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Grahas: Planets
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')ClfnCf Of LIGHT: (In InTRODUCTIon TO VWIC (I'ITflOLOGY =======
Grahas: Planets
T he Sanskrit word for planet is graha, which means seizing, laying hold of, holding,
obtaining, perceiving, apprehending, or grasping. The English word 'grab' shares
the same linguistic root. While the word 'planet' does not include the Sun and Moon, the
term graha does. There are nine basic grahas in [yotisa. They are called grahas as they are
that which controlls the manifestation of elements in the material, pranic and mental plane.
They are the instruments through which the law of karma is working. The Sage Parasara
explains,
ajqdl,(IO'4'1CfiIl'1 ~ q'(~Ic-~'1I:
~ Cfi4'h(_J)~ ~~: It ~ It
avattlrii.1fyanekani hyajasya
paramatmanan I
jlVtlniirh karmaphalado graharapz
janiirdanaJ:z II 311
There are many incarnations of the unborn Supreme Spirit,
[anardana" Visnu takes the form of the nine grahas (planets) to give
living beings the results of their karma,
'M'1I~II'4qcn;:rr ~
~.. ~ to .....
~ I
< <
l:4~fI~lq'1l~ 'lOliilliilldl:~: ~Il '611
daituanam balanMii.ya deoanam balabrddhave I
dharmasamsiapanarihaua grahttjjii.tii.J:szubhttJ:zkramai II 4
1125
To destroy the strength of the demons and increase the power of the devas
He took birth as the splendorous grahas to sustain dharma (to indicate dharma).
The Supreme Spirit (paramtttman) takes many forms. He took the form of the grahas
to give living beings (jzva) the results of their own actions. How does the law of karma
work, through what mechanism does it work, wll~n vvil! the results of our actions re~
to us? The planets are setting the stage in which the script of our karma will be played
out. When Parasara says that Visnu incarnated as the planets to destroy the strength
of the demons, this means that it is to return the bad karma to those who perform bad
actions. Inthis way the strength of our demon nature will be weakened. The law of karma
gives blessings to the devas and thereby strengthens their power. The devas are our good
thoughts, qualities and actions. By having good result from good, karma is strengthening
these good qualities and we are encouraged to continue in the path of light (deva). It is by
the law of karma executed through the grahas that Visnu functions as the sustainer in this
plane of existence; in this way, dharma is upheld. All good happenings have been earned
and all calamity is learning from our mistakes with the hope of evolving towards a higher
state of consciousness.
24 [ana means generating, birth or those which are born (men and creatures). Ardana is to move, de
stroy or annihilate, therefore Visnu can be the one who moves all creatures to manifest, all beings
to be born, or He is the one who destroys the need to be reborn (the giver of moksa),
25 Brhat Parasara Hera Sastra, Avatara-Kathana-Adhyaya
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This is the basic concept behind the functional purpose of the grahas in Vedic Astrology.
They represent enactment of the various types of karma we have acquired. Karma is action
and the grahas are karakas through which action is done. All situations and occurances in
life arise through the nine grahas. As the numbers begin to repeat themselves after reaching
nine (00.6, 7, 8, 9, 1+0, or 1+I, or 1+2), all numbers relate to the combination of one through
nine. In the same way, if the universe was a computer program, all things would be made
of the numbers one to nine and their variations.
Sun Soul In this way, the planets and their combinations
Moon Mind make up the actions of the entire manifest world.
Mars Fire (agni) The Sun is the soul (iitma) and the Moon
Mercury Earth (prthvi) is the mind (manas). Rahu and Ketu are the
Jupiter Space (akasa) mental and psychic disturbances of the mind
Venus Water (jala) and soul. The other five visible planets relate to
the five elements. And it is through the atma,
Saturn Air (vayu)
mind, and five elements composing reality, that
the grahas affect all things. The better one understands the five elements the
better one will be able to understand the grahas from an intuitive level. Every
manifestion in space and time is composed of and activated by the five elements.
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Science OF LIGHT: (In InmODU(TlOn TO VWI( (liTfiOLOGY
Cunas
T he mind is influenced by the five elements and the three gw:tas (attributes). The
gm:tas are qualitative states of nature. Tamas is heaviness densifying into the
physical nature of things. Rajas is the fast moving creative energy of life and all activities.
Sattva is balanced, sustaining energy. These three attributes are needed for the creation,
sustenance, and transformation of all activities in life.
At a material level all elements of life can be classified into one of these three gm:tas.
Things that bring dullness, heaviness, inertia and lack of consciousness into the mind
and body are tamas. Things that bring greed, anxiousness, turbulence, distraction into
the mind/body are rajas. Things that bring harmony, knowledge, and understanding are
sattva. Tamas is darkenss, rajas is too bright, and sattva is perfect illumination. Tamas is
not moving when one need to move, rajas is moving when one needs to be still, sattva is
moving when movement is needed and stillness when stability is needed.
Creating, quick/ rushed, Sustaining, balanced, high Transforming, dull, slow,
greedy, desire filled, consciousness, bringing without thought or caring,
Brahma, Sarasvati, truth and awareness, Vi~DU, unconscious, destruction,
Subhadra Jaganntitha entropy, Siva,
Balarama
Venus, Mercury Sun, Moon, Jupiter Mars, Saturn, nodes
The planets relate to the three guDas. The sattva planets sustain life and bring
harmonious benefit to one's life. The Sun provides resources, the Moon supports, and
Jupiter shows the proper use of oUI intelligence. The rajas planets use energy to bring
creativity into our life. Venus has creative energy through living beings, in love, sex, and
sensory enjoyment. Mercury has creative energy through material things like business,
business products, information, books, magazines, etc. The tamas planets transform life
by removing the old and making room for the new. Mars breaks the material world and
makes/engineers new objects. Saturn uses time, aging and disease to finish the life span
and allow for rebirth.
In [yotisa, the Sattva planets are called the tripod of life. As understanding deepens it
becomes clear that they are the most important planets for a happy harmonious life. They
represent the three eyes: the right eye (Sun), the left eye (Moon) and the third eye (Jupiter).
Most remedies for a beneficial material and spiritual life involve these planets.
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