Jyotish Term
Graha — ग्रह
Short answer. Graha is the Vedic term for a planet — literally meaning 'one who seizes' or 'one who grabs'. Vedic astrology recognises nine grahas: the seven classical planets plus the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu.
The nine grahas (nava graha) are: Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (north lunar node), and Ketu (south lunar node). Unlike modern Western astrology, Vedic astrology does not include Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto — these are not considered grahas in the classical system because they are not visible to the naked eye and were not known to the rishis who composed the source texts. The etymology 'one who seizes' reflects the Vedic view that each planet grips a portion of the soul's experience: each graha represents a specific psychological, physiological, and karmic function. Rahu and Ketu, though not physical planets, are treated as grahas because they mark the points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic — the geometric anchors of eclipses, which the rishis observed could 'seize' or eclipse the Sun and Moon.
Related terms
- Drishti — Drishti is the Vedic term for a planetary aspect — the influence a graha exerts on other houses by its line of sight from its current position. Every graha aspects the 7th house from itself; Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have additional special aspects.
- Retrograde — A graha is retrograde (vakri) when, from Earth's vantage point, it appears to move backwards through the zodiac. This is an optical effect of Earth overtaking outer planets or being overtaken by Mercury and Venus. Vedic astrology treats retrograde planets as functionally strengthened.
- Kundli — A kundli is a Vedic birth chart — a diagram showing the position of the nine grahas (planets) in the twelve bhavas (houses) at the exact moment of birth. It is the foundation of all Jyotish prediction.
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