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THE GRAHA OR THE PLANETS IN THE SHASTRASGraha is a Sanskrit word that means to grab, grasp, hold, apprehend. The ninegrahas(planets) are the incarnating forces that bind the living beings to their karmas.These nineare namely Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. Thegrahas hold the elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air and ether in the threerealms ofexistence; physical, astral, causal to manifest the differentiated world.Everything that exists, everything that is perceived through the senses, is ruledby thegrahas. Naming everything that a particular planet rules is an exhaustive task sogiving afew examples and interpreting the general characteristics of each planet will giveone ageneral and informative idea. The priceless jewels of knowledge are graciouslygiven bySage Parasara in the Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra. In the following verses inChapter 3,sage Parashara states about the grahas:BPHS CH.3 V. 2-3. Parara: O Brahmin, listen to the account of placement of the

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heavenlybodies. Out of the many luminous bodies sighted in the skies some are stars, yetsome arePlanets. Those, that have no movements, are the Nakshatras (asterisms).BPHS, CH, 3,V. 4-6. Those are called Planets, which move through the Nakshatras(orstellar mansions) in the zodiac. The said zodiac comprises of 27 Nakshatrascommencingfrom Ashvini. The same area is divided in 12 parts equal to 12 Ris commencing

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fromAries. The names of the Planets commence from Sun. The Ri rising is known, as

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Lagna.Based on Lagna and the Planets, joining and departing from each other, the nativesgoodand bad effects are deducted.The following has been added by Santhanam stating what Sage Parashari hassuggested:“Lagna is a very important point in the horoscope. It is the Ri that

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rises in theEast, on the latitude of birth. The apparent rising of a Ri is due to the

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rotation of theearth on its own axis at a rate of motion, causing every degree of the zodiacseeminglyascend on the eastern horizon. Approximately two hours are required for a Ri to

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pass viathe horizon, thereby every degree taking four minutes to ascend. This duration,however, isactually dependent on the concerned latitude.Actually Sun has no motion. His motion is an apparent one, as viewed from therotatingearth. Other Planets, including the nodes, have v6thed rates of motion. Theaverage dailymotions of the Planets, which are not, however standard, are, as follows: Sun 1,Moon 13-15, Mars30-45, Mercury 65-100, Venus 62-82, Jupiter 5-15, Saturn 2, Rahu/Ketu 3.Withsuch different motions, a Planet forms various Aspects with others. These Aspectsthrough

longitudinal distances have a great deal of utility in Jyotishya. This is whatMahri

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Parashara suggests to be considered.”The names of the planets. their nature, governance, status, complexions, deities,genders,primodial compounds, nature, etc. are given in the following verses of BPHS:10. Names of Planets. The names of the nine Planets, respectively, are Sun, Moon,Mars,Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.11. Benefics and Malefics. Among these, Sun, Saturn, Mars, decreasing Moon, RahuandKetu (the ascending and the descending nodes of Moon) are malefics, while the restarebenefics. Mercury, however, is a malefic, if he joins a malefic.Addition from Santhanam till Sloka 12-13. When Moon is ahead of Sun, but within120, shehas medium strength. Between 120 to 240 she is very auspicious,( seeAtishubhapred). From240 to 0 she is bereft of strength. This is Yavana’s view; vide P. 70 of myEnglishTranslation of Saravali. This view is, however, related to Moon’s strength, orotherwise,while the waning Moon (Krishna Paksha, dark half) is a malefic and waxing Moon(ShuklaPaksha, bright half) is a benefic. Should Moon be conjunct with a benefic, orreceiving aAspect from a benefic, she turns a benefic, even if in a waning state. As regardsMercury,we have clear instructions from Mahri Parashara, that he becomes a malefic, if

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he joins amalefic. If waning Moon and Mercury are together, both are benefics.12-13. Planet governances. Sun is the soul of all. Moon is the mind. Mars is onesstrength.Mercury is speech-giver, while Jupiter confers Knowledge and happiness. Venusgovernssemen (potency), while Saturn denotes grief.14-15. Planet cabinet. Of royal status are Sun and Moon, while Mars is the Armychief.Prince-apparent is Mercury. The ministerial Planets are Jupiter and Venus. Saturnis aservant. Rahu and Ketu form the Planet Army.16-17. Complexions of Planets. Sun is blood-red. Moon is tawny. Mars, who is notvery tallis blood-red, while Mercury’s hue is akin to that of green grass. Tawny,v6thegated anddark are Jupiter, Venus and Saturn in their order.18. Deities of Planets. Fire (Agni) (?), Water (Varuna), Subrahmanya (Lord Shiva’sson,following Ganesha), Maha Vishnu, Indra, Shachi Devi (the consort of Lord Indra)andBrahma (?) are the presiding deities of the 7 Planets in their order.19. Gender of the Planets. Mercury and Saturn are neuters. Moon and Venus arefemales,while Sun, Mars and Jupiter are males.20. Primordial compounds. Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury, respectivelygovernthe Panchabhutas, space, air, fire, water and earth.21. Castes of Planets. Jupiter and Venus are Brahmins. Sun is a royal Planet,