Nine Grahas Reference
Complete guide to the planetary influences of Vedic astrology
The Sanskrit word graha comes from the root grah, meaning "to seize" or "to grasp." The grahas are forces that seize us - influences that shape our experience of life. There are nine grahas in the classical Jyotish system, each representing an archetypal energy that manifests in predictable patterns.
Master Reference Table
| Graha | English | Nature | Day | Gemstone | Own Signs | Exaltation | Debilitation | Dasha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surya | Sun | Krura (Harsh) | Sunday | Ruby (Manikya) | Leo | Aries 10° | Libra 10° | 6 years |
| Chandra | Moon | Saumya (Gentle) | Monday | Pearl (Mukta) | Cancer | Taurus 3° | Scorpio 3° | 10 years |
| Mangala | Mars | Krura (Harsh) | Tuesday | Red Coral (Moonga) | Aries, Scorpio | Capricorn 28° | Cancer 28° | 7 years |
| Budha | Mercury | Variable | Wednesday | Emerald (Panna) | Gemini, Virgo | Virgo 15° | Pisces 15° | 17 years |
| Guru | Jupiter | Saumya (Gentle) | Thursday | Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj) | Sagittarius, Pisces | Cancer 5° | Capricorn 5° | 16 years |
| Shukra | Venus | Saumya (Gentle) | Friday | Diamond (Heera) | Taurus, Libra | Pisces 27° | Virgo 27° | 20 years |
| Shani | Saturn | Krura (Harsh) | Saturday | Blue Sapphire (Neelam) | Capricorn, Aquarius | Libra 20° | Aries 20° | 19 years |
| Rahu | North Node | Krura (Harsh) | Saturday | Hessonite Garnet (Gomed) | Aquarius (some traditions) | Taurus/Gemini | Scorpio/Sagittarius | 18 years |
| Ketu | South Node | Krura (Harsh) | Tuesday | Cat's Eye (Lehsunia) | Scorpio (some traditions) | Scorpio/Sagittarius | Taurus/Gemini | 7 years |
Surya (Sun)
Krura (Harsh) | Male | Sattva
Key Significations
Soul, father, authority, government, leadership, vitality, ego, fame, honor, self-expression, health
Placement
- Own Signs: Leo
- Exaltation: Aries 10°
- Debilitation: Libra 10°
- Moolatrikona: Leo 0-20°
Relationships
- Friends: Moon, Mars, Jupiter
- Enemies: Venus, Saturn
- Neutral: Mercury
Correspondences
- Day: Sunday
- Color: Red/Copper
- Direction: East
- Element: Fire
Remedies
- Gemstone: Ruby (Manikya)
- Metal: Gold/Copper
- Deity: Surya/Vishnu
- Dasha: 6 years
Rules Nakshatras
Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha
Body Parts Governed
Heart, eyes, bones, spine
Chandra (Moon)
Saumya (Gentle) | Female | Sattva
Key Significations
Mind, mother, emotions, nurturing, public, water, fertility, imagination, memory, receptivity
Placement
- Own Signs: Cancer
- Exaltation: Taurus 3°
- Debilitation: Scorpio 3°
- Moolatrikona: Taurus 4-30°
Relationships
- Friends: Sun, Mercury
- Enemies: None
- Neutral: Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn
Correspondences
- Day: Monday
- Color: White/Silver
- Direction: Northwest
- Element: Water
Remedies
- Gemstone: Pearl (Mukta)
- Metal: Silver
- Deity: Parvati/Durga
- Dasha: 10 years
Rules Nakshatras
Rohini, Hasta, Shravana
Body Parts Governed
Mind, blood, breasts, stomach, fluids
Mangala (Mars)
Krura (Harsh) | Male | Tamas
Key Significations
Energy, courage, siblings, property, strength, aggression, accidents, surgery, competition, passion
Placement
- Own Signs: Aries, Scorpio
- Exaltation: Capricorn 28°
- Debilitation: Cancer 28°
- Moolatrikona: Aries 0-12°
Relationships
- Friends: Sun, Moon, Jupiter
- Enemies: Mercury
- Neutral: Venus, Saturn
Correspondences
- Day: Tuesday
- Color: Red
- Direction: South
- Element: Fire
Remedies
- Gemstone: Red Coral (Moonga)
- Metal: Copper
- Deity: Kartikeya/Hanuman
- Dasha: 7 years
Rules Nakshatras
Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta
Body Parts Governed
Blood, muscles, bone marrow, genitals
Budha (Mercury)
Variable | Neuter | Rajas
Key Significations
Intelligence, speech, commerce, communication, writing, learning, siblings, friends, adaptability
Placement
- Own Signs: Gemini, Virgo
- Exaltation: Virgo 15°
- Debilitation: Pisces 15°
- Moolatrikona: Virgo 16-20°
Relationships
- Friends: Sun, Venus
- Enemies: Moon
- Neutral: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
Correspondences
- Day: Wednesday
- Color: Green
- Direction: North
- Element: Earth
Remedies
- Gemstone: Emerald (Panna)
- Metal: Brass/Bronze
- Deity: Vishnu
- Dasha: 17 years
Rules Nakshatras
Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati
Body Parts Governed
Nervous system, skin, lungs, tongue
Guru (Jupiter)
Saumya (Gentle) | Male | Sattva
Key Significations
Wisdom, expansion, children, wealth, teachers, spirituality, dharma, luck, higher education, law
Placement
- Own Signs: Sagittarius, Pisces
- Exaltation: Cancer 5°
- Debilitation: Capricorn 5°
- Moolatrikona: Sagittarius 0-10°
Relationships
- Friends: Sun, Moon, Mars
- Enemies: Mercury, Venus
- Neutral: Saturn
Correspondences
- Day: Thursday
- Color: Yellow/Gold
- Direction: Northeast
- Element: Ether
Remedies
- Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj)
- Metal: Gold
- Deity: Brihaspati/Indra
- Dasha: 16 years
Rules Nakshatras
Punarvasu, Vishakha, Purva Bhadrapada
Body Parts Governed
Liver, fat, hips, ears
Shukra (Venus)
Saumya (Gentle) | Female | Rajas
Key Significations
Love, beauty, marriage, vehicles, luxury, art, music, pleasure, sensuality, refinement, wealth
Placement
- Own Signs: Taurus, Libra
- Exaltation: Pisces 27°
- Debilitation: Virgo 27°
- Moolatrikona: Libra 0-15°
Relationships
- Friends: Mercury, Saturn
- Enemies: Sun, Moon
- Neutral: Mars, Jupiter
Correspondences
- Day: Friday
- Color: White/Pink
- Direction: Southeast
- Element: Water
Remedies
- Gemstone: Diamond (Heera)
- Metal: Silver
- Deity: Lakshmi
- Dasha: 20 years
Rules Nakshatras
Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha
Body Parts Governed
Reproductive system, kidneys, face, throat
Shani (Saturn)
Krura (Harsh) | Neuter | Tamas
Key Significations
Discipline, karma, delays, obstacles, longevity, servants, hard work, structure, time, detachment
Placement
- Own Signs: Capricorn, Aquarius
- Exaltation: Libra 20°
- Debilitation: Aries 20°
- Moolatrikona: Aquarius 0-20°
Relationships
- Friends: Mercury, Venus
- Enemies: Sun, Moon, Mars
- Neutral: Jupiter
Correspondences
- Day: Saturday
- Color: Black/Blue
- Direction: West
- Element: Air
Remedies
- Gemstone: Blue Sapphire (Neelam)
- Metal: Iron
- Deity: Shani/Yama
- Dasha: 19 years
Rules Nakshatras
Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada
Body Parts Governed
Bones, joints, teeth, nerves, chronic conditions
Rahu (North Node)
Krura (Harsh) | Male | Tamas
Key Significations
Obsession, foreign, illusion, ambition, unconventional, technology, outcasts, amplification, desires
Placement
- Own Signs: Aquarius (some traditions)
- Exaltation: Taurus/Gemini
- Debilitation: Scorpio/Sagittarius
- Moolatrikona: -
Relationships
- Friends: Venus, Saturn
- Enemies: Sun, Moon, Mars
- Neutral: Mercury, Jupiter
Correspondences
- Day: Saturday
- Color: Smoky/Black
- Direction: Southwest
- Element: Air
Remedies
- Gemstone: Hessonite Garnet (Gomed)
- Metal: Lead
- Deity: Durga/Varahi
- Dasha: 18 years
Rules Nakshatras
Ardra, Swati, Shatabhisha
Body Parts Governed
Skin diseases, mental disorders, poisons
Ketu (South Node)
Krura (Harsh) | Neuter | Tamas
Key Significations
Liberation, spirituality, past karma, detachment, intuition, occult, losses, healing, moksha
Placement
- Own Signs: Scorpio (some traditions)
- Exaltation: Scorpio/Sagittarius
- Debilitation: Taurus/Gemini
- Moolatrikona: -
Relationships
- Friends: Venus, Saturn
- Enemies: Sun, Moon, Mars
- Neutral: Mercury, Jupiter
Correspondences
- Day: Tuesday
- Color: Smoky/Gray
- Direction: Southwest
- Element: Fire
Remedies
- Gemstone: Cat's Eye (Lehsunia)
- Metal: Lead
- Deity: Ganesha
- Dasha: 7 years
Rules Nakshatras
Ashwini, Magha, Mula
Body Parts Governed
Feet, skin, spine, epidemics
Planetary Relationships
Each graha has natural friendships and enmities that affect how planets interact in a chart.
| Planet | Friends | Enemies | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Moon, Mars, Jupiter | Venus, Saturn | Mercury |
| Moon | Sun, Mercury | None | Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn |
| Mars | Sun, Moon, Jupiter | Mercury | Venus, Saturn |
| Mercury | Sun, Venus | Moon | Mars, Jupiter, Saturn |
| Jupiter | Sun, Moon, Mars | Mercury, Venus | Saturn |
| Venus | Mercury, Saturn | Sun, Moon | Mars, Jupiter |
| Saturn | Mercury, Venus | Sun, Moon, Mars | Jupiter |
Note: Rahu and Ketu are shadowy planets (chaya grahas) and typically take on the nature of planets they conjoin or aspect. Some traditions assign them friends of Saturn and Venus, enemies of Sun, Moon, and Mars.
Planetary Remedies (Upayas)
Traditional remedies to strengthen beneficial planets or mitigate difficult influences. Consult with a qualified astrologer before wearing gemstones.
Sun Remedies
- Gemstone: Ruby (minimum 3 carats, set in gold, worn on ring finger)
- Mantra: Om Suryaya Namaha (108x at sunrise)
- Charity: Donate wheat, copper, jaggery on Sundays
- Practice: Surya Namaskar, wake at sunrise
Moon Remedies
- Gemstone: Pearl (minimum 4 carats, set in silver, worn on ring/little finger)
- Mantra: Om Chandraya Namaha (108x on Mondays)
- Charity: Donate rice, milk, white cloth on Mondays
- Practice: Moon gazing, water offerings
Mars Remedies
- Gemstone: Red Coral (minimum 5 carats, set in copper/gold, worn on ring finger)
- Mantra: Om Angarakaya Namaha (108x on Tuesdays)
- Charity: Donate red lentils, copper on Tuesdays
- Practice: Physical exercise, Hanuman worship
Mercury Remedies
- Gemstone: Emerald (minimum 3 carats, set in gold, worn on little finger)
- Mantra: Om Budhaya Namaha (108x on Wednesdays)
- Charity: Donate green vegetables, moong dal on Wednesdays
- Practice: Study, writing, Vishnu worship
Jupiter Remedies
- Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire (minimum 3 carats, set in gold, worn on index finger)
- Mantra: Om Gurave Namaha (108x on Thursdays)
- Charity: Donate turmeric, yellow clothes, bananas on Thursdays
- Practice: Teaching, spiritual study, respect elders
Venus Remedies
- Gemstone: Diamond (minimum 1 carat, set in platinum/white gold, worn on ring finger)
- Mantra: Om Shukraya Namaha (108x on Fridays)
- Charity: Donate white items, sugar, ghee on Fridays
- Practice: Art, music, Lakshmi worship
Saturn Remedies
- Gemstone: Blue Sapphire (minimum 3 carats, set in silver/iron, worn on middle finger)
- Mantra: Om Shanaye Namaha (108x on Saturdays)
- Charity: Donate black sesame, mustard oil, to the poor on Saturdays
- Practice: Service to elderly, discipline, Shani temple visits
Rahu Remedies
- Gemstone: Hessonite Garnet (minimum 4 carats, set in silver, worn on middle finger)
- Mantra: Om Rahave Namaha (108x on Saturdays)
- Charity: Donate blue/black items, sesame seeds
- Practice: Durga worship, avoid intoxicants
Ketu Remedies
- Gemstone: Cat's Eye (minimum 3 carats, set in silver/gold, worn on middle finger)
- Mantra: Om Ketave Namaha (108x on Tuesdays)
- Charity: Donate multi-colored blankets, sesame seeds
- Practice: Ganesha worship, meditation, spiritual retreats
Important Caution
Gemstones are powerful remedies that strengthen planetary influence - whether that influence is beneficial or challenging. Blue Sapphire (Saturn) and Cat's Eye (Ketu) are particularly potent and should only be worn after careful chart analysis by a qualified astrologer. Never wear gemstones based solely on sun sign or general recommendations.
Vimshottari Dasha Periods
The Vimshottari dasha system assigns each planet a period of rulership, totaling 120 years.
The starting dasha is determined by the Moon's nakshatra at birth. Each nakshatra is ruled by a planet, and the dasha begins from that planet's period.
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