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The nine planets of Jyotish.
In Vedic astrology, the 'nine planets' (Navagraha) include the Sun, Moon, five visible planets, and the two lunar nodes — Rahu and Ketu — that shape karmic patterns.
The Navagraha
Each planet, what it rules, where it thrives.
Sun
Surya
Identity, vitality, father, authority, soul
- Dasha
- 6 years
- Strong in
- Aries (exalted), Leo (own)
- Weak in
- Libra (debilitated)
Moon
Chandra
Mind, emotion, mother, comfort, the public
- Dasha
- 10 years
- Strong in
- Taurus (exalted), Cancer (own)
- Weak in
- Scorpio (debilitated)
Mars
Mangal
Energy, courage, siblings, action, conflict
- Dasha
- 7 years
- Strong in
- Capricorn (exalted), Aries / Scorpio (own)
- Weak in
- Cancer (debilitated)
Mercury
Budh
Communication, intellect, commerce, learning
- Dasha
- 17 years
- Strong in
- Virgo (exalted & own), Gemini (own)
- Weak in
- Pisces (debilitated)
Jupiter
Guru
Wisdom, expansion, fortune, teachers, dharma
- Dasha
- 16 years
- Strong in
- Cancer (exalted), Sagittarius / Pisces (own)
- Weak in
- Capricorn (debilitated)
Venus
Shukra
Love, beauty, art, luxury, partnership
- Dasha
- 20 years
- Strong in
- Pisces (exalted), Taurus / Libra (own)
- Weak in
- Virgo (debilitated)
Saturn
Shani
Discipline, time, karma, restriction, mastery
- Dasha
- 19 years
- Strong in
- Libra (exalted), Capricorn / Aquarius (own)
- Weak in
- Aries (debilitated)
Rahu
Rahu
Obsession, foreign matters, ambition, illusion
- Dasha
- 18 years
- Strong in
- Taurus (exalted, by some)
- Weak in
- Scorpio
Ketu
Ketu
Liberation, intuition, detachment, past lives
- Dasha
- 7 years
- Strong in
- Scorpio (exalted, by some)
- Weak in
- Taurus
Friendships
How the planets relate to each other.
Classical Jyotish defines natural friendships, enmities, and neutralities between planets — these relationships affect how planets combine in your chart. A friend in your chart strengthens the interpretation; an enemy can soften or distort it.
| Planet | Friends | Enemies | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Moon, Mars, Jupiter | Venus, Saturn | Mercury |
| Moon | Sun, Mercury | None | Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn |
| Mars | Sun, Moon, Jupiter | Mercury | Venus, Saturn |
| Mercury | Sun, Venus | Moon | Mars, Jupiter, Saturn |
| Jupiter | Sun, Moon, Mars | Mercury, Venus | Saturn |
| Venus | Mercury, Saturn | Sun, Moon | Mars, Jupiter |
| Saturn | Mercury, Venus | Sun, Moon, Mars | Jupiter |
Aspects (Drishti)
How planets look at each other.
Unlike Western astrology where aspects are angular (trine, square, etc.), Vedic astrology uses house-based aspects. Every planet aspects the house opposite it (7th). Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have additional special aspects.
| Planet | Aspects |
|---|---|
| All planets | 7th house (opposite) |
| Mars | 4th and 8th house (special) |
| Jupiter | 5th and 9th house (special) |
| Saturn | 3rd and 10th house (special) |
Strong vs weak
A planet's strength changes everything.
Exaltation
The sign where a planet is at maximum strength — it expresses its best qualities cleanly.
Own / Mooltrikona
Comfortable but not exalted. The planet performs well but with personal effort.
Debilitation
The opposite of exaltation. The planet struggles to express its nature cleanly — though debilitation can be cancelled by other placements.
“A weak planet isn't a curse. It's an invitation. The areas where life feels hardest are often where the soul has the most to learn.”
See your own planetary placements
The free chart preview shows where each of the nine planets sits in your chart.
See my free chart preview →Continue: spiritual practices for each planet.