Question 1

What are the 9 planets in Vedic astrology?

Accepted Answer

The Navagraha are the Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangal), Mercury (Budh), Jupiter (Guru), Venus (Shukra), Saturn (Shani), Rahu (north lunar node) and Ketu (south lunar node). Vedic astrology counts the Sun and Moon as grahas and does not use Uranus, Neptune or Pluto, while Rahu and Ketu are mathematical points rather than physical bodies.

Question 2

Why are Rahu and Ketu not real planets?

Accepted Answer

They are the two points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic — the lunar nodes. Because they are always exactly 180 degrees apart and cause eclipses, classical astrology treats them as shadow planets (chhaya graha) with real predictive weight but no physical body, no light of their own, and no sign rulership in the ordinary sense.

Question 3

Which planets are benefic and which are malefic?

Accepted Answer

Jupiter and Venus are natural benefics, and the waxing Moon is benefic. Saturn, Mars, Rahu, Ketu and the Sun are natural malefics. Mercury is neutral and takes the character of whatever it sits with. This is only the natural classification — functional benefic status depends on which houses a planet rules from your ascendant.

Question 4

What does exaltation and debilitation mean?

Accepted Answer

Exaltation (uccha) is the sign where a planet expresses its nature at full strength — Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn in Libra. Debilitation (neecha) is the opposite sign, where it is weakest, exactly 180 degrees away. Each planet also has one degree of deepest exaltation, such as Aries 10° for the Sun. A debilitated planet is not necessarily bad: Neecha Bhanga can cancel the weakness entirely.

Question 5

How do I know which planet is weak in my kundli?

Accepted Answer

A planet is weak when it is debilitated, combust from being too close to the Sun, in an enemy's sign, in a dusthana house, or defeated in planetary war. This cannot be judged from the sign alone — it needs the full chart with house positions and the running dasha, which a free kundli will calculate for you.

Graha	Natural nature	Own sign(s)	Exalted	Debilitated	Dasha
Sun	Mild malefic	Leo	Aries, deepest at 10°	Libra	6 yrs
Moon	Benefic when waxing	Cancer	Taurus, deepest at 3°	Scorpio	10 yrs
Mars	Malefic	Aries and Scorpio	Capricorn, deepest at 28°	Cancer	7 yrs
Mercury	Neutral — takes on its company	Gemini and Virgo	Virgo, deepest at 15°	Pisces	17 yrs
Jupiter	Benefic	Sagittarius and Pisces	Cancer, deepest at 5°	Capricorn	16 yrs
Venus	Benefic	Taurus and Libra	Pisces, deepest at 27°	Virgo	20 yrs
Saturn	Malefic	Capricorn and Aquarius	Libra, deepest at 20°	Aries	19 yrs
Rahu	Malefic (shadow)	None — Rahu co-lords Aquarius and is said to act as its dispositor	Taurus by the most common reckoning; Gemini in others	Scorpio by the same reckoning; Sagittarius in others	18 yrs
Ketu	Malefic (shadow)	None — Ketu co-lords Scorpio and is said to act as its dispositor	Scorpio by the most common reckoning; Sagittarius in others	Taurus by the same reckoning; Gemini in others	7 yrs

The 9 Planets of Vedic Astrology

All 9 Grahas

Sun (Surya)

Moon (Chandra)

Mars (Mangal)

Mercury (Budh)

Jupiter (Guru)

Venus (Shukra)

Saturn (Shani)

Rahu (Rahu)

Ketu (Ketu)

Nature, Rulership, Exaltation and Debilitation

Frequently Asked Questions

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