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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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======= ')(lfnCf OF LIGHT: (In lnrnooucrton TO VWI\ (I'iTIWlOGY =======

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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======= ,)(lfnCf OF LIGHT: (1n InTlWDUCTIOn TO VWIC (1~TROI.OGY

Elements: The Essence of Reality (Tattva)


Earth Form, creation of material reality, Creator, solid element
(prihui) defining form, manifests the solid aspects of the body
like the bones and teeth, smell, apana vayu is related
to earth creating downward flow of energy: excretion.
Connected to sustenance and food/money/wealth and
that through which we achieve this

Water Sustainer, love, flowing, connection, relationship, social,


(jala) culture, creative, life-giving, immunity, healing, health,
vitality, sexual attraction, reproduction, youth, young,
malleable, beauty, voluptuous, growing, growth,
rejuvenating, cleansing, cooling, taste, regulating
temperature, circulation

Fire Digesting, transforming, heat, turns food to energy,


(agni) nervous system activation, animation, movement, light,
sight, eyes, understanding, discipline, celibacy, power,
strength, anger, frustration, combustion, burning,
irritatation, inflammation, boiling, cooking, alchemy

Air Separating, making difference, decreasing, waning,


(vayu) depleting, destruction, Destroyer, Rudra, movement,
chitta- mindfield or movie screen of mind, Kalacakra,
time and phalana (maturing), vata in the body as what
causes aging, decay, disease, suffering and death, relates
to sense of touch through the skin

Space Abundant, everywhere, in everything, everything


(akiiSa) is in it, existence, soul, bringing things together
harmoniously, lineage, Sri Cakra, ear, hearing, the
guru's teachings, true knowledge, fulfillment, true
contentment (santO!;;a), akasa awakens Guru in the body /
mind which gives intuition (pratibhii), inner guru, akasa
allows space for life, good space (sukha), coordinates all
other elements, ensures life continues, binding force,
harmonizing glue

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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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======= <;\lfNCf OF LIGHT: fiN INTRODUCTION TO VfDIC fI'ITROLOGY =======

Varna: Caste of the Planets


j upiter and Venus.are Br~. This means th~y in~ca~e the paths of le~g,
knowledge, teaching, and gUIdance. A Brahmin's Job IS to read the spmtual
scriptures and guide the rest of society. Jupiter is a sattva planet as a Brahmin and
represents spirituality for the larger sake of society (dharma) and for liberation (moksa).
Venus is also a rajas planet as Brahmin and represents spiritual learning for self gain (artha)
and increasing life's enjoyments (kama). In this way we begin to combine the various
significations to deepen our understanding of the grahas. Sun and Mars are Ksatriyas, which
means they are the warrior and politician caste. Mars is the tamas ksatriya who defends
through physical means like the
military and police. The sattva
Jupiter, Sun, Moon, Saturn, ksatriya Sun defends by
Venus Mars Mercury nodes making laws and applying
them through punishment.
Moon and Mercury are vaisyas, the merchant caste. Mercury is a rajas merchant who is
the classic businessman, selling products and increasing profit margins. Sattva Moon is
more the social merchant who works with selling things beneficial to life as well as social
services. Saturn and the nodes represent the working caste of sudras. Saturn is the normal
craftsman or handy man laborer and Rahu represents the foreign laborers (mlecchas).

Planets as Natural Significators (Naisargika Karakas)


pach planet has many indications and therefore it is impossible to list them all.
\.... Everything written in an entire encyclopedia can be correlated to one of the
nine planets. Yet, lists are given to help gain an understanding of a planet's energies and
actions. Various authors will disagree on certain significations, so the important point is
to not become attached toa particular object but to understand the principle, pattern, and
archetype the planet represents. Significations can also be dividied further into infinite
subgroups.
Forests are ruled by Leo, but the trees are ruled by Mercury. The wood to be used
for carpentry is governed by Jupiter. The action of building is governed by Saturn. The
architectural structure is ruled by Sun. The finished house is ruled by Ketu, while the land
a home is built on is governed by Mars. The Feng Shui (vastu) of the property is ruled by
Saturn. The herbs in the garden are governed by the Moon, while the gems buried beneath
the ground are ruled by Saturn.
In the forest there are many trees. Fruiting trees are ruled by Jupiter, while fruitless
trees are ruled by Mercury. Thorny trees are ruled by Mars. Decorative trees are ruled by
Venus. Barren trees are ruled by Saturn. Strong trees with thick trunks are ruled by the
Sun. Inthe same way the natural significator of houses is Ketu, yet within that signification
Moon and Venus togther give a luxurious house. Mars gives a house made of bricks,
Jupiter gives a house made of wood, Sun gives a straw bale, house, and Saturn gives a
house made of stones. If you didn't know what type of house Jupiter gave you could

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