Are you too fascinated by the heavenly marvels that direct our lives? If you are reading this article, then maybe the planets wanted you to! According to Vedic Astrology, nine primary planets are said to have a significant impact on people's lives.
The influence of the nine celestial bodies or navagraha has a special significance in vedic astrology. As science and technology have developed, astrology has been noted for its emphasis on our lives. Astrology based on Vedic astrology explains how planets affect people's lives. Astrologers usually refer to their information about the planets and their positions in each house as a horoscope or kundli.
The 9 graha names include: the sun (Surya), moon (Chandra), Rahu (north node of the moon), and Ketu (south node of the moon), Mercury (Budha), Venus (Shukra), Mars (Mangala), Jupiter (Brihaspati), Saturn (Shani). Our lives can be affected by the significance of these planets in terms of relationships, family, health, finances, and other aspects. Astrology states that every planet has energy and affects different aspects of life.
Planets can be broadly divided into three groups: collective planets, social planets, and personal planets. Furthermore, the planets in different signs result in different outcomes in Vedic astrology. Let's take a closer look at the 9 planets and their characteristics in astrology with their navagraha names.
Navagraha, in Indian astrology (jyotisha), the set of nine celestial bodies that is thought to impact people’s lives in positive and negative ways, which many Hindus, and some Jains and Buddhists, endeavor to influence through rituals. The term navagraha comes from the Sanskrit words nava (“nine”) and graha (“planet”).
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The navagraha set includes the Sun and the Moon and five planets of the solar system-Mercury through Saturn, excluding Earth. Early Indian astrological texts from the Vedic era (late second to first millennium bce) mention the Sun, Moon, and stars, while conceptions of the planets were added into Indian thought after contact with Greeks and Hellenistic culture in the last centuries bce.
After the 3rd century ce Indian calendars adopted a seven-day week that astrologically corresponded to the seven planets of the solar system, a notion that originated in Babylonia and spread with Hellenistic culture. The planets, conceived of as deities, have since been thought to rule over each day of the week successively. In most South Asian languages the word for each day of the week is derived from the name of one of the first seven navagrahas.
Beyond those seven celestial bodies, there are two “dark” or “shadow” planets (tamograha or chayagraha) called Rahu and Ketu that are unique to Indian astrology and are invisible to the human eye. The origin of Rahu can be traced to the ancient Vedic period of Hinduism. Also called Svarbhanu, Rahu is the name of a demon, found in the ancient Vedas and later texts, who causes eclipses by swallowing the Sun or the Moon.
In Puranic texts Rahu was a demon who, after the gods and demons churned the ocean of milk to obtain the immortal nectar amrita, managed to taste the nectar, for which he was denounced and beheaded by the gods, but was allowed to retain the benefit of immortality. Some myths say that the god Vishnu split the demon in two with his discus, forming Rahu and Ketu from the head and tail, respectively.
Ketu is mentioned in the plural in early Indian texts referring to comets or meteors, bright flashes imagined as ill omens. By the 8th or 9th century ce, Rahu and Ketu were developed into full-fledged members of the navagraha and considered to refer to, respectively, the northern (ascending) and southern (descending) nodes of the Moon-the points where the Moon crosses the ecliptic, causing eclipses.
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Eclipses are considered to be extremely ominous and inauspicious in Indian thought. Some myths assert that Rahu, since he is bodiless, can only swallow but not digest the Sun, thus the passage of an eclipse from darkness back to light.
Belief in the astrological impact of planets on people’s lives is prominent among Hindus, Jains, and some Buddhists, such as in the Newar valley of Nepal. The word graha for “planet” also means “seizer” and implies either that these planets overtake, or cross, the fixed stars (nakshatras)-which themselves play important roles in a person’s birth horoscope-or that they grasp people through their ability to control lives.
A negative impact caused by a planet is called a dosha, and practitioners endeavor to allay the negative effect of doshas through practices that pacify the planets. It is generally thought that Saturn (Shani) and the two shadow planets invariably have negative effects. Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury generally are thought to have positive impacts, unless combined with other planets. The Moon’s influence depends largely on its phase.
The positions of the planets at one’s birth are thought to have a significant impact on one’s life, and how those planets align with the stars during the course of one’s life can have further implications for success and failure, health and illness, marriage and family, and more.
The Navagraha and Their Characteristics
Personal Planets
1. Sun (Surya): The Celestial King
It is said that the Sun is the soul of the planets. It is vital, respectable, authoritative, and has many other great attributes. Sun will demonstrate how an individual reflects themselves onto the world.
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Astrologically speaking, a strong Sun denotes authority and vitality, but a weak Sun can indicate egotism and a lack of self-assurance. When it involves your professional life, you might require a powerful Sun, but not when it relates to your personal connections. It symbolizes the Kshatriya caste,the vice planet, the Sattva guna, the Pitta nature, and the fire component. According to astrology, the Sun governs the head, bones, eyes, heart,and brain.
2. Moon (Chandra): The Nurturer
In the navagraha, the Moon stands for our psyche. It is recognised for having a maternal influence on people and for granting feelings of love, happiness, and positivity. Since the Moon represents the self in a kundli, its strength will benefit you at every stage of life. However, mental health issues like stress, depression, disinterest, etc, can be brought on by a weak Moon.
Astrologically, the Moon is a member of the Vaisya (business-class) caste. It symbolizes ladies, Vata-Kapha nature and sattva Guna. You must wear white more often if the Moon is weak in your kundli. According to astrology, the Moon governs themind, mother, art, vision, saliva, lungs, silver, rice, and the chest.
3. Mars (Mangal): The Warrior Planet
According to astrology, Mars stands for boldness, strength, confidence, bravery, and passion. You can succeed in your work and any other professional effort if your kundli has a strong Mars. An unfriendly Mars, however, is harmful to your marriage.
Mars is a member of the element fire. The planet is associated with the Tamo-guna class of warriors (Kshatriyas), Pitta nature, cruelty and aggression,and a preference for red. In astrology, Mars is in charge of the following: siblings, arms, thieves, wounds, daal, pitta, blood, muscles, hearing, nose, etc.
4. Mercury (Budh): The Witty Planet
Of the nine planets in astrology, Mercury represents a person's humor, communication, intelligence, reasoning, and awareness. You must have guessed that high Mercury encourages education. It is given more weight in the formative years of education.
Mercury is the planet of the business class (Vaishya). It is a planet that belongs to the element Earth and is neutral. The three distinct natures of Vaat, Pitta, and Kapha are all present on Mercury. Green is the color that Mercury loves. Mercury is the planet of the mother's brother and skin and sex-related illnesses. Additionally, it stands for trade, mathematics, speech, tongues, voice, dumbness, and sloth.
5. Venus (Shukra): The Aesthetic Planet
Venus is the astrological symbol for love, relationships, romance, having sex, and other such characteristics. It also affects a person's marriage and business relationships with partners. Consequently, a strong Venus in the kundli promotes a successful career. In contrast, a weak Venus controls troubled relationships and love life.
Venus is a stunning woman who is a member of the Brahmin caste. It stands for the Rajoguni, Kapha, charm, and lament of the water. White is the color of Venus and is associated with beauty, marriage, love, sex, blissful marriage, poetry, singing, eyes, and ladies, among other things.
Social Planets
6. Jupiter (Brihaspati): The Giant Benevolent
Of the 9 planets of astrology, one of the most advantageous planets is Jupiter. It can support you in a variety of pursuits, particularly in terms of learning new things. Jupiter supports a person's academic and professional success. Jupiter, thus, has little impact on a person's early years.
The planet stands for both the space component and the Brahmin caste. It represents the nature of Sattva Guna and Kapha. Yellow is the color that symbolizes Jupiter. Jupiter also represents the Vedas, the Sun, education, progeny, marriage, kidney, fat, kapha, knowledge, guru, gold, and swelling.
7. Saturn (Shani): The Disciplinarian
As the astrological ruler of karma, Saturn is frequently referred to as the karmic planet. The person's karma determines the outcome. In other words, depending on your karma, it can benefit or harm you as a human. Saturn is also a teacher, so doing good deeds in life will help you accomplish more. If you commit terrible deeds, however, it will teach you a lesson.
The color black is symbolized by the planet Saturn. Its name refers to the element of air. Saturn is also represented by odd eyes, a tall, slender body, cruelty,and impotence. Shudra is the caste that Saturn represents. Its nature is Vata Kapha.Saturn is the planet of jealousy, roguishness, thievery, beasts, servants, aging, moles, physical strength, yoga practice, renunciation, luxury, service, and heart ailments, among other characteristics.
Collective Planets
8. Rahu: The Materialistic Planet
Rahu is a planet associated with various symbolic meanings, but it also depicts human wants and manipulation. The formless shadow planet is called Rahu. If a person falls into the Rahu's trap, it is known to make them addicted, avaricious, and full of bad energy. If you succumb to its unknowable greed, you will have to face Rahu's wrath.
Rahu is the Vice Planet for the natures of Chandaal, Tamoguni, and Vaat Pitta. It denotes the use of dark colors. Rahu also represents the grandpa, the granny, deceit, mishap, fight, stealing, snakebite, overseas travel, illnesses relating to the skin and legs, and challenging life advancement.
9. Ketu: The Freedom Planet
In astrology, Ketu represents both spirituality and detachment. Aside from Rahu, Ketu is the second shadow planet in astrology. It is well known that Ketu satisfies materialistic cravings, but only for personal benefit. Ketu's adverse effects can either make a person ungrateful for material things or drive them away from commonplace and worldly goals. Astrologically speaking, Ketu is similar to Mars.
Navagraha Temples and Rituals
Images of the navagrahas as anthropomorphic divine figures have been carved in Hindu temples since the 5th century ce. Initially just seven were included, until Rahu and later Ketu were added by the 7th century ce. The set was often carved on lintels.
In many Hindu temples up through the present there is a square altar topped with anthropomorphic murtis (statues) of the navagraha deities. They are arranged such that they do not face each other, with the Sun in the center of a square formed by four lines of three planets. Devotees at the temple circumambulate clockwise this navagraha altar nine times, in order, it is believed, to allay negative impact and amplify the positive impact of the navagraha deities. Worshippers might also leave offerings for the deities to pacify them, such as sesame oil for Shani and red or black lentils for Rahu and Ketu. Appeasing the navagraha deities is thought to be a particularly important observance on one’s birthday.
In addition to navagraha altars found in Hindu temples, some temples are specifically dedicated to these planets. In the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, near the temple town Kumbakonam, there is a pilgrimage route of nine temples, each in a different village and each containing an altar dedicated to one of the nine planets. They date to the Chola era (c. 9th to 13th century). In the far northeastern state of Assam, in the town of Guwahati, a temple built in the 18th century features nine lingams dedicated to the navagraha deities. There is also a Jain navagraha temple in Karnataka state, near the northern town of Hubballi.
Specific gemstones are also associated with the navagrahas, and practitioners often wear rings with astrologically significant gemstones in order to secure their fates against planetary impediments. Particularly popular is the navaratna (nine-gem) ring containing nine gems associated with the navagraha deities often arranged in a row or in a square pattern similar to that of the navagraha statues on an altar in a temple.
Navagraha Shanti Puja
In Jyotisha Shastra (Vedic astrology) in Indian culture believes that the planets have an impact on every aspect of our life, which means they dictate the success and failures in endeavors and the degree of happiness or difficulties a person is going to face throughout their life. To counteract this, Hindus perform the sacred ritual known as Navagraha Shanti.
To ensure that the Navagrahas are pleased and positive for a person, Jyotisha suggests the observance of Navagraha Shanti, a Puja done to yield the good gaze of the planets. The Navagraha Shanti rite is also called Navagraha Makha, which is an established tradition within Hinduism. The puja is of three kinds:
- Ayutahoma - Ten Thousand Offerings in the Sacrificial holy Fire (Homa)
- Lakshahoma - One lakh (100,000) offerings
Navagraha Mandala
The cosmic space that the nine planets inhabit together is known as the Navagraha Mandala, often represented in art as the nine deities standing in a circle around the Sun or the planets placed in their individual orbits around the spherical Sun in the center. In sacred art, the Navagraha are also presented in the Navagraha Yantra, the powerful device that is used in the Puja of the planets.
The Yantra is worshiped with special offerings and the mantra for the nine planets:
“ॐ ब्रह्मामुरारि त्रिपुरान्तकारी भानु: शशि भूमिसुतो बुध च।गुरु च शुक्र: शनि राहु केतव: सर्वेग्रहा: शान्ति करा: भवन्तु।।”
“I pray to Brahma, Murari (Vishnu), Tripurantakari (Shiva, who annihilated the Tripura), for pacifying and removing the negative effects of Bhanu (Sun), Shashi (Moon), Bhumi-Suta (Mangala or Mars), Budha (Mercury), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (northern node of Moon) and Ketu (southern node of Moon)”.
Navaratna: Nine Gemstones to Balance the Navagraha
An integral part of Jyotisha is the science of gemstones, also known as Ratna Vigyaan or Ratna Shaastra, based on the sacred knowledge of Vedas and Puranas. It is believed that each planet has a gemstone associated with it, and an individual can wear a gemstone to gain a positive impact on the related planet in their life.
Navaratna (Sanskrit: Nava = nine, Ratna = gems) is an ancient Vedic practice of wearing nine specific gemstones, each representing one of the Navagraha (nine planets).
Navagraha - Story About The Nine Planets
Summary of 9 Planets in Vedic Astrology and Their Features
| Planet | Represents | Influence |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Energy, identity | Life energy, ego, willpower |
| Moon | Inner world, feelings | Inclinations, responses, emotional stability |
| Mars | Strength, drive, resolve | Motivation, competition |
| Mercury | Intellect, communication | Analytical abilities, writing, speaking |
| Venus | Love, beauty, relationships | Creative aptitude, amorous proclivities |
| Jupiter | Growth, expansion | Luck, wisdom, knowledge |
| Saturn | Karma, discipline | Accountability, diligence, perseverance |
| Rahu | Material desires | Wants, materialistic goals |
| Ketu | Spiritual liberation | Detachment, spiritual freedom |