Grahas/Planets
According to the Vedas,
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.
As per Hindu ancient
scriptures, the whole zodiac (rashis) represents Lord Vishnu and rashis
represent his limbs and grah/planets represent Vishnu’s avataras
(incarnations). According to the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Lord
Vishn has incarnated, as the 9 (Nava) Grahas to bestow on the
living beings the results due to their Karmas.
From Surya the
incarnation of Ram, from Candr that of Krishn, from Mangal that of Narasimh,
from Budh that of Buddha, from Guru that of Vaman, from Sukr that of
Parashuram, from Sani that of Kurma (Tortoise), from Rahu that of Varah (Pig)
and from Ketu that of Meen (Fish) occurred.
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.
Now we shall see the
characteristics and nature of different Grahas in different aspects.
Governance
Sun governs soul. Moon
governs mind. Mars governs strength. Mercury governs speech. Jupiter governs
knowledge and happiness. Venus governs potency. Saturn governs grief.
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.
Gender 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.
(2) Bhoo tattva (earthy
element) is ruled by Mercury.
(3) Vaayu tattva (airy
element) is ruled by Saturn.
(4) Aakaasa tattva
(ethery element) is ruled by Jupiter.
(5) 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 and Varna
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.
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.
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.
(2) 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.
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.
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).
(2) Sun and Venus rule
over moolas (roots and vegetables).
(3) 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 6 shows own rasis,
exaltation rasis, the degree of deep exaltation, debilitation rasi, the
degree of deep debilitation and the moolatrikona of each planet.
Some special points
regarding the results given by planets:
Grah Name
|
Rashi Owned
|
Exaltation Rashi and Degree
|
Exaltation Rashi and Degree
|
MoolaTrikon Rashi
|
Surya
|
Simha
|
Mesh
(10 degree)
|
Tula
(10 degree)
|
Simha
|
Chandra
|
Kark
|
Vrish
(3 degree)
|
Vrischik
(3 degree)
|
Vrish
|
Mangal
|
Mesh
and Vrischik
|
Makar(28
degree)
|
Kark
(28 degree)
|
Mesh
|
Buddh
|
Mithun
and Kanya
|
Kanya(15
degree)
|
Meen
(15 degree)
|
Kanya
|
Guru
|
Dhanu
and Meen
|
Kark(5
degree)
|
Makar
(5 degree)
|
Dhanu
|
Shukr
|
Vrish
and Tula
|
Meen(27
degree)
|
Kanya
(27 degree)
|
Tula
|
Shani
|
Makar
and Kumbh
|
Tula(20
degree)
|
Mesh
(20 degree)
|
Kumbh
|
Rahu
|
Mithun
|
Kanya
|
||
Ketu
|
(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.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) 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.
Planetary Relationships
Natural Relationships
The list of friends,
neutral planets and enemies of all planets is listed:
Grah
|
Friends
|
Neutral
|
Enemies
|
Surya
|
Chandra, Mangal, Guru
|
Buddh
|
Shukr and Shani
|
Chandra
|
Surya, Mangal, Guru
|
Buddh, Shukr and Shani
|
|
Mangal
|
Surya, Chandra, Guru
|
buddh
|
Shukr and shani
|
Buddh
|
Surya, Shukr
|
Shani, Guru, Mangal
|
chandra
|
Guru
|
Surya, Chandra, Mangal
|
Shani
|
Shukr,buddh
|
Shukr
|
Shani and Buddh
|
Guru, Mangal
|
Surya , Chandra
|
Shani
|
Shukr and Buddh
|
Guru
|
Surya, Chandra, Mangal
|
Temporary 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.
Compound Relationships
We get the compound
relationships between planets by combining permanent and temporary
relationships. Give example here.
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