The Nine Grahas: A Guide to the Planets of Jyotish

Jyotish works with nine grahas. “Graha” means “one that seizes” — a force that takes hold of the mind and of events — so the list includes the Sun and Moon, the five visible planets, and the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu, but not Uranus, Neptune or Pluto. Each graha has its significations, its signs of strength and weakness, and its friends and enemies.

Sun (Surya)

The soul, the father, authority, government, vitality and the heart. A natural malefic in the sense of being hot and separating, but the king of the chart. Exalted in Aries (deepest at 10 degrees), debilitated in Libra, owns Leo. Its weekday is Sunday and its gem the ruby.

Moon (Chandra)

The mind, emotions, mother, home, nourishment and public life. Benefic when bright, weaker near the new moon. Exalted in Taurus (3 degrees), debilitated in Scorpio, owns Cancer. The Moon’s nakshatra sets the Vimshottari Dasha.

Mars (Mangal)

Energy, courage, siblings, land, police and military, surgery and engineering. A natural malefic. Exalted in Capricorn (28 degrees), debilitated in Cancer, owns Aries and Scorpio. Mars aspects the 4th, 7th and 8th houses from itself.

Mercury (Budha)

Intellect, speech, writing, trade, mathematics and youthfulness. Benefic when alone or with benefics, takes on the nature of the planets it joins. Exalted and own sign in Virgo (exaltation at 15 degrees), debilitated in Pisces, also owns Gemini.

Jupiter (Guru)

Wisdom, teachers, children, wealth, dharma and the husband in a woman’s chart. The greatest natural benefic. Exalted in Cancer (5 degrees), debilitated in Capricorn, owns Sagittarius and Pisces. Jupiter aspects the 5th, 7th and 9th houses from itself, and its aspect protects whatever it falls on.

Venus (Shukra)

Love, marriage, the wife in a man’s chart, beauty, art, comfort and vehicles. A natural benefic. Exalted in Pisces (27 degrees), debilitated in Virgo, owns Taurus and Libra.

Saturn (Shani)

Time, discipline, labour, service, old age, delay and longevity. The slowest of the visible planets and a natural malefic, but the giver of lasting results to those who work patiently. Exalted in Libra (20 degrees), debilitated in Aries, owns Capricorn and Aquarius. Saturn aspects the 3rd, 7th and 10th houses from itself.

Rahu and Ketu

The nodes are not physical bodies but the two points where the Moon’s orbit crosses the Sun’s path; eclipses happen there. They are always exactly opposite each other and move backwards through the zodiac, taking about 18 years to go round. Rahu, the head, signifies desire, ambition, foreign things, technology and illusion; it magnifies the house it occupies. Ketu, the tail, signifies detachment, past skills, spirituality and sudden insight; it separates from the house it occupies. Their signs of exaltation differ between traditions, and they act largely through the lord of the sign they occupy.

Friendships between planets

Parashara gives each planet natural friends, neutrals and enemies. Broadly, the Sun, Moon, Mars and Jupiter form one group and Mercury, Venus and Saturn another, with Rahu and Ketu leaning towards the second. A planet in a friend’s sign works more comfortably than one in an enemy’s sign, and the friendship of the Mahadasha and Antardasha lords colours each sub-period.

Your Kundli lists every graha with its sign, degree, nakshatra, house, dignity and strength.