friendships, leaming, proficiency in art and the ability to do things quickly or to
do several things simultaneously come under Mercury’s folder.

Jupiter is the karaka of education. A person can not get an education without its support. Its temperament is kind-
hearted, fair, generous. Yellow or yellowish-orange is the colour of Jupiter. It represents autumn season and
North-East direction. It represents the sense of speech. The compatible gemstone for Jupiter is Yellow Sapphire
and Yellow Topaz. Jupiter is the most benefic planet by nature. It is pious, rewarding and expansive. Religious
devotion is represented by Jupiter, though not exclusively. Since the Vedic philosophy of karma holds that by
Jupiter
pious actions one gets rewards, you will find a strong Jupiter in the charts of people that are wealthy or influential.
Jupiter rules, specificially, financial affairs, children, religious actions and teaching ability. When Jupiter is strong in
a chart, the person will generally be satisfied and happy, will live in a pious environment and will worship God and
His devotees. Jupiter’s Sanskrit name is guru. indicating one whose opinion is valued and who is a teacher. Jupiter
also rules the liver, the water in the body, pilgrimage places, teaching of children, the treasury department, and
knowledge of Vedanta.

Venus is the karaka of lust and its colour is pure white. Its temperament is sociable, benevolent, seductive.
Bedroom is its place and South -East is its direction. It is a planet of administrative nature and represents sour
taste. Silver is the element. While the primary gemstone is Diamond, White Zircon and Quartz are also
recommended. Venus is also a brahmana or teacher by nature, and is quite benefic. Venus represents sexual
Venus
affairs, obtainment of a good wife, the comforts of having a nice home, furniture and vehicles, luxurious
paraphemalia, etc. Venus rules artists and entertainers and persons who make a living by dealing in the sensual
things of the world. Venus is described in Sanskrit prayers as one who has knowledge of botlt material and
spiritual things. One with a good Venus in their chart is charismatic, loving in nature, able to make others happy.
Venus rules over peacemakers, flowers and other beautiful things of nature, dancers and those playing musical
 instruments, omaments and jewels, vehicles and tropical places, sweet and fattening foods, cows, nice clothes and
cosmetics. Overindulgence and affliction to the excretory system manifest in charts where this planet is powerful.
A Venusian person moves gracefully and may be talented in sports.

Saturn planet gives a feeling of sadness and is the karaka of Grief. Blue/Black are the colours of Saturn. Its
temperament is bleak, cold, dictatorial, surly and represents bad places. Winter is the season of Saturn and west is
the direction. It is vengeful in nature. It is the karaka of sensory organs. Iron is the element of Saturn. The
compatible gemstone is Blue Sapphire which must be worn with caution due to the fiery nature of this planet.
Saturn is a powerful planet and is malefic in nature. It rules over death and the aging of the body, the practice of
Saturn yoga or detachment from the material world, foreign places or people from faraway lands, black marketeers or
thieves, and it specifically has much to do with one’s work or employment. Saturn rules laborers, and its position
in the chart indicates the line of work a person does, or the type of struggle one has to go through to succeed.
Sudras, or unclean manual laborers, are represented by this planet. Black-colored items like gasoline and iron,
agricultural products, old things, lumber, laziness, deadly substances, hunters, all come under Satum‘s portfolio.
Saturn can represent good things like compassion for the needy, social services, good longevity, meditative
realizations, humble service and power over the masses.

The Dragon Head and is separate from the senses causing delusions and starves for the body. Its temperament is
aggressive, eccentric, impulsive. Rahu drives temptation to indulge in worldly luxuries and pleasures through
greed, cheating and excessive craving for fulfilment of materialistic desires. South West is the direction of this
planet. Its colour is Dark Blue. Gomed (Hessonite Garnet) is the recommended gemstone for this planet. Rahu is a
Rahu malefic planet by nature, causing frustration, irregular or irreligious habits, use of intoxicants, troubles from ghosts
or evil spirits, uncleanliness, infectious disease or just a lifestyle filled with chaos. Its general function is to intensify
the effects of the house in which it is situated; for example, Rahu in the second house causes intense financial
struggle and Rahu in the seventh may cause serious trouble with the mate. Rahu can give a kingdom and the
ability to use the media to sway many people, when it is powerfully situated. Rahu represents snakes, Buddhists,
fear, suffering from previous sins, shady characters. Rahu will act like the lord of the sign it is in. According to the
 Vedas, Rahu is a demoniac planet who on occasion attacks the Sun and Moon, causing solar and lunar eclipses.

The Dragon Tail is akin to a robot or zombie, starving for completeness and enlightenment as it is disjointed from
the head and brain. Its temperament is aggressive, eccentric, impulsive. Ketu shows us the path to liberation from
worldly desires and attaining the higher purpose in life of spiritual enlightenment. South West is the direction of
Ketu this planet. Its colour is Grey and the recommended gemstone is Cat’s Eye. Ketu, like Rahu, is a shadowy planet
that acts like the lord of the sign it is in. Most texts say that Rahu acts like Satum and Ketu acts like Mars. Ketu is a
restrictive planet, causing obstructions to one‘s endeavors or poverty-stricken conditions of life. Ketu is a malefic
by nature and afflicts the house that it is in, unless it is exalted or conjoined with a benefic planet. Poison,
suffering and the desire for liberation come under Ketu’s categories.

Planet Exaltation Debilitation Moola-trikona Highest Exaltation

Sun Aries Libra 1°-10° Leo 10° Aries

Moon Taurus Scorpio 4°-20° Taurus 3° Taurus

Mars Capricorn Cancer 0°-12° Aries 28° Capricorn

Mercury Virgo Pisces 16°-20° Virgo 15° Virgo

Jupiter Cancer Aquarius 0°-10° Sagittarius 5° Cancer

Venus Pisces Virgo 0°-15° Libra 27° Pisces

Saturn Libra Aries 0°-20° Aquarius 20° Libra

Rahu Taurus Scorpio Cancer? 20° Taurus

Ketu Scorpio Taurus Capricorn? 20° Scorpio