Vedic astrology works with nine Grahas, a word often translated as "planets" but better understood as "influences that seize." Seven are visible bodies: the Sun (soul, authority), the Moon (mind, emotions), Mars (energy, courage), Mercury (intellect, communication), Jupiter (wisdom, expansion), Venus (love, comfort, arts), and Saturn (discipline, delay, endurance).
The other two, Rahu and Ketu, are not physical bodies. They are the north and south nodes of the Moon — the points where eclipses occur. Rahu represents obsession, ambition, and worldly hunger; Ketu represents detachment, past-life skills, and spiritual release. Because they always sit exactly opposite each other, they create an axis of tension in every chart.
Each Graha is naturally benefic or malefic, but its actual effect depends on the sign it occupies, the house it rules for your Ascendant, and the planets aspecting it. A "malefic" Saturn can give tremendous career stability when well placed, while a "benefic" Jupiter can bring over-confidence when afflicted.
This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Vedic astrology is a traditional belief system; nothing here is medical, legal, or financial advice.
KundliWise AI Editorial
Explaining Jyotish — the Vedic science of light — in plain language. Reviewed against classical sources such as the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.