The Navagraha — Nine Celestial Bodies (九曜)
The Navagraha (நவகிரகம்) are the nine celestial bodies that form the core of Jyotish analysis. Unlike Western astrology which uses outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto), Vedic astrology employs the seven visible planets plus the two lunar nodes (Rahu and Ketu), shadow planets that represent the intersection of the Moon's orbit with the ecliptic.
The Nine Planets
- Suriyan (சூரியன் - Sun): Soul, authority, father, government. Vimshottari: 6 years. Gemstone: Ruby. Wu Xing parallel: Fire (丙).
- Chandran (சந்திரன் - Moon): Mind, mother, emotions, public. Vimshottari: 10 years. Gemstone: Pearl. Wu Xing parallel: Water (癸).
- Sevvai (செவ்வாய் - Mars): Energy, courage, siblings, land. Vimshottari: 7 years. Gemstone: Red Coral. Wu Xing parallel: Fire (丁).
- Budhan (புதன் - Mercury): Intellect, speech, commerce, skill. Vimshottari: 17 years. Gemstone: Emerald. Wu Xing parallel: Water (壬).
- Guru (குரு - Jupiter): Wisdom, dharma, children, expansion. Vimshottari: 16 years. Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire. Wu Xing parallel: Wood (甲).
- Sukran (சுக்கிரன் - Venus): Love, beauty, luxury, spouse. Vimshottari: 20 years. Gemstone: Diamond. Wu Xing parallel: Metal (辛).
- Sani (சனி - Saturn): Karma, discipline, longevity, suffering. Vimshottari: 19 years. Gemstone: Blue Sapphire. Wu Xing parallel: Earth (己).
- Rahu (ராகு): Obsession, foreign, unconventional, illusion. Vimshottari: 18 years. Gemstone: Hessonite. No classical Wu Xing equivalent.
- Ketu (கேது): Liberation, spirituality, past life, detachment. Vimshottari: 7 years. Gemstone: Cat's Eye. No classical Wu Xing equivalent.
Karaka (Significator) System
Each Graha serves as a natural Karaka for specific life domains. Jupiter is Putra Karaka (children), Venus is Kalatra Karaka (spouse), Saturn is Ayush Karaka (longevity). In Jaimini astrology, Karakas are assigned by degree — the planet at the highest degree becomes Atmakaraka (soul significator), the most important planet in the chart.
Dignities
Planetary strength depends on sign placement: Own Sign (Swakshetra), Exaltation (Uchcha), Debilitation (Neecha), Moolatrikona, and Friendly/Enemy dispositions. These dignities directly parallel the Chinese concept of seasonal strength (旺相休囚死) in BaZi.