Grahas (Planets) & their significance
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 .
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 |
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) | 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 |
