The Nav Grahas
According to Astrology the Grahas are more than planets hanging in space. They are part of the administration of Natural Law. In Vedic Astrology the Navgrah are a cosmic marker of influence on the living beings on Prithvi.
There are nine Graha in Vedic Astrology. These are the Surya, Chandra, Buddha, Shukra, Mangal, Brihaspati, Shani, Rahu and Ketu. Grahas in Vedic astrology rule over a particular Rashi sign. Bodies like Rahu and Ketu are not actual planets but are the points where paths of the sun and the moon coincide. Rahu is the North lunar node or the head of the dragon while Ketu is the South lunar node or the tail of the dragon. Other Grahas rule the zodiac signs and complement their characteristics.
The meaning of the word Nava is nine and Graha is a planet or a governing authority. These nine planets are recognized as the Navagrahas. The planets are worshiped for better life and fortune.
Graha can be Karak (beneficial) or akarak (destructive). Brihaspati, Shukra, Buddha, and Chandra are natural karak Grahas, whereas Surya, Shani, Rahu and Ketu are natural akarak Grahas.
Surya is the king of all Grahas and Sun’s position in the Kundali shows how powerful, influential or how noble a person is. Chandra is also an important Graha in Vedic astrology. The Rashis depends on the position of Chandra in the Kundali. Chandra’s position tells how creative and sensitive the person is.
In Vedic astrology when two or more Grahas occupy the same house, it becomes difficult to interpret the net result. The resultant effects is determined by the house they occupy and their mutual relationship whether they are karak or akarak and the. In case the akarak Graha is weak and the karak Graha is strong then the effect will be good. Some imbalances in behaviour may be there as some Grahas are friendly and create a positive environment when they come together.
Surya being the centre of the Solar system represents the king, soul, government, the masculine principle and vital energy. As without Surya life on Prithvi wouldn’t exist hence it represents the life force and energy. Surya represents our true nature and it represents what one identifies with.
Basis the sign and house in which Surya is located in the Kundali, we can understand one’s important areas of experience to find out his true nature and Self. Because of its aggressive nature Surya is considered an akaarak Graha as it causes hurt to the areas it affects.
Strong Surya in the birth chart indicates that one will have authoritarian personality. It also represents a rich or powerful father. Strong Surya indicates a mature soul, developed consciousness, strong personality and good self esteem. A dominant Surya indicates an overly authoritative and self centered person who has difficulty working with others and lacks humility.
Weak Surya indicates difficulties in relationship with father, low self-esteem, low vitality and health problems.
Surya rules heart, blood circulation, sight, head, hair growth, abdomen and digestion, dryness and fever. The ayurvedic constitution is Pitta.
Mangal represents energy, courage, initiative, action, war & aggression. Mangal’s position in horoscope defines whether it will be a positive spiritual energy or it will become a destructive force causing harm, accidents and uncontrolled passions. Mangal is an action-oriented Graha related to initiative, youth and defeating the enemies and can lead to a dynamic, active and enthusiastic personality. Mangal also represents brothers, technical skills, mathematics, computing, sports, medicine & surgery, blood pressure, authority, dictators, fire & explosions.
Strong Mangal in Kundali indicates spiritual warrior, lack of fear from difficulties & enemies, control over own body and aggression.
Weak Mangal indicates fearful and violent person, uncontrolled dissipation of vital energy, causes muscular weakness.
Mangal represents marrow, muscles, physical strength, head, testicles and virility. The ayurvedic constitution is Pitta.
Brihaspati represents the Guru, the one who leads us from darkness to light with knowledge. Guru stands for wisdom, knowledge, learning, goodness, luck and karma. Brihaspati is known as the Guru of Devas. Brihaspati represents priesthood, wisdom, righteousness, justice, goodness, prosperity, children, eldest son and for women it represents husband. Brihaspati is the most karak Graha because of its nature of giving without expectations. Brihaspati placement in Kundali indicates spiritual learning, faith & religion, teachers and material prosperity.
Strong Brihaspati in Kundali indicates optimism, faith, philosophy, sense of righteousness & justice, wise, religious people, prosperity and spiritualism. Predominantly strong Brihaspati can lead one to lethargy, excessive optimism and spiritual stagnation.
Weak Brihaspati indicates difficulty in getting a spiritual Guru or getting a dishonest or fake Guru, lack of faith, absence of optimism, more materialistic view, material issues that hamper spiritual awareness, marital difficulties and difficulties in having offspring.
Brihaspati represents accumulation of fluids, obesity, liver, pancreas, sugar & fat metabolism issues, the hips and the feet. The ayurvedic constitution is Kapha.
Shani Graha is a powerful akarak Graha, by nature. Shani rules over death and ageing, brings bad luck & failures. Shani represents austerity, discipline, restrictions and sufferings and is a spiritual Guru who teaches one through restriction, hard work, purification and humility to overcome weaknesses and change. Shani makes one pay for negative karma by restrictions & sufferings leading him to develop responsibility & self-discipline. Position of Shani in Kundali indicates struggle & difficulties in life and energy for spiritual advancement.
Strong Shani Graha in Kundali indicates capacity to endure hardships in life, capacity for hard work, strong sense of responsibility and discipline.
Weak Shani in kundali indicates difficulty in facing responsibilities and evasive nature, causes depression, loneliness, feelings of isolation, addictions and chronic diseases. Shani Graha’s drishti leads to disappointment, detachment and happiness. One must relate with Shani’s energy, understand and accept his drishti and work through discipline for improvement.
Shani moves slowly and his lessons need to be learned over a long period of perseverance and hard work. After that Shani can gives immense blessings & spiritual strength. Shani tends to delay things and walks of life that it affects in kundali.
Shani’s energy can be channelled positively through fasting, selfless service and meditation. . The ayurvedic constitution is Vaata.
Chandra is the most important Graha in Vedic astrology due to its influence on mind and emotions. Chandra reflects the energy of Surya and balances it with cooling, revitalizing light. Chandra represents mind, emotions, prana, water and mother. Chandra represents factors that have deep effect on one’s psyche, life, nourishment, food and material needs.
The increasing (Shukla-paksha) and decreasing (Krishna-paksha) cycles of Chandra effect life on Prithvi, plants, ocean tides, climate, fertility and emotional moods. They also affect the psychological and physiological state of all living beings.
Ones born during Shukla-paksha are extroverts, while the ones born during Krishna-paksha are introverts. The position of Chandra in Kundali defines the way one thinks and feels, important subjects in life and relationships.
Strong Chandra gives strength and helps overcome difficulties, reflects mental and psychological stability, good concentration, well-being and emotional satisfaction.
Weak Chandra reflects emotional difficulties, mental & psychological disturbances and health issues. Effects of weak Chandra can be overcome by meditation, living calm life in contact with nature and using white & light colours.
Chandra rules female fertility, blood & body fluids, lungs and chest area. The ayurvedic constitution is Kapha.
Buddha represents intellect, capacity for discrimination, communication, learning, youth, childhood, sports and friends. Buddha indicates desire for learning, creates a duality in the mind leading to indecision. Buddha represents analytical & rational mind.
Strong Buddha in Kundali indicates good intelligence, capacity for learning, oral and written communication skills and good oratory. A predominant Buddha leads to repressing emotions with reason and makes a critical nature.
Weak Buddha in Kundali indicates that one relies more on emotions & instinct rather than reason, it brings difficulties in learning, speech, skin, nervous system and diminishes memory.
Buddha can be a karak or akarak Graha depending on its association with other Grahas. One can have good intelligence but uses it selfishly and for destruction if Buddha Graha is akarak. Buddha represents skin, pulmonary system. The ayurvedic constitution is Vata.
Shukra Graha is a spiritual teacher of the Asuras and helps them find their path to salvation. Shukra represents the feminine, beautiful, attraction, desires & passion, wealth, clothes, jewelry, fine arts, creativity, semen, love and sexuality. Position of Shukra in the Kundali defines the spouse and marital relationship.
Strong Shukra indicates creativity, physical beauty, sense of aesthetics, harmony, prosperity and wealth. Shukra has the power to transform energy of love and sensuality into devotion and grace. A predominant Shukra leads to excessive attachment to sensual pleasures and material objects.
Weak Shukra indicates difficulty in obtaining enjoyment in life, leading one to look for exaggerated means of gratification, weakness or diseases of reproductive organs, sexual disorders, may lead one on a path of spirituality and develop devotion for God.
Shukra represents reproductive organs and urinary tract. The ayurvedic constitution is Kapha.
Rahu and Ketu are not physical Grahas but are very powerful points in the sky. They are the points of intersection between the paths of the Sun and the Moon causing the solar and lunar eclipses. In mythology they represent a snake cut in two Rahu as head and Ketu as the tail.
Rahu is related with unconscious desires, dissatisfaction, fear, obsession and ambitions. Rahu’s location in kundali indicates areas of mental restlessness, hypersensitivity, desires and dissatisfaction. Rahu creates strong desires, compulsive behaviour, addictions, fantasies and unrealistic imaginations.
Rahu indicates illegal dark desires, foreigners, people and norms out of the society. With meditation these ca be transformed into spiritual energy, knowledge and psychology. Understanding and control of this energy can lead to awakening of the Kundalini power.
Ketu Graha indicates areas of detachment, areas of suffering leading to spiritualization and searching for life’s essence. Ketu is an important Graha for spiritual evolution and it represents the capacity for renunciation, detachment and search for truth and essence of life. Ketu also represents Moksha and attainment of illumination.
Strong Ketu’s position in the kundali indicates overexposed areas from previous birth that are causing dissatisfaction and rejection in the existing birth cycle. Ketu causes damage and restrictions in the areas it affects leading to ways of spiritual awakening.
Weak Ketu indicates ruptures, breaks, accidents or diseases but also it bestows knowledge coming from previous birth experiences.