Nine Planets InAstrology

In Hindu Astrology there are nine planets or Grahas. These include Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,Sun, Moon,Saturn Rahu and Ketu, which are astronomical points formed where the moons orbit intersects the apparent path of the Sun around the earth.  Each planet is considered to be having masculine, feminine or neutral characteristics as well .

Grahas and their equivalents in Western Astrology

Indian Grahas	Western Names	Sex
Ravi	Sun	Masculine
Chandra	Moon	Feminine
Kuja	Mars	Masculine
Budha	Mercury	Neutral
Guru	Jupiter	Masculine
Sukra	Venus	Feminine
Sani	Saturn	Neutral
Rahu	Dragon's Head	Feminine
Ketu	Dragon's Tail	Neutral

Rahu and Ketu

The Moons apparent path intersects the ecliptic obliquely at two points called the nodes. The point where the Moon crosses the ecliptic from south to north is called the ascending node or Rahu, where it crosses the ecliptic from north to south is called descending node or Ketu. These two points are 180 degrees apart and their movement is constantly  retrograde, meaning, against the normal direction of movement of planets. Rahu and Ketu are given special status and considered as planets in Indian astrology.But they are not included in Western Astrology. Rahu and Ketu take approximately eighteen years and ten days to complete one round of the zodiac .

Grahas' Relationships

Each planet or Graha considers another planet as friend, enemy or equal. Some relationships are not mutual, for example, while one planet considers another as a friend, the second planet in turn may not see the first one as a friend. Mercury and Moon are examples.

Grahas (Planets)	Friends	Equals	Enemies
Sun	Moon, Mars, Jupiter	Mercury	Venus, Saturn, Rahu
Moon	Sun, Mercury	Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn	Rahu
Mars	Sun, Moon, Jupiter	Venus, Saturn	Mercury, Rahu
Mercury	Sun, Venus, Rahu	Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,	Moon
Jupiter	Sun, Moon, Mars	Saturn, Rahu	Mercury, Venus
Venus	Mercury, Saturn, Rahu	Jupiter, Mars	Sun, Moon
Saturn	Mercury, Venus, Rahu	Jupiter	Sun, Moon, Mars
Rahu	Mercury, Venus,Saturn	Jupiter	Sun, Moon, Mars
Ketu	Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Rahu	Jupiter	Sun,Moon, Mars

Grahas And Gemstones

Each graha (planet) of Indian astroogy has a gem stone associated with it. The nine stones corresponding to the nine planets are called the Navaratna group of stones

Planets	Gemstones	Image
Ravi (Sun)	Ruby
Chandra (Moon)	Pearl
Kuja (Mars)	Coral
Budha (Mercury)	Emerald
Guru (Jupiter)	Yellow Sapphire
Sukra (Venus)	Diamond
Sani (Saturn)	Blue Sapphire
Rahu (Dragon's Head)	Gomed
Ketu (Dragon's Tail)	Cat's Eye

.Grahas (Planets )& Associated Colors

Grahas (Planets)	Colors	Image
Ravi (Sun)	Red
Chandra (Moon)	White
Kuja (Mars)	Red
Budha (Mercury)	Green
Guru (Jupiter)	Yellow
Sukra (Venus)	White
Sani (Saturn)	Blue
Rahu (Dragon's head)	Smoke
Ketu (Dragon's Tail)	Smoke

Grahas (Planets) and their Respective Elements

Graha (Planet)	Element	Image
Mercury	Earth
Sun	Fire
Saturn	Air
Jupiter	Ethereal
Venus, Moon	Water

Grahas (Planets) & Associated Characters

Character	Ravi (Sun)	Chandra(Moon)	Kuja (Mars)	Budha(Mercury)
Color	Copper	White	Red	Green
Sex	Male	Female	Male	Eunuch
Element	Fire	Water	Fire	Earth
God	Agni	Varuna	Subramanya	Vishnu
Metal	Copper	Gems	Gold	Brass
BodyPart	Bone	Blood	Marrow	Skin
Grains	Wheat	Paddy	Lentil	Greengram
Seasons	Summer	Winter	Summer	Autumn
Taste	Pungent	Salt	Acidity	Mixed
Residence	Place of Worship	Springs	Fire	Playground

Character	Jupiter	Venus	Saturn
Color	Gold/Silver	White/Yellow	Blue/Black
Sex	Male	Female	Eunuch
Element	Ether	Water	Air
God	Indra	Indrani	Brahma
Metal	Silver	Diamond	Iron
Body Parts	Brain	Semen	Muscles
Grains	Bengalgram	Beans	Sesame
Seasons	Snow	Spring	All Seasons
Taste	Sweet	Sour	Astringent
Residence	Store-house	Bed-room	DustBin

The Nava-Grahas or Nine Planets

Sun or Surya is a royal planet and the king in astrology. He represents the soul, will power, father, paternal relations, the king or the high officials. Its hot and angry, colour is red, metal is gold and gem is ruby. Sun represents the eastern direction.
The sun stays in each rasi 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 suns 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 suns entry into various signs and nakshatras. He is the Pitrukaraka or planet connected with father.

Given bellow are the basic qualities and nature of the 9 planets. However based on your Lagna and where these planets are placed they give different results. 

Moon or Chandra is also a royal planet and is the queen in astrology. He 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. Its 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 rasi it is called Amavasya 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. He is the Matrukaraka or planet connected with mother.

The sign in which your Moon is placed in the birth chart is called your Janma Rasi. The star constellation in which your Moon is placed is called your Janma Nakshatra. 

Mars or Mangala or Kuja is the commander in astrology. He 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, color is red and direction south.
Mars takes about 45 days to travel one sign. He is the Bhatrukaraka or planet connected with brother.

Mercury or Budha is the prince in astrology. He 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, color is green and direction north.
Mercury takes about a month to travel a rasi. It is always within 27 degree distance from the sun from astrological point of view.

Jupiter or Guru or Brihaspati is known as the "Devaguru" or the guru of the Gods. He represents higher knowledge, spirituality, priests, temples, teachers, research & scientists, layers & judges, children and knowledge of the sastras and astrology. Its color is yellow, metal gold, gem yellow sapphire and direction north - east. Jupiter takes about one year to travel a sign. He is the Putrakaraka or planet connected with children.

Venus or Shukra is the "Daityaguru" or the guru of the demons. He represents spouse, sex life, kidneys and sex organ, dance, music, arts, gems and jewelers, 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 Kalatrakaraka or planet connected with spouse.

Saturn or Shani is the servant in astrology. He 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 and a badly placed Saturn can devastate you. Its metal is iron, color 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. He is the Udyogakaraka or planet connected with profession.

Rahu or Dragons Head or North Node represents, foreigners, foreign countries, foreign travel, engineering and the technical trades, smoke, old men, grand parents, theft, gambling, drinking, nonconformists, the underworld and the bad elements in the society. Its color is black, metal 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 Dragons Tail or South Node represents grand parents, 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 produce different results, and at times totally opposite results, while placed in the 12 different rasis. Again each has some good results and some bad results in each sign. This is an important aspect of astrology which must be remembered.
While placed 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.

The seven main planets rule the seven days of the week.Sun rules Sunday.
Moon rules Monday.
Mars rules Tuesday.
Mercury rules Wednesday.
Jupiter rules Thursday.
Venus rules Friday.
Saturn rules Saturday.
Rahu and Ketu do not rule any day

The nine planets placed in the twelve zodiac signs produce various effects. The nine planets placed in twelve houses from lagna produce various effects. The lords of the twelve houses from lagna, while placed in the twelve different houses from lagna produce various effects. This is a bit complicated. 9x12+9x12+12x12 = 360 combinations to remember.

One of the reasons Vedic Astrologers can size-up a chart and predict outcomes so quickly is because each planet rules certain houses depending on the Asc. So, for a Libra Asc, the best planet is Saturn, because of its lordship of houses 4 and 5, whereas Jupiter is not so good for a Libra, due to its rulership of houses 3 and 6. This is a very important principle to remember, as the first planet a Vedic Astrologer should look for is the best planet for a Lagan and then the not-so-good planets. I cannot stress enough how important this procedure is.

Vas (Vedic Astrologers) can also size things up quickly based on how a planet is placed - by sign, aspect, house placement/rulership, and so on. Once you have been doing VA (Vedic Astrology) for awhile, it just sort of comes to you in a flash; I know that's how it works for me. When I look at a chart, and I see Mars placed in the 5th house for a Sag Asc, and I see that the person is due for a Mars Dasa in a minute, it all comes together for me, and it takes about a minute or two. It's really that simple.

Dasas, in a major way, are better at evaluating the overall tenor and tone of a person's life than Western Astrology, especially if that Dasa's a long one. Say, for example, you have a person in a Saturn Dasa, and that Saturn is in Aries (very bad) in the 7th house, for a Libra Asc. Now, keep in mind that Saturn's Dasa will last for about 19 years, and in this case, it started in the early 1990s. Right off the bat, you can expect there to be a lot of pain associated with relationships - loneliness, heavy burdens, frustration, a hard time getting into or keeping relationships going, will be a big theme. Things like this are very important.

The easiest way to evaluate Dasas are to just roll with what the natural significations of that planet are, along with the house that it sits in these are the areas in which you will be able to see clearly how Dasas will operate for that person, and you will be able to see the effects right away, especially if that planet stands out somehow.

There are a lot of subtleties of Dasa interpretation and in due course, I will write more about this. But I will say right now, that your ability to correctly assess a Dasa is solely dependent upon the nature of the relationship you make and have with the Planets.

The closer you become at one with the meanings of the Planets, the better you will be able to feel their ebb and flow.

Now, what we have to remember, in Vedic Astrology, is that there are TWO kinds of planets: benefic (good) and malefic (bad). On top of that, there are TWO kinds of planetary states:

1. Natural Benefics and Natural Malefics

2. Functional Benefics and Functional Malefics

The Natural Benefics are: Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.

The Natural Malefics are: Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.

Functional benefic and malefic status depends on the Asc, and is another reason why the Asc is so important. Really, it is the only reason why most Vedic Astrologers want this kind of info, so they can get a handle on what planets are good and which ones are not so good. For any Asc, planets ruling the 6, 8, or 12 houses are not good.

ANY planet ruling the Asc is automatically good; planets ruling the trines (5 and 9) are also good. Planets ruling the Kendras (angular houses) are usually good as well. Planets ruling the 2 and 11 houses can be mixed, depending on other factors.

When Planets run their Dasas, what has to be kept in mind is whether the planet is inherently good or bad, and whether it rules a good or bad house. This is the first thing you should look for.

Dasa Sandhi...

This is when a Planet either just begins its Dasa, or is nearing the end of its Dasa. Classical books say that a planet that runs both its major and minor periods at the same time is not good; for example, Rahu/Rahu. This is because that Dasa is just getting off the ground, and is like the dawn or the sunset - it's neither day or night, and there is an intermingling of energies going on, so it's not considered good. Same goes for the end of a Dasa, like Rahu/Mars, because the Dasa is losing strength.

How Planets Placed in Dasa Lord's Signs Impact the Quality of Said Dasa...

Benefic planets that are placed in the Dasa Lord's signs can greatly improve the overall strength and significations of said Dasa. On the other hand, malefic planets occupying said Dasa Lord's signs can greatly harm the Dasa, and the results it can give. Take for example, Venus Dasa running in a chart, with Mars in Taurus, and Rahu in Libra. On top of that, Venus is placed in the 12th house, and Mars is placed in the 6th. Now, Venus, here, is greatly damaged by both the occupancy of malefics in its signs, as well as naturally malefic Mars aspecting Venus. This means that, although there may be a great deal of sex going down here (12th house placement of Venus, the aspect of Mars, Mars is a sexual planet, Rahu is in Venus' signs, and Venus also rules sex), trying to get into a stable relationship is going to very difficult, and if any of these planets has a tie-in to the 7th house from either the Asc or the Moon, then it could be disastrous for the native.

Take another example, Jupiter Dasa with Mercury in Sag and Venus in Pisces. Now, because there are two natural benefics placed in Jupiter's Signs, Jupiter's Dasa will be very good, especially along educational/intellectual and romantic lines. This is a simple rule that cannot be overlooked.

Dasa of Rahu and Ketu...

Rahu and Ketu don't own any signs, and as such, can be difficult to interpret. One way I have found helpful is to see whether Rahu occupies signs of Mercury, and if Ketu occupies signs of Jupiter. They tend to do better in these signs, and, if other factors agree, can even bring very good and pleasant results. But even when the Nodes are excellently placed, they still have to give some trouble and confusion, because they are, after all, natural malefics.

If Rahu and Ketu are angular, their effects will really be felt during their Dasas; so a lot will depend on other factors in the horoscope, as well as the Node's dispositors.

Rahu can, under certain conditions, give Raja-Yoga results. If Rahu is placed in a Kendra (angular house) while at the same time, it is aspected by the ruler of that Kendra, it will give Raja Yoga. Same will be true if a natural benefic aspects Rahu in the same position. Many famous people have such combinations - just last night, I spoke of Vanessa Del Rio's chart, she has this. So did Princess Di.

The Importance of Planetary Distances in Dasa Interpretation...

The way in which planets are placed from each other is vitally important; if they are 1/1, 1/7, 5/9/, or 4/10, chances are good that Dasas will flow into each other with little problem. However, if planets are 2/12 or 6/8 from each other, their Dasas will be very rough - one will end and another will start "off-key" so to speak. This accounts for why some people just seem to go off into something all together different in their lives, from one path to another. This is also why people can be doing very well in their lives and all of a sudden, things go haywire, even if that planet isn't all that badly placed in the horoscope. Planets being in good relationship to one another is very important in Dasa analysis.

House Placement of the Dasa Lord...

The house a planet is placed in will really come to the forefront during its Dasa. Additionally, certain houses are better than others. Planets placed in the Konas (trines, 5 and 9) will tend to do better than planets placed in the Triks (6, 8, or 12). Planets placed in Kendras will really exert a lot of power during their Dasas, as the Kendras are the Power Zones of the Horoscope. Planets placed in the 2 and 11 houses will give results dependent on whether they are naturally benefic or malefic, and on other factors.

There are other factors, but the above should help you out in learning how to analyze the strength and overall trend of a Dasa.