Astrology basics · planets
Navagraha: the 9 planets in astrology and what each one rules
The nine grahas of Vedic astrology: what each signifies, the signs it owns, where it is exalted, and how Astrojar reads it.
In short
The navagraha are the nine planets (grahas) of Vedic astrology: the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. The first seven are visible bodies; Rahu and Ketu are the Moon's nodes (BPHS ch. 3 sl. 11). Each graha signifies parts of life, the Sun the soul and the Moon the mind (BPHS ch. 3 sl. 12-13), owns signs, and is strongest in its sign of exaltation.
What are the 9 planets in astrology?
| Planet | Nature | Signifies (BPHS ch. 3 sl. 12-13) | Astrojar reads it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Surya | Malefic | The soul | Career, health |
| Moon Chandra | Benefic | The mind | Love, property, health, mind and peace, foreign travel and settling abroad |
| Mars Mangala | Malefic | Strength | Debts and loans, property, legal matters, siblings |
| Mercury Budha | Benefic | Speech | Career, business, education, mind and peace |
| Jupiter Guru (Brihaspati) | Benefic | Knowledge and happiness | Marriage, business, money, education, children, spiritual life, luck |
| Venus Shukra | Benefic | Potency | Marriage, love, money, property |
| Saturn Shani | Malefic | Grief | Career, debts and loans, legal matters |
| Rahu Rahu | Malefic | The Moon's node | Foreign travel and settling abroad |
| Ketu Ketu | Malefic | The Moon's node | Spiritual life |
Significations: BPHS ch. 3 sl. 12-13. "Astrojar reads it for" is the app's own question routing.
Which signs does each planet own, and where is it exalted?
| Planet | Owns | Exalted in | Debilitated in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Leo | Aries | Libra |
| Moon | Cancer | Taurus | Scorpio |
| Mars | Aries, Scorpio | Capricorn | Cancer |
| Mercury | Gemini, Virgo | Virgo | Pisces |
| Jupiter | Sagittarius, Pisces | Cancer | Capricorn |
| Venus | Taurus, Libra | Pisces | Virgo |
| Saturn | Capricorn, Aquarius | Libra | Aries |
Exaltation and debilitation: BPHS ch. 3 sl. 49-50. Own signs: ch. 3 sl. 51-54; each planet's page gives its moolatrikona. Rahu and Ketu own no sign here, and their exaltation differs between texts, so Astrojar uses none.
What does each planet aspect, and who are its friends?
| Planet | Aspects (houses from itself) | Friends | Enemies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 7th | Jupiter, Mars, Moon | Saturn, Venus |
| Moon | 7th | Mercury, Sun | None |
| Mars | 4th, 7th, 8th | Jupiter, Moon, Sun | Mercury |
| Mercury | 7th | Sun, Venus | Moon |
| Jupiter | 5th, 7th, 9th | Mars, Moon, Sun | Mercury, Venus |
| Venus | 7th | Mercury, Saturn | Moon, Sun |
| Saturn | 3rd, 7th, 10th | Mercury, Venus | Mars, Moon, Sun |
| Rahu | 5th, 7th, 9th* | - | - |
| Ketu | 5th, 7th, 9th* | - | - |
Every planet aspects the 7th house from itself; Mars, Jupiter and Saturn have special aspects (BPHS ch. 26 sl. 2-5). *For Rahu and Ketu, Astrojar's engine uses the 5th, 7th and 9th, a common convention; texts differ on the nodes. Natural friendship: BPHS ch. 3 sl. 55.
Read each planet in depth
- Sun planet in astrology The soul, authority and vitality
- Moon in astrology The mind and emotional steadiness
- Mars in astrology Strength, courage and drive
- Mercury in astrology Speech, intellect and skill
- Jupiter in astrology Knowledge, wisdom and good fortune
- Venus in astrology Comfort, art and relationships
- Saturn in astrology Discipline, endurance and steady work
- Rahu in astrology The Moon's north node and how it is read
- Ketu in astrology The Moon's south node and how it is read
- 1 to 12 houses in astrology What each house shows, and every house lord by Lagna.
- How to read kundli Put the planets together with the houses and dashas.
- Gemstone astrology The gem of each planet, and which suits each Lagna.
- Learn Vedic astrology: free lessons for beginners Signs, houses, planets and dashas, step by step.
Questions about the planets
What are the navagraha names?
The Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangala), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Guru), Venus (Shukra), Saturn (Shani), Rahu and Ketu.
Are Rahu and Ketu planets?
Not physical bodies: they are the Moon's ascending and descending nodes (BPHS ch. 3 sl. 11), counted among the nine grahas because they act like them in a chart.
Which planets are benefic and which are malefic?
Natural benefics: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and the Moon. Natural malefics: the Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. A waning Moon counts as a malefic, and so does Mercury joined by malefics (BPHS ch. 3 sl. 11).
Why does Vedic astrology not use Uranus, Neptune and Pluto?
The classical texts work with the seven visible planets and the two nodes. Readings with the outer planets come from Western astrology.
Which planet is the most important in a chart?
No single planet. The Lagna lord matters most for the chart as a whole (BPHS ch. 34 sl. 2-7), and the planet whose dasha is running colours that period.
Sources
- BPHS ch. 3 sl. 10-11 (the nine grahas, their natures, Rahu and Ketu as the nodes) and sl. 12-13 (what they signify).
- BPHS ch. 3 sl. 49-54 (exaltation, debilitation, own signs, moolatrikona) and sl. 55 (friendship).
- BPHS ch. 26 sl. 2-5 (aspects).
- BPHS ch. 34 sl. 2-7 (the Lagna lord).
Chapter and verse numbers follow R. Santhanam's English translation of BPHS (Ranjan Publications). About the text.
This is the traditional reading of the classical texts, given for learning and reflection. It is not a prediction for you, and not medical, legal or financial advice.
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