Grahas-Introduction

Grahas (planets)
Introduction
There are 7 grahas (planets) in Vedic astrology: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. There are two more chaayaa grahas (shadow planets): Rahu and Ketu. Rahu and Ketu are mathematical points. They are also called the north and south nodes or the head and tail of dragon. They are based on the points at which the orbit of Moon around earth cuts the orbit of earth around Sun.
Rasis represent situations that develop in one’s life and influences that enter one’s life. Planets in a chart represent human beings that play a role in one’s life.
Just as the whole zodiac represents Lord Vishnu and rasis represent His limbs, planets represent Vishnu’s avataras (incarnations).
Characteristics of Planets
Vishnu’s Avataras
This world contains two essences – jeevaamsa (living essence) and paramaatmaamsa (absolute and supreme essence). Planets are the manifestations of different aspects of these essences. Vishnu’s incarnations happened with these essences taken from various planets.
Meena/Matsya avatara (fish) came from Ketu. Koorma avatara (tortoise) came from Saturn. Varaaha/sookara avatara (boar) came from Rahu. Narasimha/Nrisimha avatara (half-man, half-lion) came from Mars. Vaamana avatara (learned dwarf) came from Jupiter. Parasu Rama/Bhaargava Rama came from Venus. Rama came from Sun. Krishna came from Moon. Buddha came from Mercury.
All these incarnations came into being with a significant percentage of paramaatmaamsa (supreme essence) than jeevaatmaamsa (living essence). Rama, Krishna, Narasimha and Varaha avataras had only paramaatmaamsa.
Other living beings are born with a significant percentage of jeevaamsa and a little of paramaatmaamsa from the planets.
Benefics and Malefics
(1) Jupiter and Venus are natural benefics (saumya grahas or subha grahas). Mercury becomes a natural benefic when he is alone or with more natural benefics. Waxing Moon of Sukla paksha is a natural benefic.
(1) Sun, Mars, Rahu and Ketu are natural malefics (kroora grahas or paapa grahas). Mercury becomes a natural malefic when he is joined by more natural malefics. Waning Moon of Krishna paksha is a natural malefic.
This information is important because the results given by planets are based on their inherent nature.
Main Governance
Sun governs soul. Moon governs mind. Mars governs strength. Mercury governs speech. Jupiter governs knowledge and happiness. Venus governs potency. Saturn governs grief.
Planets and Colors
Sun shows blood-red color. Moon shows tawny color. Mars shows blood-red color. Mercury shows grass green color. Jupiter shows tawny color. Venus is variegated. Saturn shows black color.
These colors can be useful, for example, when predicting the color of one’s car. For now, readers should just memorize these characteristics.
Planetary Cabinet
Sun and Moon are kings. Mars is the leader (army chief). Mercury is the prince. Jupiter and Venus are the ministers. Saturn is the servant. Rahu and Ketu form the army.
Planetary Deities
Ruling deities of various planets are as given below: Agni (fire god) for Sun, Varuna (rain god) for Moon, Subrahmanya (army chief of gods) for Mars, Maha Vishnu (supreme sustaining force) for Mercury, Indra (ruler of gods) for Jupiter, Sachi Devi (Indra’s wife) for Venus, Brahma (Creator) for Saturn.
Sex of Planets
Sun, Mars and Jupiter are male. Moon and Venus are female. Saturn and Mercury are female.
This information can be used for predicting the sex of children based on one’s chart. For example, if the house ruling the first child is influenced by Jupiter, Mars and Mercury, we may predict a son. If it is influenced by Moon and Mercury, we may predict a daughter.
Planets & Five Elements
(1) Agni tattva (fiery element) is ruled by Mars. Sun also has the same nature.(1) Bhoo tattva (earthy element) is ruled by Mercury.(1) Vaayu tattva (airy element) is ruled by Saturn.(1) Aakaasa tattva (ethery element) is ruled by Jupiter.(1) Jala tattva (watery element) is ruled by Venus. Moon also has the same nature.
These rulerships throw light on the basic nature of planets. Being a fiery planet, Mars governs leadership, enterprise etc. Being an earthy planet, Mercury governs memory, logical abilities etc. Being an airy planet, Saturn governs wandering and free spirit. Being a watery planet, Venus governs imaginative and creative work. Being an ethery planet, Jupiter governs wisdom, intelligence and perceiving knowledge.
Planets & Varnas
Jupiter and Venus are Brahmanas (learned). Sun and Mars are Kshatriyas (warriors). Moon and Mercury are Vaisyas (traders). Saturn is a Sudra (worker).
Learning and intelligence is the forte of the learned class. Bravery is the forte of the warrior class. Getting along with others well is the forte of the trader class. Hard work is the forte of the working class. In this manner, we should understand varnas to show one’s basic nature rather than the caste of one’s family.
It should be noted that Moon, who was earlier classified in the planetary cabinet as a king, is said here to be of Vaisya varna. Sun is a king who is also a warrior. He is a brave king, who asserts himself. But Moon is a king who gets along well with everyone.
Planets & Gunas
Sun, Moon and Jupiter are saattwik planets. Mercury and Venus are raajasik planets. Mars and Saturn are taamasik planets.
NOTE: There is a misconception today that sattwa guna means patience and not hurting others. An aggressive response to an offender is often thought to be raajasik. However, sattwa simply means “the state of being true”. Pleasing others with artificial goodness is not sattwa guna. Punishing a person for his mistakes is not necessarily rajo guna. If there is some passion and impurity in one’s energetic response, then it shows rajo guna. But, if a warrior fights a sinning person with no passion or ego, it can still be a saattvic act. Lord Sri Rama and Sun are examples for this. Sun is a king of the warrior class and yet he is saattwik. Lord Rama, who was born with his amsa, is a saattwik person despite killing Ravana and other demons.
Sattva guna simply means purity and truthfulness in one’s thoughts and action. Rajo guna shows some passion, energy and impurity in thoughts and actions. Tamo guna shows a dark, mean and depraved spirit in thoughts and actions.
Planetary Abodes
Sun lives in a temple. Moon lives in a watery place. Mercury lives in a sports ground. Jupiter lives in a treasure house. Venus lives in the bedroom. Saturn lives in a filthy area.
This description should give one an idea of the nature of planets.
Seven Dhaatus
Sapta dhaatus or 7 matters make up human body. The planetary rulerships are as follows: Sun rules bones. Moon rules blood. Mars rules marrow. Mercury rules skin. Jupiter rules fat. Venus rules semen (materials related to the reproductive system). Saturn rules muscles.
If Sun is afflicted, it can show some problems related to bones. Weakness of Moon may give blood related problems. And so on.
Planets & Time Periods
Sun rules an ayana. Moon rules a minute. Mars rules a week. Mercury rules a ritu. Jupiter rules a month. Venus rules a fortnight. Saturn rules a year.
These periods are very useful in prasna or horary astrology.
Planets & Tastes
Sun governs the pungent taste (e.g. onion, ginger, pepper). Moon governs the saline taste (e.g. sea salt, rock salt). Mars governs the bitter taste (e.g. karela/bitter melon, dandelion root, rhubarb root, neem leaves). Mercury governs a mixed taste. Jupiter governs sweetness (e.g. sugar, dates). Venus governs the sour taste (e.g. lemon, tamarind). Saturn governs the astringent taste (e.g. plantain, pomegranate).
The 2nd house shows one’s preference in food. The planets influencing it may decide one’s favorite taste. In addition, one should avoid the tastes of the planets who are likely bring disease. Suppose one is running a dasa or antardasa of a sign containing Moon as per Shoola dasa (a dasa that shows suffering). Then some suffering related to Moon is possible. Moon can give problems related to blood pressure as he governs blood. So eating too much salty food during such a period may result in high blood pressure. Similarly, one should cut down on sweets during a period in which Jupiter related troubles are indicated. Or, one may develop too much fat (Jupiter) or get other Jupiter related diseases.
Planetary Strengths
Mercury and Jupiter are strong in the eastern direction (lagna). Sun and Mars are strong in the southern direction (meridian – 10th house). Moon and Venus are strong in the northern direction (nadir – 4th house). Saturn is strong in the west (7th house). These are the digbalas (strengths associated with direction) of planets. These show the direction taken by one in one’s life, as we will see later.
Moon, Mars and Saturn are strong in the night time. Sun, Jupiter and Venus are strong in the daytime. Mercury is always strong.
Natural malefics are strong in Krishna paksha. Natural benefics are strong in Sukla paksha.
Natural malefics are strong in Dakshina ayana. Natural benefics are strong in Uttara ayana.
Planets & Ritus
Planetary rulerships over ritus (seasons) are as follows: Venus governs vasanta ritu (spring). Mars governs greeshma ritu (summer). Moon governs varsha ritu (rainy season). Mercury governs hemanta ritu (season of dew). Jupiter governs seeta ritu (winter). Saturn governs sisira ritu (fall).
Dhatu, Moola and Jeeva
(1) Rahu, Mars, Saturn and Moon rule over dhaatus (metals and materials).(1) Sun and Venus rule over moolas (roots and vegetables).
(1) Mercury, Jupiter and Ketu rule over jeevas (living beings).
Planetary Dignities
Each planet has a sign where it is exalted (uchcha), a sign where it is debilitated (neecha), a sign that is called its moolatrikona and one or two rasis that are owned by it. A planet is said to be strong in its own rasi or exaltation rasi or moolatrikona.
Table 3 shows own rasis, exaltation rasis, the degree of deep exaltation, debilitation rasi, the degree of deep debilitation and the moolatrikona of each planet.
Table 3: Dignities of Planets
Planet Own rasis Exaltation rasi(deep exaltationpoint) Debilitation rasi(deep debilitationpoint) MoolatrikonaSun Le Ar (10º) Li (10º) LeMoon Cn Ta (3º) Sc (3º) TaMars Ar & Sc Cp (28º) Cn (28º) ArMercury Ge & Vi Vi (15º) Pi (15º) ViJupiter Sg & Pi Cn (5º) Cp (5º) SgVenus Ta & Li Pi (27º) Vi (27º) LiSaturn Cp & Aq Li (20º) Ar (20º) AqRahu Aq Ge Sg ViKetu Sc Sg Ge PiSome special points regarding the results given by planets:
(1) Sun gives the results of being in moolatrikona in the first 20º of Le and the results of being in own rasi in the remaining 10º.(1) Moon gives the results of being in exaltation rasi in the first 3º of Ta and the results of being in moolatrikona in the remaining 27º.(1) Mars gives the results of being in moolatrikona in the first 12º of Le and the results of being in own rasi in the remaining 18º.(1) Mercury gives the results of being in exaltation rasi in the first 15º of Vi, the results of being in moolatrikona in the next 5º and the results of being in own rasi in the remaining 10º.
(1) Jupiter gives the results of being in moolatrikona in the first 10º of Sg and the results of being in own rasi in the remaining 20º.(1) Venus gives the results of being in moolatrikona in the first half of Li and the results of being in own rasi in the second half of Li.(1) Saturn gives the results of being in moolatrikona in the first 20º of Aq and the results of being in own rasi in the remaining 10º.
An analogy may help one understand the subtle difference between own rasi, exaltation rasi and moolatrikona.
Own rasi of a planet (e.g. Pisces of Jupiter) is like one’s home. One is most natural and comfortable at home. That is exactly what a planet in own rasi is. Moolatrikona of a planet (e.g. Sagittarius of Jupiter) is like one’s office. One executes one’s formal job and performs one’s duty at office. One is powerful and duty-minded at office. Exaltation sign of a planet (e.g. Cancer of Jupiter) is like a favorite party/picnic. One is excited to be at one’s favorite party/picnic. So an exalted planet is like an excited person at his favorite picnic spot. Debilitation sign of a planet (e.g. Capricorn of Jupiter) is like one’s worst party. A debilitated planet is like an unhappy person stuck at a place he hates.
Jupiter is a saattwik and dharmik Brahmin. Ethery Jupiter, planet of perception, intelligence and wisdom, is most comfortable in saattwik Pisces, which is the 12th house of the natural zodiac. That is his home. However, he also has to uphold dharma. Upholding dharma is his duty. Whether he likes it or not, he has to do it. So fiery Sagittarius, 9th house in the natural zodiac, is his moolatrikona. Jupiter is like a "raaja purohit" (chief priest of a king) in Sagittarius. He has to sometimes take strong decisions to uphold dharma (like sentencing someone to death). In Pisces, he is like a peaceful Brahmin doing pooja at his home. In watery Cancer, the 4th house of the natural zodiac, Jupiter is excited to do some imaginative (watery) learning (4th house matter). In taamasik and earthy Capricorn, the 10th house of the natural zodiac, Jupiter hates doing tamasik and well-defined karma (action, 10th house matter). It is against his nature. Executing well-defined taamasik karma may be fine with taamasik planets Mars and Saturn, but Jupiter is unhappy with it. So Jupiter is debilitated in Cp.
Take Mercury as another example. He is an intellectual planet and significator of communications. “Intelligent communication” is the most comfortable activity for him. So his home is intellectual Gemini, the 3rd house (communications) of the natural zodiac. However, intelligent debates and arguments are the formal job assigned to him. Virgo is the 6th house (arguments) of the natural zodiac and it is Mercury’s moolatrikona!
While saattwik and ethery Jupiter doesn't quite love the job of fiercely and fierily upholding dharma (by punishing demon king Bali in Vaamana avatara, for example), he does it with a sense of duty. But Mercury loves his official job! He loves engaging in intellectual debates. So Virgo (6th house of the natural zodiac) is not only his moolatrikona (office), but also his exaltation sign (favorite picnic spot). Still, "intelligent communications" (Gemini) is what he is most comfortable with (home).
Let us take one final example – Ketu. Ketu is most comfortable with occult activity, which are shown by the 8th house. So he owns the 8th house of the natural zodiac, i.e. Scorpio. His official duty, however, is giving upaasana (meditation) and moksha (liberation), which are shown by the 12th house. So his moolatrikona is in the 12th house of the natural zodiac, i.e. Pisces.
One should remember the above and understand the mood of a planet based on whether it is in own rasi or exaltation rasi or moolatrikona. Though all the three are good placements, there is a subtle difference in the mood of the planet and the results given by it.
Planetary Relationships
Natural Relationships
For each planet, its friends and enemies are found as follows: Take the moolatrikona of the planet. Lord of the rasi where it is exalted is its friend. Lords of 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th rasis from it are also its natural friends. Lords of other rasis are its natural enemies. If a planet becomes a friend and an enemy on account of owning two rasis, then it is a neutral planet. The list of friends, neutral planets and enemies of all planets is listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Natural relationships
Planet Friends (mitra) Nuetral (sama) Enemies (satru)Sun Moon, Mars, Jupiter Mercury Venus, SaturnMoon Sun, Mercury Mars, Jupiter, Venus,Saturn —Mars Sun, Moon, Jupiter Venus, Saturn MercuryMercury Sun, Venus Mars, Jupiter, Saturn MoonJupiter Sun, Moon, Mars Saturn Mercury, VenusVenus Mercury, Saturn Mars, Jupiter Sun, MoonSaturn Mercury, Venus Jupiter Sun, Moon, MarsTemporary Relationships
In addition to the permanent relationship, we have temporary relationships based on the planetary position in a chart. These temporary (tatkaala) relationships are specific to a chart.
Planets occupying the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 12th rasis counted from the rasi occupied by a planet are its temporary friends. Planet occupying other rasis are its temporary enemies.
Example 2: Let us consider Lord Sree Rama’s chart given in Figure 1 and find the temporary friends and temporary enemies of Sun and Moon.
Sun: Sun is in Ar. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 12th rasis counted from Ar are Ta, Ge, Cn, Cp, Aq and Pi. Planets in those rasis are Mercury, Moon, Jupiter, Mars and Venus. They are temporary friends of Sun in this chart. Saturn is the only temporary enemy.
Moon: Moon is in Cn. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 12th rasis counted from Cn are Le, Vi, Li, Ar, Ta and Ge. Planets in those rasis are Saturn, Sun and Mercury. They are temporary friends of Moon in this chart. Temporary enemies are Mars, Jupiter, Venus.
Note that Moon and Jupiter have the same temporary friends and temporary enemies. That is because they occupy the same rasi and temporary relationships are based on the rasis occupied by planets.
Compound Relationships
We get the compound relationships between planets by combining permanent and temporary relationships as shown in Table 5.
Table 5: Compound Relationships
Temporary friend Temporary enemyNatural friend Adhimitra (good friend) Sama (neutral)Natural neutral Mitra (friend) Satru (enemy)Natural enemy Sama (neutral) Adhisatru (bad enemy)Example 3: Let us continue from Example 2 and find the friends and enemies of Sun and Moon in Lord Sree Rama’s chart given in Figure 1.
Sun: We found in Example 2 that Sun’s temporary friends are Mercury, Moon, Jupiter, Mars and Venus. Of these, Moon, Mars and Jupiter are natural friends and they become adhimitras (good friends). Mercury is a neutral planet in natural relationship and he becomes a mitra (friend) in compound relationship. Venus is a natural enemy. Being a temporary friend, Venus becomes a sama (neutral) planet in compound relationship.
Saturn is the only temporary enemy of Sun. Being a natural enemy too, he becomes an adhisatru (bad enemy) of Sun.
Moon: We found in Example 2 that Moon’s temporary friends are Sun, Mercury and Saturn. Of these, Sun and Mercury are natural friends and they become adhimitras (good friends). Saturn is a neutral in natural relationship and he becomes a mitra (friend) in compound relationship.
Moon’s temporary enemies are Mars, Jupiter and Venus. They are all natural neutrals and they become satru (enemies) in compound relationship.
Whenever we refer to a planet being in a friendly house or an inimical house in the rest of this book, we mean the compound relationships. A planet occupying a rasi owned by a mitra or adhimitra is in a friendly house. A planet occupying a rasi owned by a satru or adhisatru is in an inimical house.