Navgrah: The nine celestial forces in the vedic astrology As per Vedas there are nine forces in the celestial world which benefits us in different ways and influences our lives.
According to the Vedic Astrology, Navgrah consists of nine planetary systems that are said to control over every phase of an individual’s life. These nine planets are those which have very crucial roles in the Hindu culture and tradition from astrology and spiritual aspects, though some of them are not actual planets but science recognize them as planets. They create an individual’s future, his or her lot in life and personality. Every planet has its qualities, characteristics and impact in different fields of life – health, relations, job and inner life etc and each is known as graha.
The Navgrah are as follows:
1. Surya (Sun)
2. Chandra (Moon)
3. Mangal (Mars)
4. Budh (Mercury)
5. Guru (Jupiter)
6. Shukra (Venus)
7. Shani (Saturn)
8. Rahu also know as North Node of the Moon (the ascendancy (Rising) node)
9. Ketu therefore is one of the astrological nodes of the moon in line with the Jyotish or Vedic Astrology of the Indians sub continent.
Maybe now it is about time to examine each one of the nine heavenly bodies individually with regards to astrology as a means of affecting the life of the people.
1. Surya (Sun): They have a direct connection with the cosmos and are thus somewhat perceived as the ‘‘King of Planets.’’
– Attributes: Surya is considered number one or topmost among all the planets included in astrology field. This seed symbolises soul, energy, strength and authority.
– Zodiac Sign: Leo (Simha)
– Day: Sunday
– Color: Red, Orange
– Mantra: The two recited are “Om Suryaya Namaha.”
The other human attributes that Surya possesses are leadership qualities, confidence and ambition. It controls a person’s health, desire, and pride. The strong Sun in the horoscope indicates fame, recognition and positive goodness, whereas the weak Sun lead to low energy or low self-esteem.
2. Chandra (Moon): The Nurturer
– Attributes: Moon rules feeling, mentality, and sensitivity or intuition. It is associated with care giving, mother figure, and arts.
– Zodiac Sign: Saru means ‘Cancer’ in Hindi and Sanskrit Sun Sign Hence Known As Karka.
– Day: Monday
– Color: White
– Mantra: Singing the praise of Sun-god the chant, “Om Chandraya Namaha”.
Chandra controls the intellect and passion, and therefore is important in the prognosis of one’s mental health and state of mind. The Moon again controls feelings and its position in the birth chart shows a person’s behavior in relation to the feelings world. Further, a strong Moon overlays emotional stability whereas weak moon makes a person more moody or anxious.
3. Mangal (Mars): The Warrior
– Attributes: Mars is the warrior of the zodiac, and represents our will-power, energy, strength and ability to overcome. It also shows sign of aggression and conflicts.
– Zodiac Sign: Aries Mesh and Scorpio Vrishchik
– Day: Tuesday
– Color: Red
– Mantra: Every line of the poem is filled with “Om Mangalaya Namaha”.
Energia and drive can be associated with the planet Mars. Mars in a favorable sign makes people competitive, brave and efficient in their jobs/Marketing and Sales. On the other hand, if Mars is placed in an incorrect position, then it would lead to anger problems, hasty decision making abilities and accidents.
4. Budh (Mercury): The Messenger
– Attributes: Mercury is the business, learning, mental, communication planet. It stands for intelligence, versatility, and, of course, the ability to make money.
– Zodiac Sign: As mentioned earlier Gemini (Mithun) and Virgo (Kanya)
– Day: Wednesday
– Color: Green
– Mantra: “Om Budhaya Namaha”. There are Nine planets its 3rd Planet of solar system.
When Mercury is strong, it provides the person with good communicational skills, intelligence and good business acumen. Mercury’s effects are felt most strongly where the written word is involved, as well as in media arenas and in business and commerce. Harmful positioning of Mercury leads to poor communication ability, changes in moods and confused decision-making.
5. Guru (Jupiter): The Teacher
– Attributes: Jupiter also represents getting of knowledge and information as well as spiritual information and getting bigger in size. It is regarded as the most favourable planet in Vedic Astrology.
– Zodiac Sign: As already discussed in earlier sections Sagittarius sign which is known as Dhanu in Tamil.
– Day: Thursday
– Color: Yellow
– Mantra: Om is a simple word which is said as “Om Gurave Namaha.”
Jupiter has jurisdiction over education, spirituality and ethic and moral conduct. Professionals with well placed Jupiter give generosity, wisdom and positive attitude towards life. A weak Jupiter may make a person make wrong decisions or face problems in monetary matters or simply lack goals in live.
6. Shukra (Venus): That is the Planet of Love I was talking about.
– Attributes: Blood it is linked to love and beauty, partnership, comfort, and pleasure. It also reigns in arts, music, as well as luxury.
– Zodiac Sign: Vrushabha and Tula or as per english Zodiac Taurus and Libra.
– Day: Friday
– Color: White, Light pink
– Mantra: Just like OM, our gratitude and thanks being transferred to the divine foot in “Om Shukraya Namaha”.
Venus gives love for beauty, art and music as well as desire for nice things in life. Those who have strong Venus have a high potential of excelling in the artistic industry and also like interpersonal relations. Hence if your Venus is not strong, then you will have to struggle with your relationship issues and also financial issues.
7. Shani (Saturn): The Disciplinarian
– Attributes: Saturn symbolizes features such as discipline, hard work, responsibility and therefore the law of karma. It is usually linked with a delay, problems, and constraints.
– Zodiac Sign: Makar and Kumbh also known as Capricorn and Aquarius respectively.
– Day: Saturday
– Color: Black, Dark blue
– Mantra: As for the second mantra – “Om Shanaishcharaya Namaha”
Saturn is all about learning lessons in one’s life through hard work and stick-to-itiveness. It is a promoter of people’s productivity but can also provoke a lot of pain and difficulties if it is placed inappropriately. Saturn in its better form imparts attributes like patience, wisdom and a consistent success throughout the path and negative Saturn steals every opportunity of a triumph and makes it go in vain.
8. Rahu: The North Node, alias The Shadow Planet
– Attributes: Rahu is known as a shadow planet, which materialistic aspect binds it to desire, ambition. They associate it with obsession, innovation and creativity, and approach that is unconventional in most cases.
– Zodiac Sign: Rahu does not control any particular sign of the zodiac but plays an important role in each of them.
– Day: For the weekdays, it is normally Monday while for the week-end; it is Saturday depending on the tradition in use.
– Color: Heavier Shaded or the Bluer hue.
– Mantra: Among all these divine chants, “Om Rahave Namaha” is considered to be of great importance now days.
Rahu is that which is sudden gain or loss; sudden rise or fall from a particular status in society. It determines technology advancement, countries’ relations and shapes major political leadership profiles. There are positive energy like Rahu can make individuals to be very ambitious but on the negative side, if it is not controlled, it results in greed, deception or confusion.
9. Ketu: The South Node also known as the Spiritual Planet.
– Attributes: Ketu is the free spiritedness, spirituality, spiritual liberation or salvation planet. Sometimes it is connected with mystery and freedom.
– Zodiac Sign: None (Unlike other planets Ketu does not control any zodiac sign but influences different aspects of life)
– Day: Hymn: 10 Free Thursdays dependent on tradition Hymn 6 Tuesday dependent on tradition
– Color: Grey, Ash
– Mantra: “Om Ketave Namaha”.
Ketu gives spirituality and freedom from earthly desires.. Vedic astrologers opine that house lord or any planet occupying Ketu delivers success in the occult sciences; on the other hand, a weak Ketu only brings confusion, and accidents, or losses in a sudden manner.
Conclusion
One has to realize that the Navgrah are very important in order to analyze the Vedic astrology. Not only are they Stars, they are energies that exist in the universe which is manifested in all aspects of life. Thus, when one is aware of the meanings and position of each of them in the birth chart, this provides an understanding of a person’s potentials, difficulties, and life purpose, and ways to move toward better balancing the energies of the planets.