Navagraha: the nine planets in Vedic astrology and what each one governs

Vedic astrology uses nine graha, or influences. Seven are visible bodies in the sky, and two, Rahu and Ketu, are the lunar nodes. Each governs areas of life and shapes your character in a particular way.

• Sun (Surya), Sunday: self, confidence, father figures, authority and government.
• Moon (Chandra), Monday: mind, mother, emotions, home and comfort.
• Mars (Mangal), Tuesday: energy, courage, siblings, property and action.
• Mercury (Budh), Wednesday: speech, intelligence, trade and learning.
• Jupiter (Guru), Thursday: wisdom, teachers, children, wealth and luck.
• Venus (Shukra), Friday: love, marriage, comfort and the arts.
• Saturn (Shani), Saturday: discipline, work, delay and long-term results.
• Rahu: ambition, foreign things, technology and obsession.
• Ketu: detachment, spirituality, past skills and research.

Natural friends and rivals

Some planets work well together. The Sun, Moon, Mars and Jupiter are friends. Venus, Mercury and Saturn also get along well. A planet in a friend’s sign is comfortable, and one in an enemy’s sign works harder.

Strength and results

A planet gives its best results when it sits in its own sign, in a sign of exaltation or in a supportive house. It gives mixed results when it sits in a sign of fall or in the 6th, 8th or 12th. Its dasha is when its qualities show most.

How they work together

No planet acts alone. A chart is the sum of all nine, with aspects and rulerships. A hard planet in a good place can be a friend, and a good planet in a poor place can ask for patience.

Learn your lagna lord and the planet of your current dasha first. They have the largest effect on your life right now.