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CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANETS IN JYOTISH

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Compiled by Gauranga Das Vedic Astrologer Copyright SJC and Gauranga Das 5.1. Names and Krakatwas of the Planets SaVaaRTMaa Ca idVaaNaaQaae MaNa" kuMaudbaNDaVa" ) SatVa& kuJaae buDaE" P]aae ae buDaae va<aIP]adaYak ")) 12 )) deveJYaae jaNaSau%dae >a*GauvIRYaRP]adaYak " ) izi>a" P]aa NaE" P]aaeX^aYaSaUNauXc du"%d" )) 13 )) sarvtm ca divntho mana kumuda-bndhava sattva kujo budhai prokto budho v-pradyaka devejyo jna-sukhado bhgur vrya-pradyaka ibhi prktanai prokta chy-snuca dukhada "The Sun is the soul of all. The Moon is the mind. Mars is strength. Mercury is the speech giver while Jupiter confers knowledge and happiness. Venus governs semen (potency) while Saturn indicates grief." (BPHS. 3.12-13.) In Vedic Astrology the position and significations of seven planets are considered: the Sun (Srya, Ravi), Moon (Soma, Candra), Mars (Kuja, Magala), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Guru, Bhaspati), Venus (ukra), Saturn (ani). Besides that, Rhu and Ketu are shadowy planets, or chy-grahas. These planets govern different significations in the chart according to their nature. The Sun represents God, so it will also represent the divine spark or the soul within us. But he may also represent the ahakra or false ego, pride and desire to control and dominate. His counterpart, the Moon represents the mind, emotions and feelings. Mars indicates ones strength, determination and fearlessness. Mercury indicates speech, communication and travel as well. Venus indicates semen and sex life, and also arts, beauty and enjoyment. Jupiter gives wealth, wisdom, happiness and children. Saturn usually gives pain, grief, losses and represents old age also. He is the most malefic planet as compared to Jupiter, who is the most benefic. Rahu indicates the negative karma, and usually manifests as disease, sin, poison, illusion etc. Ketu is his counterpart, and he signifies moka or liberation, and also may give spiritual knowledge, although he sometimes cuts attachments very abruptly thereby causing pains also. Mahri Parara gives a list of significations for the different planets, which are presented in the following table:

Planets Nature

Sun Malefic

Moon Benefic

Mars Malefic

Mercury Benefic

Jupiter Benefic

Venus Benefic

Saturn Malefic

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Kraka of Colour Cabinet Deities Sex Tattwa Varas Soul Mind Strength Red General Krtikkeya Male Agni (fire) Katriya (warrior) Sattva (goodness) Watery places Rakta (blood) Kaa (second) Taste tu Division Mla (plants) Pungent Saline Vara (rainy) Dhtu (matter) Bitter Grma (summer) Dhtu (matter) Mixed Hemanta (Dew) Jva (animals) Sweet ta (winter) Jva (animals) Sour Vasanta (spring) Mla (plants) Astringent iira (fall) Dhtu (matter) Tamas (ignorance) Fireplace Majj (marrow) Vra (day) Rajas (passion) Sports ground Tvak (skin) tu (season) Sattva (goodness) Treasure house Vas (fat) Msa (month) Rajas (passion) Bedroom Vrya (semen) Paka (fortnight) Tamas (ignorance) Filthy places Snyu (muscle) Vara (year) Speech Green Prince Mahviu Eunuch Bh (earth) Vaiya (trader) Knowledge, happiness Tawny Minister Indra Male ka (ether) Brhmaa (priest) Potency Variegated Minister ac Female Jala (water) Brhmaa (priest) Grief Black Servant Brahm Eunuch Vyu (air) dra (worker)

Red-orange Tawny King Agni Male Agni (fire) Katriya (warrior) Queen Varua Female Jala (water) Vaiya (trader)

Guas Abode Dhtus Time periods

Sattva (goodness) Temple Asthi (bones) yana (halfyear)

Mercurys benefic-malefic nature depends on the planets conjoining, but alone he is a benefic.

Rhu and Ketu: Both are considered natural malefics for most indications, although Mahri Jaimin mentions Ketu to be a natural benefic, as he is moka-kraka or singificator of liberation. So he is benefic for nava-related things like dharma, spirituality and marriage. But he is usually a malefic for health, longevity, etc. Rhu is kraka for karma form past life, while Ketu is kraka for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Color of Ketu is smoky grey, and that of Rhu is brown. Most of the time they take up the significations of their dispositors, i.e. lords of the houses ocuppied by them. Otherwise they are somewhat similar to the co-lords of the houses owned by them. Rhu owns Aquarius together with Saturn, and Ketu owns Scorpio together with Mars. Their cabinet is that they are the army of the planets. The Deity is Durg or Kl for Rhu and Ganea for Ketu. Rhu is male, and Ketu is eunuch. Tattwa is according to their dispositor. Vara is cala or outcaste. Gua is tamas for Rhu and rajas or nirgua for Ketu. Abode for Rhu is the forest, and for Ketu is no specific abode. The rest of the characteristisc are not specified for the nodes. 5.2. Planetary Strengths There are several different systems existing in Jyotia for judging planetary strengths. In this chapter of Bhat Parara Hor stra the Mahri gives certain elements of the adbala system, namely digbala (directional strength) and klabala (temporal strength). Planetary strengths are presented in another table as follows:

Planet Direction House Day/Night Paka yana

Sun South Karma (10th) Day Ka Dakina

Moon North Mt (4th) Night ukla Uttara

Mars South Karma (10th) Night Ka Dakina

Mercury East Lagna (1st) Day&Night Ka/ukla Dakina/Uttara

Jupiter East Lagna (1st) Day ukla Uttara

Venus North Mt (4th) Day ukla Uttara

Saturn West Kalatra (7th) Night Ka Dakina

5.3. Planetary Descriptions Mahri Parara gives the following description of the nine planets (BPHS 3.23-30.): MaDauiPaLad*KSaUYaRXcTaur" XauiciRJa ) iPataPa]k*iTakae DaqMaaNa( PauMaaNaLPakcae iJa )) 23 )) madhu-pigala-dk srya caturasta ucir dvija pitta-praktiko dhmn pumn alpa-kaco dvija "The Sun has honey-coloured eyes, square body, he is of clean habits, is bilious, intelligent, manly and has limited hair on his head." (23) bhuvaTakf " Pa]ajaXcNd\ae v*taTaNauRJa ) Xau>ad*x(MaDauvaKYaXCa cLaae MadNaaTaur" )) 24 )) bahu-vta-kapha prj candro vtta-tanur dvija ubha-d-madhu-vky ca cacalo madantura "O brhmaa, the Moon is very windy and phlegmatic. Shea has round body and is learned. Sha has auspicious looks and sweet speech, is fickleminded and very lustful." (24) k]Urae re +a<aae >aaEMaXcPaLaaedarMaUiTaRk " ) iPataPa]k*iTak " k]aeDaq k*XaMaDYaTaNauiRJa )) 24 )) krro rakte kao bhauma capalodra-mrtika pitta-praktika krodh ka-madhya-tanur dvija "O brhmaa, Mars is cruel, has bloodred eyes, is fickleminded, liberal hearted, bilious and has thin waist and thin physique." (25) vPau"]e" iXLavaKc iTahaSYaicbRuDa" )

iPatavaNa( kfvaNa( ivPa] MaTaPa]k*iTaSTaQaa )) 26 )) vapu reha ilaavk ca hyatihsya rucirbudha pittavn kaphavn vipra maruta-praktis tath "O vipra, Mercury possesses an attractive physique and the ability to make pun or to speak words having double meaning, sense of humour. He has a blend of all three humours of bile, phlegm and wind." (26) b*hd(Gaa}aae GauXcEv iPaLaae MaURJae+a<aE" ) kf Pa]k*iTakae DaqMaaNa( SavRXaaivXaard" )) 27 )) bhad-gtro guru caiva pigalo mrddhajekaai kapha praktiko dhman sarva-stra-virada "Jupiter is large bodied, has honey coloured eyes and hair, is phlegmatic, intelligent and learned in all stras." (27) Sau%I kaNTavPau" ]e" SauLaaecNaae >a*Gaae" SauTa" ) kaVYakTaaR kfaiDaKYaae _iNaLaaTMaa vk]MaUDaRJa" )) 28 )) sukh knta-vapu reha sulocano bhgo suta kvya-kart kaphdhikyo niltm vakra-mrdhaja "O son of Bhgu! Venus is joyful, charming in physique, has beautiful brilliant eyes, is a poet, is phlegmatic and windy and has curly hair." (28) k*XadIgaRTaNau" XaaEir" iPad*XYaiNaLaaTMak " ) SQaULadNTaae_LaSa" Pa&Gau" %rraeMakcae iJa )) 29 )) ka-drgha-tanu auri piga-dyaniltmaka sthla-danto lasa pagu khara-roma-kaco dvija "O brhmaa, Saturn has an emaciated and long physique, honey coloured eyes, is windy in temperament, has big teeth, is indolent, lame and has coarse, rough hair." (29) DaUMa]akarae NaqLaTaNauvRNaSQaae_iPa >aYa&kr" ) vaTaPa]k*iTakae DaqMaNa( Sv>aaRNauSTaTSaMa" iXa%I )) 30 )) dhmrkro nlatanur vanastho pi bhayakara vtapraktiko dhman svarbhnustatsama ikh Rhu has smoke-like blue body, lives in forests and is horrible. He is windy in temperament and is intelligent. Like Rhu is Ketu." (30)

5.4. Additional Significations of Planets I have collected some significations of the planets from Klidsas Uttaraklmta as follows: SUN: Soul, power or strength, greatest severity, fortress, good strength, heat, influence, fires, worship of iva, courage, trees having thorns, favour of the king or ruler, bitter taste, old age, cattle, wickedness, land, father, taste, awakening of knowledge or enlightenment, looking up towards the sky, very great ambition, one born to a timid person or one whose actions are born out of fear, world of mortals, square or harmonious, bones, valour, grass, stomach, enthusiasm, forest, half a year, eye, wandering in or over hills, quadrupeds, king, travelling, dealings with affairs personal or social, bile, feverish or inflammatory complaints, circular forms, diseases of the eye, body, timber, mental purity, sovereignty over the entire country or over all countries, freedom from disease, rulership over Saur ra- southern Gujarat, ornaments, disease of the head, pearls, ruler of the sky control over air space, short or dwarfish stature, rulership over the eastern direction, copper, blood or blood-red gems like ruby, kingdom, blood-red cloth, stones, undisguised or open conduct, shores of a river, red coral, strong at noon, east, face, long-standing anger or long indignation, capturing the foe, sttvika or benevolent and good temper, red sandal paste or saffron, opposition or hostility, thick or coarse yarn. MOON: Intelligence, flowers, perfumes, going to a fortress, disease, brhmaa or dvija, laziness, phlegmatic constitution, epilepsy, hidden or ulcerous troubles in the stomach, nature of the mind, heart, woman, benefic and malefic nature, acidity, sleep, happiness, liquids, silver, stout sugarcane, malarial fever, pilgrimage, wells, tank, mother, impartial outlook, noon, pearls, consumption, whiteness, waist-band, bell-metal, salt, short stature, mind, abilities, ponds, diamond, autumn, muhrta or 48 minutes duration, facial lustre, white colour, stomach, worship of Gaur, the consort of iva, honey, grace of favour, sense of fun or humour, nourishment, wheat, pleasures, splendour, face, swiftness of mind or agility of mind, fondness for curd, one who does tapasya or penance, fame, beauty, strong at night, facing west, lover, saline, acquiring a post, love of the west, middle world, nine gems, middle age, self, eating, going to distant places, aliments of the shoulders, umbrella and other royal insignia, good fruits, fine blood circulation or vital energy, fish and other aquatic beings, serpents and the like, clothes, fine blossoming, lustre, clean crystals, refined clothing. MARS: Valour, land, strength, carrying weapons, ruling over people administrator, loss of virility, thief, battle, opposition, foes, charitable nature, love of deep-red objects, ruler over sacred places archaeologist or sacred endowments, sound of a trumpet, fondness, quadrupeds, king, obstinate fool, anger, going to a foreign country, steadfastness, supporter, fire, controversy or arguments, bile, heat, wounds, service under the ruler, day, sky, sight, shortness, ailment, fame, tin, sword, spear, minister, firmness of limbs, jewels, worship of Subrahmanya (Krttikeya), youth, pungent taste, hall of the ruler, earthenware, obstacles, eating non-vegetarian food, abusing or bitterly criticising others, conquering foes, bitterness of taste, strong towards the end of the night, gold, summer season, valour, strength of enemy, profundity, courageous behaviour, man, character, Brahm, axe, moving in the forest, forest officer, chief ruler or officer of the village, favour of the king, painful urination, square, goldsmith, wicked one, burnt place, good food, leanness, skill in archery, blood, copper, variegated or peculiar clothes, face turned towards the south, fond of the southern direction, desire, anger, spreading scandals, house, commander of the army, a fire arm that kills a hundred (like a machine-gun), tree, Sma Veda, brothers, hatchet, controlling fierce or wild animals, independence, persistence, land, one who

awards punishment, snake, world, speech, fickleness or imbalance of the mind, getting on a vehicle, seeing blood, drying or coagulating of blood. MERCURY: Education, horses, treasury, mathematics, knowledge, speech, dvijas, infantry, script, writing, new clothes, construction of palaces, green colour, sculpture, astrology and astronomy, pilgrimages, wise or good conversation or lecturing, temples, commerce, best ornaments, soft speech, system of philosophy, maternal grandfather, bad dreams, eunuch, face turned to north, skin, moisture, bell-metal and the like, renunciation, seasons, fine place, medical practitioner, neck, black magic, child, looking cross-wise, heaven, humility, collaterals, fear, dancing, devotion, tendency to laughter, strong at sunrise or morning, beginning of winter, scratching ailments, self-control, navel, flourishing of ones own dynasty, mixed or compound substances, presides over the Telugu language, worship of Viu, dras, birds, younger co-borns or brothers and sisters, witty language, sticks, Atharva Veda, carrying out the karmas or religious rites, towers of temples, dust, garden, sex organs, evenness, beneficial nature, wandering in the villages, balanced nature and outlook, fond of the north-western direction, well-versed in the Puras or minor epics, grammar, one skilled in researching and testing the precious stones, scholar, maternal uncle, mantras or sacred spells, yantras or symbolic religious diagrams, very powerful tantric and the like. JUPITER: Brhmaas, teachers, religious, social and other duties, chariot, cows, infantry, deposits, Mms- and Dharma-stras, treasure, horses, buffaloes, large or stout body, valour, fame, logic, astronomy and astrology, sons, grandsons, complaints of the digestive system, wealth of elephants, Vednta philosophy, elders like great-grandfather, mansion, Gomedha (hessonite), elder brother, grandfather, Indra, first half of winter, acts arising from great indignation, precious stones, tradesman, physical health, strange or peculiar palace, honour from the king, great Gods, penance, charity, Dharma, doing good to others, impartial outlook, facing towards the north, circular forms, yellow colour, wandering in the villages, north, dear friends, swinging on a plank or on an elephant, great eloquence, brain, cloth of a medium count, happiness in a newly built house, old age or old persons, mantra, dvijas, holy water or place of pilgrimage, knee, moving towards heaven, house that offers happiness, intellect, great proficiency, great long poems, towers, delighting or impressing audience, throne, installation of the idol of Brahm, Cats eye, the great results of the agni oma sacrifice, sweet juices, sttvika nature, happiness and unhappiness, long things, gentle or benefic, understanding the minds or thoughts of others, gold, decorations, tantra or technical subjects and the like, wind (vta) complaints, phlegm (kapha), good yellow topaz, sound knowledge of the sacred texts and scriptures, soft and pleasant stones, worship of Shiva, performing religious and moral acts strictly, and travelling in a carriage covered on the four sides. VENUS: White umbrella, which is a royal insignia, good cowry, good clothes, marriage, income, bipeds, woman, dvijas, gentle or benefic, white colour, wife or husband, happiness from sex life, short stature, acid taste, flowers, commands, fame, youth, pride, conveyance, silver, fond of the south-east, salty taste, cross-wise vision, cough, fortnight, rjasika nature, firmness, pearls, Yajur Veda, vaiyas, beauty, buying and selling articles that contribute to beauty, pleasant talk arising from mutual love, watery place, elephants, horses, peculiar or strange poetry, dancing, middle age, music, enjoyment, happiness from wife or husband, precious stones, love of humour, swimming, servants, fortune, strange lustre, tenderness, kingdom, fragrant garland, taking pleasure in violin and flute, pleasant movement or walking, eight kinds of prosperity, well-proportioned limbs, frugal in taking food, season of spring, ornaments, possessing many women, facing east, eyes, speaking truth, skilled in the fine arts, semen, sporting in water with love, profundity, excess or eminence, pleasant musical instruments, decoration for dramatic shows, indulgence in amorous sports, declining physical form, one who attaches great importance to sex, receiving good respect or honour, fondness for having white clothes, expert in Bharatas

Nya stra (science of drama), having the seal of authority or of the government, ruler, fond of worshipping Gaur and Lakm, emaciated from the pleasures of sex, playing the role of mother for those born during daytime, skilled in composing poems, minor epics and the like, blue-black hair, benefic, genitals, urine or urinary tract, moving in the world of the snakes, strong in the afternoon, and an awareness of the genital organs and the secrets connected with them. SATURN: Ill-health and other sufferings, obstruction, horses, elephants, skin, income, standards, distress, disease, enmity, sorrow, death, happiness from a woman, maidservant, asses, outcastes, persons with strange or mutilated limbs, roaring in the woods, disgust, charity, lords, longevity, eunuch, one born outside the four castes, birds, Tretgni, one of the sacred domestic fires, servants duties, doing something other than the traditional or accepted duties, one losing his ego, telling lies, lasting long, wind, old age, tendon, strong at the end of the day, the second half of winter, indignation, exertion, born of a low woman, born in adultery, a widows bastard, dirty cloth, dirty house, mind turned to dirty things, friendship with the wicked, black colour, sins, cruelty, ashes, grains in black colour, precious stones, iron, generosity, a year, dras, vital or supporters of the lover, significator of father for one born at night, learning what belongs to another caste, lameness, fierce or severe, blanket, facing west, remedies for restoring life, looking downwards, living by agriculture or farming, one who knows where the arms are kept, manager of an ordnance factory, cousin, an external position, fond of the north-east, world of the snakes, falling, wandering in the battlefields, bones, lead, wrong or wicked valour, Turks, torn clothes or things, oil, wood, brhmaas having tmasika quality, wandering in poisonous places, roaming in hilly areas, long standing fear, hunter, strange or ugly hair, whole kingdom, fear, goats and the like, buffaloes and the like, indulgence in sex, displaying amorous intentions in dressing, worship of Yama, dogs, thefts and hardheartedness. RAHU: Umbrella, chowry, acquiring a kingdom, faulty logic, harsh speech, one belonging to a caste outside the four main castes, a sinful woman, a conveyance covered on all four sides, an irreligious person or a dra, gambling, strong at sunset, having sex with a wicked woman, going to a different country, unclean, bones, hidden abdominal ulcer, falsehood, looking downwards, perplexity, emerald, facing south, depending on mlecchs, low castes and the like, malignant tumour, great forest, wandering in difficult places, suffering from mountains, staying outside, south-western direction, complaints of wind and phlegm, serpents, southern breeze, severe, long, reptiles, interpretation of dreams, travels, one muhrta (48 minutes), old age, conveyance, world of the snakes, maternal grandfather, air, acute duodenal pain, catarrh, breathing, great valour, worship of Vana-Durg, wickedness, association with animals, writing Urdu or Persian, and harsh speech. KETU: Worship of the lord of C, Ganea and others, medical practitioner, dogs, cocks, vultures, final salvation, all sorts of prosperity, consumption, painful fevers, bath in the Gag, great penance, wind complaints, friendship with hunters, acquiring prosperity, stones, wounds, Mantra-stra, instability of mind, knowledge of Brahman, diseases of the stomach and eye, stupidity, thorn, knowledge of animals, zoology, observing silence religiously, Vednta, all kind of luxury, fortune, suffering from foes, sparing in eating, renunciation, fathers father, hunger, great pain from peptic or duodenal ulcer, small pox, or boils and such other diseases, horned animals, a servant of iva, getting the order of imprisonment revoked, and conversation or association with dras. Of course some of the above listed naisargika krakatwas (natural significations) of the planets may seem to be contradictory to those given by other sources, but this often happens in the classic Jyotia texts. By learning to use these significations in practice and developing our intuition we learn to interpret them properly.

Gauranga Das