What Are the 9 Planets (Navagraha) in Vedic Astrology?

Vedic astrology works with nine celestial influences known as the Navagraha — the nine "planets." Each carries a distinct significance, and where each sits in your chart shapes a different dimension of life.

The nine grahas

• Surya (Sun): Soul, ego, vitality, father, authority, government.
• Chandra (Moon): Mind, emotions, mother, the public, your Rashi.
• Mangal (Mars): Energy, courage, drive, siblings, property — the planet behind Manglik Dosha.
• Budh (Mercury): Intellect, communication, commerce, learning.
• Guru (Jupiter): Wisdom, expansion, fortune, teachers, children, dharma.
• Shukra (Venus): Love, beauty, luxury, art, marriage, relationships.
• Shani (Saturn): Discipline, hard work, delays, longevity, karma.
• Rahu (North Node): Ambition, obsession, sudden gains, the unconventional.
• Ketu (South Node): Detachment, spirituality, past-life mastery, moksha.

Natural benefics and malefics

Jupiter, Venus, a waxing Moon and well-associated Mercury are considered natural benefics; the Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are natural malefics. But "malefic" does not mean bad — Saturn's discipline or Mars's drive can be enormously constructive when well-placed.

Dignity: exaltation and debilitation

Each planet is strong in certain signs (exaltation, own sign) and weak in others (debilitation). Dignity dramatically changes how a planet behaves — a point covered in our guide to reading a Kundli.

Rahu and Ketu: the shadow planets

Rahu and Ketu are not physical bodies but the mathematical points where the Moon's path crosses the Sun's. They always sit exactly opposite each other and are central to Kaal Sarp Dosha.

See the planets in your chart

Generate your personalized report to see where all nine planets sit in your chart and what they mean for you.