In Hindu Astrology there are nine planets or Grahas. These include Rahu
and Ketu, which are astronomical points formed where the moons orbit intersects the apparent path of the Sun around the earth. Each planet is considered to be having masculine, feminine or neutral characteristics
Planets and their equivalents in English
| Graha | English Name | Sex | | Ravi | Sun |  Masculine | | Chandra | Moon |  Feminine | | Kuja | Mars | Masculine | | Budha | Mercury |  Neutral | | Guru | Jupiter | Masculine | | Shukra | Venus | Feminine | | Sani | Saturn | Neutral | | Rahu | Dragon Head | Feminine | | Ketu | Dragon Tail | Neutral |
Rahu and Ketu
The Moon's apparent path intersects the ellipse obliquely at two points called the nodes. The point where the Moon crosses the ecliptic from south to north is called the ascending node or Rahu, where it crosses the ecliptic from north to south is called descending node or Ketu. These two points are 180 degrees apart and their movement is constantly retrograde, meaning, against the normal direction of movement of planets. Rahu and Ketu are given special status and considered as planets in Indian astrology. Rahu and Ketu take approximately eighteen years and ten days to complete one round of the zodiac.
The Zodiac is a band 18 degrees wide and placed obliquely to the equator. This band can be imagined running around the earth in an east-west direction. Groups of stars can be located along this imaginary belt. This belt is divided into twelve equal parts called Rasi. It is also divided into 27 parts and each part named after a star or group of stars located in the division
When a zodiac is divided into twelve equal parts, each such part has an extension of 30 degrees of arc. Such a division is called a sign or Rasi.
There are 12 houses of Rasi's
| No. | Indian System | Western System | | 1 | Mesha |  Aries | | 2 | Vrishabha |  Taurus | | 3 | Mithuna |  Gemini | | 4 | Karkata |  Cancer | | 5 | Simha |  Leo | | 6 | Kanya |  Virgo | | 7 | Tula |  Libra | | 8 | Vrischika |  Scorpio | | 9 | Dhanu |  Sagittarius | | 10 | Makara |  Capricon | | 11 | Kumbha |  Aquarius | | 12 | Meena |  Pises |
Each Rasi has a planet assigned to it as Lord of the House.
| No. | Lords of 12 Houses | | 1 | Mesha | Mangal or Kuja (Mars) | | 2 | Vrishabha | Shukra (Venus) | | 3 | Mithuna | Budha (Mercury) | | 4 | Karkata | Chandra (Moon) | | 5 | Simha | Surya (The Sun) | | 6 | Kanya | Budha (Mercury) | | 7 | Tula | Shukra(Venus) | | 8 | Vrischika | Kuja(Mars) | | 9 | Dhanu | Guru(Jupiter) | | 10 | Makara | Sani(Saturn) | | 11 | Kumbha | Sani(Saturn) | | 12 | Meena | Guru (Jupiter) |
Each planet has a point in the zodiac where it attains maximum strength. The houses where they have the maximum strength are called the houses of exaltation.
Planets and their exalted houses (Uchacha)
| Exaltation | | 1 | Ravi | - | Mesha | | 2 | Chandra | - | Vrishabha | | 3 | Kuja | - | Makara | | 4 | Budha | - | Kanya | | 5 | Simha | - | Karkata | | 6 | Shukra | - | Meena | | 7 | Sani | - | Tula |
Each planet has a point in the zodiac where it has the minimum strength. The houses where the planets have the minimum strength are called the houses of debilitation.
| Debilitated houses of Planets | | 1 | Ravi | - | Tula | | 2 | Chandra | - | Vrischika | | 3 | Kuja | - | Karkata | | 4 | Budha | - | Meena | | 5 | Simha | - | Makara | | 6 | Shukra | - | Kanya | | 7 | Sani | - | Mesha |
Each planet considers another planet as friend, enemy or equal. Some relationships are not mutual, for example, while one planet considers another as a friend, the second planet in turn may not see the first one as a friend. Mercury and Moon are examples.
| Planets | Friends | Equals | Enemies | | Sun | Moon
Mars Jupiter | Mercury | Venus
Sani
Rahu | | Moon | Sun
Mercury | Mars
Jupiter
Venus
Saturn | Rahu | | Mars | Sun
Moon
Jupiter | Venus
Saturn | Mercury
Rahu | | Mercury | Sun
Venus
Rahu | Mars
Jupiter
Saturn |
Moon
| | Jupiter | Sun
Moon
Mars | Saturn
Rahu | Mercury
Venus | | Venus | Mercury
Saturn
Rahu | Jupiter
Mars | Sun
Moon | | Saturn | Mercury
Venus
Rahu | Jupiter | Sun
Moon
Mars | | Rahu | Mercury
Venus
Saturn | Jupiter | Sun
Moon
Mars | | Ketu | Mercury
Venus
Saturn
Rahu | Jupiter | Sun
Moon
Mars |
Each planet has a gem associated with it. The nine stones corresponding to the nine planets are called the Navaratna group of stones.
| Planet | Gem Stone | | Ravi | Ruby |  | | Chandra | Pearl |  | | Kuja | Coral |  | | Budha | Emerald |  | | Guru | Pushyaraga
(Yellow Sapphire) |  | | Shukra | Diamond |  | | Saturn | Blue Sapphire |  | | Rahu | Gomed |  | | Ketu | Cat's eye |  |
| Planet | Gem Stone | | Ravi | Red |  | | Chandra | White |  | | Kuja | Red | | | Budha | Green |  | | Guru | Yellow |  | | Shukra | White | | | Saturn | Blue |  | | Rahu | Smoke |  | | Ketu | Smoke | |
| Periods of stay of each planet in each sign |
|
| Planet | Period of Stay | | Sun | 30 days | | Moon | 2 1/4 days | | Mars | 45 days | | Mercury | 30 days | | Jupiter | 1 year | | Venus | 30 days | | Saturn | 2 years and 6 months | | Rahu | 1 year and 6 months | | Ketu | 1 year and 6 months |
| Planet and their elements | | Mercury stands for Earthly element |  | | Sun Stands for Fiery element |  | | Saturn stands for Airy element |  | | Jupiter stands for Ethereal element |  | | Venus & Moon stands for Watery element |  |
Movable
(Chara) | Fixed
(Sthira) | Common
(Dwiswabhava) | | Mesha | Vrishabha | Mithuna | | Karkata | Simha | Kanya | | Tula | Vrischika | Dhanu | | Makara | Kumbha | Meena |
Natural benefics: Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and Waxing Moon Natural malefics:Saturni, Mars, Rahu, Ketu and Sun.
Planets are associated with color, metal, elements, grains, seasons etc. Also they are believed to belong to certain caste and sex. These characteristics and associations are given in a table below.
| Character | Sun | Moon | Mars | Mercury | | Color | Copper | White | Red | Green | | Nature | Sathwa | Sathwa | Thamas | Rajas | | Sex | Male | Female | Male | Eunuch(Female) | | Caste | Kshtriya | Vysya | Kshtriya | Sudra | | Element | Fire | Water | Fire | Earth | | Diety | Agni | Varuna | Subramanya | Vishnu | | Garment | Thick | New | HalfBurnt | Wet | | Metal/material | Copper | Gems | Gold | Brass | | Parts | Bones | Blood | Marrow | Skin | | Grains | Wheat | Paddy | Lentil | GreenGram | | Seasons | Summer | Winter | Summer | Autumn | | Taste | Pungent | Salt | Acidity | Mixed | | Residence | Place of worship | Springs | Fire | Play-ground | | Temperament | Bilious | Phlegmatic | Bilious | Mixed |
| Character | Jupiter | Venus | Saturn | | Color | Mixed Gold&Silver | White/Yellow | Blue/Black | | Nature | Sathwa | Rajas | Thamas | | Sex | Male | Female | Eunuch (Female) | | Caste | Brahman | Brahman | Chandala | | Element | Ether | Water | Air | | Diety | Indra | Indrani | Brahma | | Garment | Shabby | Strong | Rag | | Metal/material | Silver | Diamond(Pearl) | Iron(Lead) | | Parts | Flesh&Brain | Semen | Muscles | | Grains | BengalGram | Beans | Sesamin | | Seasons | Snow | Spring | All Seasons | | Taste | Sweet&Cool | Sour | Bitter & Astringent | | Residence | Store-house | Bed-Chamber | Dustbin | | Temperament | Phlegmatic | Windy
&Phlegmatic | Windy
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