Definition of a Graha

By
Gayatri Devi Vasudev, India

Earlier Published In Modern Astrology

Available In Saptarishis Astrology
Book Shop

E very science has at its base certain

established principles that are self-
evident truths and do not require
proof. Such axiomatic rules are accepted
without question. Euclids axiom, for
instance, that things equal to the same
thing are equal to each other is accepted
universally as true. In Jyotisha too, the

M rs. Gayatri Devi Vasudev is the Editor of

self-evident connection between human
life and celestial bodies is an axiomatic
principle. The celestial factors are
Modern Astrology, the successor to Dr. B.V.Raman's
recognised as ad infinitum but for the
The Astrological Magazine which closed down in
scheme of astrology, only 9 are considered
December 2007 following her resignation from its
relevant. These 9 factors known as
Editorship in June 2007. As Editor (January 1999 to
Navagrahas (Nava + Graha) help in
July 2007) of The Astrological Magazine, the world's
unlocking the unknown in human life and
foremost and most authentic journal on Jyotisha or
existence.
Indian astrology, and earlier as its Associate Editor,
Gayatri Devi Vasudev was actively involved with her What is a Graha? Is it the same as a
father--- its Founder and the Father of Modern planet? If yes, what about the Sun which is
Astrology Dr. B.V.Raman,---- from 1972 to until his a star? What about Rahu and Ketu? And
death in December 1998, in his mission to bring the satellite Moon? In other words, what is
astrology into the comity of sciences. She continues his the definition of Graha? And how is it
mission. She is also the National Vice-President of the different from planet?
Indian Council of Astrological Sciences founded by Dr. Let us take a look at what the term
B.V.Raman in 1984 to organize the study and practice planet has meant so far, and again as
of astrology. Gayatri Devi Vasudev has authored many defined by the International Astronomical
books on astrology that include The Art of Matching Union in August 2006.
Charts, The Art of Prediction in Astrology, Advanced According to the Websters New
Principles of Prediction, Clues to Interpreting Charts, World Dictionary, the term planet originally
Practical Horary Astrology, The Story of Dr. B.V. meant any of the heavenly bodies with
Raman for Children and How to Judge a Horoscope- apparent motion (as distinguished from the
Volume II. fixed stars) including the Sun, Moon, Mercury,
Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Later it
became any heavenly body that shines by
reflected sunlight and revolves round the Sun, the major planets, in their order, from the Sun being
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. This definition does
not recognize the Moon, Sun, Rahu and Ketu as planets while Earth is a planet.

The I.A.U has now defined a planet as a celestial body that:-

a) is in orbit around the Sun;
b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body force so that it
assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape;
c) has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.

According to the I.A.U., the solar system consists of 8 planets Mercury, Venus, Earth,
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Pluto, once hailed sensationally as a planet
swimming in a sea of comets and ice-balls with an elongated off-killer orbit that occasionally
crosses Neptunes orbit, now stands disqualified from planet-ship.

The planet as defined in modern astronomy cannot be equated with the Grahas of
astrology. The Navagrahas are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu
and Ketu. In order to understand and grasp the exact connotation of the term Graha, we will
have to start at the very beginning which is trying to understand what astrology is and what
its content is. Jyotisha, like the word Dharma which really has no equivalent in English,
cannot be packed into a single English term. It has a wider connotation and is not astrology
(in the sense of predictive science as commonly understood) only, nor is it only astronomy
(a part of mathematics) but a conglomerate of both. In fact, it is best understood as applied
astronomy. Jyotisha is constituted of 3 branches of knowledge.

xlixWiWUm xMlkriqM |
uSxr lqs ceri vxqlq ||
Narada Samhita I-4
The excellent science of Jyotisha comprising of Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora as its three
sections is verily the eye of the Vedas.
Siddhanta is Ganita or mathematics which includes Gola or spherical astronomy. Samhita
deals with the application of Ganita (particularly Gola) to terrestrial phenomena such as
natural calamities, political developments etc., while Hora is the study of the correlations
between astronomical factors and individual lives. Jyotisha therefore is the study of
astronomical phenomena and their connection with terrestrial happenings. Understood in
this sense, the Graha factor in Jyotisha attracts a wider astronomical implication to itself
than the term planet.

According to Brihat Parasara Hora (Chap.I-5), which is accepted universally as the most
authoritative text on the subject and which is in the form of a dialogue between the teacher
Parasara and the disciple Maitreya,* to a question from the latter,

* This is as per Pandit Devachandra Jhas translation published in Chowkambha Samskruth

Series, Varanasi. A more recent translation by Girish Chand Sharma has Maitreya asking,
 Mj xUr ei eaivc sr Mjq ?
Uuxjl pxjil c
xqolk uS uxiUi || I-4 ||
meaning, How was the universe created? How will it come to an end? Kindly tell me in detail
the relationship between those born on this earth and those existing in the skies?

Mjqxr W uvuxr mpuj sr pui |

lpxjraWhgc pqmhl qj ||
Tell me, about the origin of the Universe and its dissolution. What is the relationship between the
Grahas that move across the skies (lpxjraWh) and living-beings on earth (pqmhl),

Parasara, the master, begins his explanation by saying (Chap.I-8),

xr liu aWmi eaSimiMUhq
the lord of the Grahas (is) Surya or Sun who is behind the origin of the world.

In other words, the text starts with two facts of Nature. Parasaras answer is conceded by
modern science and is that the Sun is the origin of the solar system including the earth. The
other fact of Nature, disputed by modern science, but only until it is rediscovered in the west
(and possibly by the west), concealed in Maitreyas question is the axiomatic connections or
correlations between the celestial orbiters and denizens of earth (Uuxjl pxjil c
xqolk).

It now becomes clear that the subject revolves round the Grahas or denizens of the skies.
At this stage, the implication would be a Graha can include planet (as in modern astronomy)
but not necessarily be limited to it for the generic term used is Uuxjl or
lpxjlraWh |

As the dialogue between the master and disciple progresses, Parasara gives more clues to
what Grahas are (Chowkamba version III-3, 4 and 5):
lh aWh c rSv lpx xji |
Mjrwrq iqS vlici lvqr ||
iemge l uli aal Uelw r |
lxMxi i l Ulii ls ||
umsMUulilr aiqli aW Ms |
xuair pl aWli riixi aWpk ||
I shall now speak of the Nakshatras and Grahas in the skies. Those that are visible in night in
the sky with their brightness and which are fixed without motion (l Uli) are called
 Nakshatras. Other shining objects in the sky by virtue of their motion across the Nakshatras are
called Grahas.

Objects moving in the sky are called Grahas in contrast to the fixed Nakshatras. But not
all the several bodies orbiting the sky fall into the category of Navagrahas whose number is
restricted to 9.
The same version says (Chapter III-10),
lh aWh x aljliUS ok |
r aW lu m xrxi UucUh ||
Details of the Grahas and Nakshatras may be obtained through literature (on the subject). Of
the denizens of the sky, the Sun etc., are known as Nava Grahas.
iMpqvlr UWMi lvkm |
hci xS mm mmri ok ||
Of them, the Sun, Mars Saturn, Rahu, Ketu and waning Moon are always malefic. Also
malefic is a malefic-associated Mercury.
vw xqraW xli xqrxqr
The remaining Grahas are benefics.
Slokas (III-11,12) identify the Navagrahas while at the same time making an astrological
classification into malefic and benefic ones.

Here, Parasara does not begin with the names of the Grahas but from what he says, it
may be concluded that the Navagrahas were common knowledge by his time and apart from
those named, include Jupiter, Venus, Moon as evident from the rest of the text where only
these 9 Grahas alone are constantly dealt with under different heads.

But the G.C. Sharma version Sloka (Chap.III-10) clearly lists them:
Aj UuO UuclS qsvc okxij |
a v vl UW Mivci rjqq ||
(The Navagrahas) are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu (in that
order).

This version too defines Nakshatras and Grahas (Chap.III-2, 3).

...AMv rl Svrli
erioqolrlMv ||
iw lxl Mlci |
il llql
xjUxjll rl u ||
Out of the many luminous bodies that are seen in the sky, some are called Nakshatras while
others are called Grahas. Those that have no movement and the places of which are fixed are
called Nakshatras.
 The definition of a Graha (Chap.III-4) is simply shown as,
acNli pl ali xii r i i aW|
Those bodies that continuously move through the asterisms in the Zodiac are called Grahas.

The first characteristic of the Navagrahas therefore appears to be their motion against the
fixed nature of the other bodies in the sky, namely, the Nakshatras.

Both versions move on then to key words related to the different Grahas which are
descriptive in a symbolic sense and of relevance to interpretative work. Throughout, it is
only these specific Nava Grahas that find place in the text which therefore clinches the issue
of their number and identity.
1
Though the first seven Grahas are visible bodies, Rahu and Ketu do not have a physical
body. But as Parasara puts it, the distinguishing feature of a Graha being motion, it is to be
assumed they find a place in the Navagraha scheme for that reason. If Rahu and Ketu are not
physical bodies, what are they then?

The Moons path round the earth, when it is traced on the celestial sphere, is found to be a
great circle inclined at a small angle of about 50 9' to the ecliptic. The points where the lunar
orbit cuts the ecliptic are called Rahu and Ketu or the Nodes. The North Node is Rahu and
the South Node is Ketu. Also described as Chaya Grahas, they are associated with the
shadow effect produced on the solar or lunar axis discs at eclipse time2. The inference now is
that a Graha can be a celestial body or a geometrical point.

The Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are the Nava Grahas.
The earth, a planet, is not included in the Navagraha scheme because the whole of astrology
revolves round the earth or the geocentric model. The solar system is heliocentric but the
frame of reference for astrological prognostication is shifted to the earth as the centre. It is
the geocentric longitudes of the Nava Grahas that are considered in erecting a horoscope
(the map of the skies for an observer on earth).

A Graha therefore becomes a factor (celestial) with an apparent motion round the earth.
In a relative sense, this is perfectly acceptable. The Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter,
Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu revolving round the earth are Grahas.

1
The word Graha is derived from the root Grhya meaning to grasp or receive and implying a force of
attraction or repulsion. By inference, it means a celestial body or geometrical point with a field of force.
2
A solar eclipse can occur only on New Moon day and a lunar eclipse, on Full Moon day. But such
eclipses do not occur every New Moon or Full Moon days. This is because for an eclipse to occur, not
only should it be a New Moon or Full Moon day but such a Moon should be close to either Rahu or
Ketu. In other words for a lunar eclipse, the Full Moon should be close to the ecliptic and hence, to one
of the Nodes in order to pass through the shadow of the earth. And for a solar eclipse, the same
conditions must be obtained on a New Moon day for the Moons shadow to fall on the earth.
 The second criterion for a Graha is that it should orbit the earth.

There are innumerable bodies in the skies and as many and even more geometrical points
of the intersections of the orbits of these bodies and their Moons orbiting the earth. Why
then do they not qualify to be a Graha?
The Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are visible to the naked eye.
The presence of Rahu and Ketu, which are geometric points and therefore not visible,
becomes apparent vicariously by the shadows cast on the solar and lunar discs at eclipse
3
time. Uranus (Herschel), because of its immense distance of 19.18 Astronomical Units from
the Sun is rarely visible to the naked eye and can be seen only through a telescope. Neptune,
even farther at 30.07 Astronomical Units is also not visible. So also, Pluto at 39.44 A.U.

Therefore, visibility, direct or indirect, to the naked eye is a distinguishing feature of a

Graha.

The Zodiac is an imaginary belt extending to about 80 on either side of the ecliptic or the
4
Suns apparent annual path with reference to the fixed stars traced on the celestial sphere .
Pluto is inclined at 170 19 to the ecliptic and is way beyond the Zodiac. All the Navagrahas
are within a latitude of 70, including Rahu and Ketu.

The inclination of the orbit of the Graha to the ecliptic should be within the range of the
Zodiacal belt.

Celestial InclinationPeriod of
Factor to EclipticRevolution

(Approx)
Sun 00 365.2564 days
Moon 50 9' 27.33 days
Mars 10 51' 687 days
Mercury 70 00' 88 days
Jupiter 10 18' 11.6 years
Venus 30 24' 224 days
Saturn 20 30' 29.5 years
Rahu/Ketu 50 9' 18.6 years
3
The earths mean distance from the Sun 92,600,000 miles is known as one Astronomical Unit.
4
The fundamental premise on which modern astronomy proceeds is that the celestial objects, the stars,
the planets, the Sun and the Moon all appear to move on the surface of a large sphere. The section of
this sphere by any plane which passes through its centre is called a great circle. The center of this sphere
is an observer on the earth. The radius of the sphere is taken to be so large that the earth, whose radius is
about 3960 miles will almost be a point at the centre of this sphere. A Text Book of Astronomy by V.G.
Ramachandran.
 Uranus 00 46' 84 years
Neptune10 07' 164.8 years
Pluto 170 19 247.7 years

The Navagrahas, in astrological assessments, are considered at two levels. The more
important is their positions as they obtain at birth or the natal horoscope. However, their
movements at any point of time with reference to the natal positions or Gochara positions
are also an important criterion in interpreting the horoscope and so the periods of their
revolution also assume significance. The Grahas have different sidereal periods of revolution
as shown in the Table. Though the Grahas are 9 in number, Jupiter and Saturn are
particularly important for predictive purposes. Their circuit of the Zodiac every 11.5 years
and 29.5 years respectively repeats more than 2 times during the optimum span of human life
marking benchmark years at such times in the life of an individual. On the other hand, the
periods of Uranus (84 years), Neptune (164.8 years), and Pluto (247.7 years) are so large they
cease to be relevant as they fail to cover even once the Zodiac and make contact with the 12
houses representing different sectors or areas of human life and activity in the optimum
span of human life. Therefore, these trans-Saturnine planets fail to make it to the grade of
Navagrahas and have no relevance to Hora. Grahas whose period of revolution fits into the
optimum span of human life, say 75 to 100 years, and whose transits can be correlated time-
wise to the several stages of life like birth, growth, decay and death and the activities related
to these stages alone can be treated as being one of the Nava Grahas.

Summing up, a Graha in order to qualify for being a Navagraha must fulfil the following
conditions:

1) It should be a moving celestial body or a geometrical point with a field of force.

2) It should have an apparent orbit round the earth.
3) It should be visible, directly or indirectly, to the naked eye.
4) The inclination of its orbit to the ecliptic should be within the range of the Zodiac.
5) Its period of sidereal revolution should be such as to be relevant to the optimum span of
human life.

These criteria are just part of an initial attempt to understand the astrological concept of
Graha as differentiated from the term planet. They are deduced from the common features
identified in the Nava Grahas Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and
Ketu. As more facts emerge that are common to the Grahas, their definition, or rather, our
understanding of it, too could change.