Foundations of Vedic Astrology

The Nine Grahas

Planets as celestial bodies — the seven visible ones plus Rahu and Ketu.

What is a graha?

The word graha means that which grasps — a celestial body or point whose influence we read in the chart. We loosely call them planets, but the list is set by the eye, not by modern astronomy.

The seven visible grahas

Seven grahas can be followed with the naked eye:

• Surya (Sun) and Chandra (Moon) — the two luminaries
• Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn)

In Jyotish the Sun and Moon are counted as grahas just like the rest.

Rahu and Ketu — the shadow planets

The last two grahas are Rahu and Ketu, the lunar nodes — the two points where the Moon's path crosses the Sun's path.

They aren't physical bodies; they're mathematical points. That's why they're called the shadow planets (chhaya grahas). Rahu grasps and obsesses; Ketu detaches and dissolves.

Why nine, not eight?

Classical Jyotish counts nine grahas — and it differs from modern astronomy on purpose:

• It counts the Sun and Moon as grahas.
• It adds Rahu and Ketu, the nodes.
• It does not use Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto.

7 visible + 2 nodes = 9 grahas.

Remember it

Two lights, five wanderers, two shadows. Sun + Moon, the five star-like planets, and Rahu + Ketu — nine in all.

Terms introduced here

What a graha is

A graha is a celestial body or point that 'grasps' — an influence read in the chart.

The nine grahas

Seven visible grahas plus Rahu and Ketu, the two lunar nodes.

Rahu & Ketu

The shadow planets — the points where the Moon's path crosses the Sun's.