SOLAR SYSTEM AND ASTROLOGY Classification or Vargeekarana of Planets. The planets of the modern solar system are grouped into several different and sometimes overlapping classifications Inferior Planets - Mercury, Venus. Inner Terrestrial Planets - Earth, Mars Astroid Belt Outer Planets - Jupiter, Saturn , Uranus, Neptune These are also Gas Gaints and also called as Jovian Planets. Superior Planet - Pluto 1. The planets inside the orbit of the earth are called the Inferior Planets: Mercury and Venus. 2. The planets outside the orbit of the earth are called the Superior Planets: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. 3. The planets inside the asteroid belt are termed the Inner Planets (or the Terrestrial Planets): Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. 4. The planets outside the asteroid belt are termed the Outer Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. 5. The planets sharing the gaseous structure of Jupiter are termed the Gas Giant (or Jovian) Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The 7 Planets of the Ancients The term "planet" originally meant "wanderer": it was observed long ago that certain points of light wandered (changed their position) with respect to the background stars in the sky. In ancient times, before the invention of the telescope and before one understood the present structure of the Solar System, there were thought to be 7 such wanderers or planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon, and the Sun. This list is different in several respects from our modern list of planets: 1. The Earth is missing, because it was not understood that the points of light wandering on the celestial sphere and the Earth on which we stood had anything in common. 2. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are missing because they would only be discovered when the telescope made them easily visible. o Uranus is barely visible to the naked eye; it was discovered in 1781. o Neptune and Pluto are too faint to see at all without a telescope; they were discovered in 1846 and 1930, respectively. 3. The Sun and the Moon were classified as planets because they wandered on the celestial sphere, just like Mars and Jupiter and the other planets. A central theme of our initial discussion will be how the "7 planets of the Ancients" (only 5 of which are really planets) evolved into our present list of Solar System planets. Stars Look Different from Planets Planets (and the Sun and Moon) have some observational characteristics that distinguish them from what we would now call the stars: Observational Differences between Planets & Stars PLANETS STARS The planets move relative to stars on celestial sphere The relative positions of the stars are fixed on celestial sphere The nearer and larger planets appear as disks in telescope The stars appear as "points" of light, even through the telescope The brighter planets do not "twinkle" The stars appear to "twinkle" The planets are always near the imaginary yearly path of the Sun on the celestial sphere (theecliptic) Stars can be anywhere on the celestial sphere These observational differences, particularly the "wandering" of the planets on the celestial sphere, attracted a lot of attention from ancient observers of the sky. The attempt to explain these differences ultimately led to the birth of modern astronomy. Astro Guru Sreenivas Desabhatla

ASPECTS OF PLANETS ASPECTS OF PLANETS The vibrations of planets are said to be focused at particular angles called aspects. It is interesting to note that the aspects are considered good or bad both in Western astrology. But in our technique (vedic), all aspects are positive. The following table shows the aspects of planets. Planet Houses aspected and the polarity of the aspect SUN 7 MOON 7 MARS 4, 7, 8 MERCURY 7 JUPITER 5, 7, 9 VENUS 7 SATURN 3, 7, 10 THE NODES 11 When a planet A is in aspect to another planet B, then we can say A is in aspect to B or B is in aspect by A. Graha drishti or planetary aspect is thought to be a very important feature of Vedic horoscope reading. And it is not at all an exaggeration that the planet aspects or the angular distances between the planets are no less important or significant than the sun position or the moon position. Each planetary aspect can influence different spheres of your life in a certain way depending on the angles they mutually form between themselves. Importance of Graha drishti Each of the astrology planets has typical influences on the nature, character and personality traits of a person. The interesting thing is that the influence of astrology planets depend on their drishtis on other planets – how they aspect other planets and how they are aspected by others. Therefore, to know the influences of the planets exactly as they are, you need to get a graha drishti analysis or a planetary aspect calculation and interpretation. In Jaimini Astrology Rasis aspect Rasis and Planets therein. I will give the details in the next post

KARAKAS OF PLANETS KEY PLANETS MATTERS GOVERNED BY THE PLANETS SUN KING, FATHER, POWER, WILL, SELF EXPRESSION, VITALITY, MEDICINE, PRIDE …. MOON QUEEN, MOTHER, MILK, NURTURING, GROWTH, LIQUIDS, MILK, PUBLIC CONTACT... MERCURY MATERNAL UNCLE, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, CONTRACTS ... VENUS FINE ARTS, WIFE, ROMANCE, LUXURY, HARMONY ... MARS BROTHERS, AGGRESSIVENESS, WARFARE, LANDED PROPERTIES,… JUPITER PROGENY, PRIEST, LAW, PHILOSOPHY, EXPANSION, SPIRITUALITY, WEALTH ... SATURN SERVANTS, SUFFERINGS, DISCIPLINE, OILS, COOL DRINKS, SORROWS, DEATH HOUSES MATTERS GOVERNED BY THE HOUSES I HEAD, STATUS ... II FACE, EYES, FAMILY, WEALTH ... III LUNGS, EARS, YOUNGER BROTHERS.... IV ABDOMEN, MOTHER, RELATIVES, IMMOVABLE PROPERTY.... V HEART, PROGENY, PLEASURABLE PURSUITS ... VI INTESTINE, MATERNAL UNCLES, DISEASE.... VII KIDNEY, WIFE, BUSINESS PARTNER.... VIII SEXUAL ORGANS, LITIGATION, UNEARNED INCOME ... IX THIGHS, FATHER, FOREIGN TRAVEL...... X KNEES, PROFESSION, XI LEGS, SAVINGS, FRIENDS ... XII ANKLES AND FEET, HOSPITALIZATION, LIFE IN A FAR OFF PLACE, INVESTMENT ...

Signification of Planets in Astrology Planets power a chart, as they influence the houses of a chart in their own characteristic ways. Planet also means, ‘Wanderer’, which is true of their nature, as they move in their own orbits through space. A planet is a celestial body that follows a solar orbit, but in astrology planets represent astrological powers and influences that may not necessarily come from the actual physical planet that exists in the solar system. 1. There are nine planets in Vedic astrology and these are divided into two groups: Group – I - Sun – Moon – Jupiter – Mars Group – II – Saturn – Mercury – Venus – Rahu – Ketu 2. The Sun and the Moon are included, although astronomically, these are not planets. ‘Rahu’ and ‘Ketu’ are sensitive points and are considered as planets that are exclusive to Vedic astrology, whereas Pluto, Neptune and Uranus are a part of Western astrology not included in traditional Vedic astrology calculations. The planets of both groups, with exception of Mercury and the Sun and to a lesser extent Saturn and Jupiter, are neutral or opposed to one another. In Vedic astrology planets are assigned different qualities which determine their characteristics and hence their influences in a chart. However, the effects that a planet can have depends on it’s position in the chart in question, the houses that it rules over and influences and the influences of other planets in the chart. Some of the qualities associated with planets are: 3. Planetary Gender: The Sun, Mars and Jupiter are male, the Moon, Venus, Mercury and 'Rahu' are female, while Saturn and Ketu are neutral. 4. Castes of Planets: Planets also follow the Hindu caste system. Jupiter and Venus are ‘Brahmins’ or priestly, the Sun and Mars are ‘Kshatriyas’ or warriors, the Moon is ‘Vaishya’, or a trader, Mercury is a ‘Vaisya’, Saturn ‘Shudra’, or a lower caste and Rahu and Ketu are outcastes. According to another view Mercury is a ‘Shudra’, and Saturn an outcaste. There is yet another view according to which Mercury is of a mixed caste. 5. Planetary Natures: Mercury, Jupiter and Venus are naturally benevolent. Similarly the waxing Moon is a benefic. The waning Moon and Mercury can be malefic. The Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are naturally malevolent. 6. Planetary Qualities: The Sun, Moon and Jupiter are ‘Satvika’, or have pure characteristics, Mercury and Venus of ‘Rajas’ or have worldly, material or passionate characteristics and the remaining planets viz. Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are of a ‘Tamasik’, or dark, ignorant or carnal nature. 7. Seasons: There are six seasons that correspond to the following planets: 1. ‘Vasant’, (Spring) : Venus 2. ‘Grism’ (Summer) : The Sun and Mars 3. ‘Varsha’ (Rainy) : The Moon 4. ‘Sarad’ (Autumn) : Mercury 5. ‘Hemanta’ (Dewy) : Jupiter 6. ‘Sisira’ (Winter) : Saturn 8. Corresponding Gemstones: The corresponding gemstones for each planet are: 1. The Sun : Ruby. 2. The Moon : Pearl, moonstone. 3. Mars : Red coral. 4. Mercury : Emerald. 5. Jupiter : Yellow sapphire/topaz. 6. Venus : Diamond. 7. Saturn : Blue sapphire. 8. Rahu : Agate, hessonite. 9. Ketu : Cat’s eye. 9. Physical constituents: In ‘Ayurveda’ the Human body is considered to be constituted of seven materials or ‘Dhatus’, These also correspond to different planets: 1. The Sun : Bones 2. The Moon : Blood 3. Mars : Marrow 4. Mercury : Skin 5. Jupiter : Fat 6. Venus : Semen 7. Rahu : Muscles 10. Elements: There are five elements constituting the entire Universe. They are (1) Prithvi or Earth (2) Apah or water (3) Teja or Fire (4) Vayu or Wind (5)Akasha or Ether. These are the subtle things of which you see the grosser forms in the world. The Sun and Mars own fire, the Moon and Venus water, Mercury earth, Jupiter ether and Saturn wind. 11. Planetary Cabinet: The Sun and Moon are the Royal Couple, Mars the Commander, Mercury the Crown Prince, Jupiter and Venus are Ministers and Saturn the Servant. These seven planets also represent in order Soul, Mind, Courage, Speech, Wisdom, Happiness, Sexual passion and grief. They also represent the senses and their functions thus, Mercury governs smell (nose), the Moon and Venus the taste (tongue), the Sun and Mars form (eye) Jupiter sound (ear) and Saturn, Rahu and Ketu touch (skin). 12. Planetary Aspects: The planets have four kinds of aspects. The mode of looking at the 3rd and 10th houses from the one occupied by a planets is termed a quarter aspect, looking at the 5th and 9th is half-aspect at the 4th and 8th houses is a 0.75 aspect and at the 7th house is full aspect. There is a speciality in the case of Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. In the case of Saturn even the quarter aspect is considered to be full. So, his aspects fully at the 3rd, 7th and 10th house from the house occupied by him. In case of Jupiter even half aspect is considered to be full. So his aspects fully the 5th, 7th and 9th houses from the house occupied by him. In the case of Mars even a 0.75 aspect is full. So his aspects fully the 4th, 7th and 8th houses from the house occupied by him. You know that Mars and Saturn are among Malefic. Hence their aspects cannot but be malevolent in nature