The Nine Grahas

The Classical Framework

In Jyotiṣa, the nine grahas are the primary active agents of karma in the horoscope. The word graha comes from the Sanskrit root grah — to seize, to grasp — reflecting the classical understanding that these planetary forces take hold of the native and shape the expression of their destiny through the houses and signs they occupy and aspect. Parāśara's Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra provides the foundational classification of grahas, their nature (benefic or malefic), their kārakatva (significations), and their mutual relationships.

The seven traditional planets — Sūrya, Candra, Maṅgala, Budha, Guru, Śukra, Śani — are physical bodies visible to the naked eye and were known to all ancient astronomical traditions. Rāhu and Ketu, the lunar nodes, are mathematical points rather than physical bodies, but Parāśara treats them with full planetary status and extensive kārakatva. Classical Jyotiṣa does not use the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) discovered in the modern era.

Planetary dignity — whether a graha is in its own sign (svarāśi), exaltation (uccā), moolatrikona, or debilitation (nīca) — determines the fundamental strength or weakness of its expression. A planet in dignity acts from its most authentic nature; a debilitated planet faces structural obstacles in expressing its significations. The birth chart calculator shows dignities for all nine grahas at any given moment.