The 9 Grahas in Vedic Astrology

The Celestial Powers that Shape Our Karmic Blueprint

“Navagrahāḥ karmabandhānām kāraṇāni bhavanti hi”
“The nine planets are indeed the instruments for the binding (and liberation) of karma.”
— Parāśara Hora Śāstra

---

🪐 What Are Grahas?

In Vedic astrology, grahas (ग्रहाः) are not just physical planets — they are cosmic intelligences that grasp (from the root ‘grah’) or influence human consciousness. Each graha represents a unique force of karma, a divine archetype responsible for shaping various dimensions of our life — body, mind, energy, and soul.

Unlike Western astrology, Vedic Jyotiṣa includes nine grahas, including two that have no physical form: Rahu and Ketu, the shadow planets. These represent psychological and karmic forces rather than celestial bodies.

---

🗂️ Summary Table of the 9 Grahas

Graha	Sanskrit Name	Gender	Role in Life	Represents	Day	Direction	Color
Sun	Sūrya	Male	Soul, ego	Father, authority, vitality	Sunday	East	Red/Gold
Moon	Chandra	Female	Mind, emotion	Mother, memory, mental state	Monday	Northwest	White
Mars	Maṅgala	Male	Action, strength	Siblings, aggression, passion	Tuesday	South	Red
Mercury	Budha	Neutral	Intellect, speech	Friends, logic, communication	Wednesday	North	Green
Jupiter	Guru/Bṛhaspati	Male	Wisdom, growth	Teachers, children, dharma, wealth	Thursday	Northeast	Yellow
Venus	Śukra	Male	Love, beauty	Spouse, creativity, pleasures	Friday	Southeast	White
Saturn	Śani	Male	Discipline, karma	Servants, time, sorrow, delays	Saturday	West	Blue/Black
Rahu	—	Male	Obsession, illusion	Foreignness, ambition, digital world	—	Southwest	Smoky
Ketu	—	Male	Moksha, detachment	Past karma, liberation, renunciation	—	South	Ash-Grey

---

🌞 1. Sūrya (Sun) – The Soul

• Role: King among planets; gives life, confidence, power
• Element: Fire
• Zodiac Sign: Rules Leo (Siṁha)
• Caste: Kṣatriya (warrior class)
• Guna: Sattvic
• Mantra: “Ādityāya cha somāya maṅgalāya budhāya cha…”
  – Navagraha Stotram

Keywords:

Self-esteem, authority, health, career, fame, father, government.

Balanced Sun:

Leadership, self-respect, vision, vitality

Imbalanced Sun:

Egoism, arrogance, overbearing nature, health issues (especially heart)

---

🌙 2. Chandra (Moon) – The Mind

• Role: Queen among planets; governs emotions, intuition, memory
• Element: Water
• Zodiac Sign: Rules Cancer (Karkaṭa)
• Caste: Vaishya (merchant)
• Guna: Sattvic
• Mantra: “Dadhiśaṅkha tuṣārābhaṁ kṣīroda sāmudr sambhavam…”

Keywords:

Mother, moods, home, nourishment, love, imagination

Balanced Moon:

Compassionate, nurturing, calm mind

Imbalanced Moon:

Anxiety, restlessness, depression, emotional instability

---

🔥 3. Maṅgala (Mars) – The Warrior

• Role: Commander; energy, action, willpower
• Element: Fire
• Zodiac Signs: Rules Aries (Mesha) & Scorpio (Vṛścika)
• Caste: Kṣatriya
• Guna: Tamasic

Keywords:

Brothers, war, courage, anger, real estate, blood

Balanced Mars:

Courage, drive, protection

Imbalanced Mars:

Violence, temper, recklessness, accidents

---

🧠 4. Budha (Mercury) – The Intellect

• Role: Prince; governs intellect, logic, commerce
• Element: Earth
• Zodiac Signs: Rules Gemini (Mithuna) & Virgo (Kanyā)
• Caste: Vaishya
• Guna: Rajasic

Keywords:

Speech, communication, youth, trade, memory, wit

Balanced Mercury:

Sharp mind, eloquence, adaptability

Imbalanced Mercury:

Nervousness, deceit, miscommunication, overthinking

---

📚 5. Guru / Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) – The Divine Teacher

• Role: Preceptor of the Devas; represents dharma, expansion
• Element: Ether
• Zodiac Signs: Rules Sagittarius (Dhanus) & Pisces (Mīna)
• Caste: Brāhmaṇa
• Guna: Sattvic

Keywords:

Wisdom, religion, teachers, children, law, wealth

Balanced Jupiter:

Generosity, faith, optimism

Imbalanced Jupiter:

Dogma, greed, laziness in spiritual sādhanā

---

💎 6. Śukra (Venus) – The Artist

• Role: Preceptor of the Asuras; governs love, luxury, relationships
• Element: Water
• Zodiac Signs: Rules Taurus (Vṛṣabha) & Libra (Tulā)
• Caste: Brāhmaṇa
• Guna: Rajasic

Keywords:

Art, spouse, sex, comfort, beauty, creativity

Balanced Venus:

Aesthetic sense, charm, devotion

Imbalanced Venus:

Indulgence, lust, vanity, addiction

---

🪓 7. Śani (Saturn) – The Judge of Karma

• Role: Servant of time (Kāla); brings discipline and delays
• Element: Air
• Zodiac Signs: Rules Capricorn (Makara) & Aquarius (Kumbha)
• Caste: Śūdra
• Guna: Tamasic

Keywords:

Service, duty, obstacles, aging, detachment, learning through hardship

Balanced Saturn:

Patience, hard work, resilience

Imbalanced Saturn:

Fear, depression, excessive burden, stagnation

---

🌫️ 8. Rahu – The Obsessive Shadow

• Nature: Head of the demon-snake; no physical body
• Zodiac Co-Lordship (Traditional): Aquarius (Kumbha)
• Caste: Mixed
• Direction: Southwest
• Element: Air & Ether

Keywords:

Obsession, ambition, technology, politics, foreign things, illusions

Balanced Rahu:

Innovation, breakthroughs, spiritual awakening

Imbalanced Rahu:

Addiction, confusion, deceit, sudden rises/falls

Spiritual Insight: Rahu tests us by pulling us toward the world — to overcome the world.

---

🕳️ 9. Ketu – The Mystic Shadow

• Nature: Tail of the demon-snake; opposite of Rahu
• Zodiac Co-Lordship (Traditional): Scorpio (Vṛścika)
• Caste: Mixed
• Direction: South
• Element: Fire & Ether

Keywords:

Past life karma, detachment, spirituality, moksha, losses, renunciation

Balanced Ketu:

Insight, inner peace, detachment, spiritual gifts

Imbalanced Ketu:

Disinterest, escapism, confusion, strange health issues

Spiritual Insight: Ketu helps us transcend ego and prepare for liberation.

---

🛕 Worship & Remedies for Grahas

Each graha corresponds to a Deity, Beej Mantra, Gemstone, Metal, and Yantra. Remedies include:

• Chanting Navagraha mantras
• Performing Daana (charity) on their respective days
• Wearing prescribed gemstones under guidance
• Observing fasts (vratas) and reciting stotras

---

📜 Final Reflection

The nine grahas are not your enemies or saviors — they are your karmic teachers. They reward your efforts, test your ego, expose your flaws, and illuminate your purpose.

“Grahaṇāṁ phalam uktaṁ tu, jñātvā daivaṁ vimucyate”
“By understanding the effects of the planets, one can transcend fate.”
— Jyotiṣa Tantra