The seven days of the week are based on the seven main planets:
SUN Sunday
MOON Monday
MARS Tuesday
MERCURY Wednesday
JUPITER Thursday
VENUS Friday
SATURN Saturday
Each of these planets has their own roles to play, the best part is that they behave differently when placed in different houses, in different signs and may even behave completely differently when placed with each other.
Some of them are great friends, some the worst of enemies (did you know that as per Hindu mythology, Saturn is the son of Sun, but they are sworn enemies) and some just plain neutral.
So it all comes down to that each of us has a very unique birth chart which even though involves just 9 planets, 12 signs but the combinations which arise are numerous and so complex, that a Vedic astrologer with the right expertise can read a birth chart like a book.
So what role does each planet have, let’s have a quick look:
Sun or Surya is the royal planet among the other planets and the king in astrology. Sun as we all know is the centre of life, energy and the father of the entire solar system.
SUN represents the soul, will power, father, paternal relations, the king or the high officials.
Its hot and angry, colour is red, metal is gold and gem is ruby. Sun represents the eastern direction.
The sun stays in each sign for one month and takes one year to complete the round of the zodiac. Its motion is quite fixed and a lot of Indian festivals are as per the suns entry into the various signs.
Moon or Chandra is also a royal planet and is the queen in astrology. It represents the Inner self, the mind, emotions, instincts and habits.
It is considered a soft planet and not surprisingly it signifies the mother, home and domestic comforts, milk, sea and textiles and apparels. It also signifies watery diseases like the common cold,
The moon is calm, cold and white. Its metal is silver and gem is pearl.
The moon is the fastest moving of the 9 planets and takes approximately 2-1/2 days to travel a sign.
Mars or Mangal is the commander in astrology and the youthful male of the solar system. It is the planet of power, strength, aggression and courage and in many ways considered as a cruel and angry planet.
He represents energy, courage, stamina, younger brothers & sisters, armed forces, the army / police force, commanders, administrators, men in high position, land, engineering, metals, real estate agents and surgery.
In terms of Marriage the position of Mars is crucial as it signifies passion, husband, sex etc. Mars affects the chances of Marriage and depending on how it is placed, is also delays marriage. The placement of Mars in the 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house from ascendant, Moon and Venus results in the Mangalik Dosha (considered to delay marriage). Mars aspect on the house of marriage/spouse can also leads to frequent fights and disharmony in marriage.
Its metal is
copper and gem is coral and colour is red.
He is the
Bhatrukaraka or planet connected with brother.
Mercury or Budha is the prince in astrology. It is the planet closest to the sun and is also known as
Budha or ‘cleverness’.
Mercury is the planet of intelligence, it represents speech, intelligence, maternal uncles, short journeys, medical profession, trade, computers and the web, astrology and
He is a
Vaishya by caste and has four arms and his vehicle is lion. He is the son of Moon and Tara.
People with a well-placed Mercury are often writers, astrologers, mathematician, engineer, dealers, brokers, businessmen and media persons.
Its metal is bronze, gem is emerald and color is green.
Mercury takes about a month to travel a rasi. It is always within 27 degree distance from the sun from astrological point of view.
Jupiter or Brihaspati or Guru and as per Hindu mythology it is known as the
“Devaguru” (Guru of the Gods). Jupiter is a very big, strong planet and is also one of the most beneficial planets in astrology. Jupiter stays in a sign for 12 months and therefore takes 12 years to complete the zodiac.
Jupiter is an auspicious planet which gives purity, honesty, truthfulness and happiness. He represents higher knowledge, spirituality, priests, temples, teachers, research & scientists, layers & judges, children and knowledge of the sacred texts and astrology.
A well-placed Jupiter in one's horoscope can indicate a subtle and keen intellect and a disciplined mind and senses.
As a
God Brihaspathi is a handsome youth with a big-bellied body and a broad chest, therefore people who have a very favourable Jupiter, generally gain weight and are slightly heavy.
Its colour is yellow, metal gold and gem yellow sapphire.
He is the
Putrakaraka or planet connected with children.
Venus or Shukra is a feminine, gentle planet which imparts a refined artistic taste to an individual.
In the
Hindu mythology, Venus also represents the
“Daityaguru” or the guru of the demons.
It represents beauty, passion, spouse, sex life, kidneys and sex organ, dance, music, arts, gems, costumes, jewellery, wines, bars, gambling places, acting, fashion, cosmetics and beauty products.
Its metal is silver, gem is diamond and colour is white.
Venus takes about a month to travel a sign and completes the round of the zodiac in 12 months. From astrological point of view it is always within 48 degrees of the sun.
Venus is also referred to as the ‘Kalatrakaraka’ or the planet connected with spouse.
Saturn or Shani is a cold, dry planet and is considered a malefic in astrology. Saturn is a huge planet at a great distance from the earth, and that’s why it appears that he moves very slowly.
Saturn takes 2 ½ years to move through a zodiac sign and therefore 30 years to complete 1 round of the zodiac.
Saturn is one of the most feared planets of the system but even though he brings a lot of misery and hardship when badly placed, it always teaches the native the reason for his misfortune and makes him more spiritually inclined.
Every person has to go through some phase of Saturn in his life. Saturn has 2 distinct phases popularly called the ‘sadhesati’ (7 years) & the dhaiya (2 years).These periods are considered to be a difficult time in a native’s life, he faces many hardships and suffers.
SadheSati is a period when Saturn transits the twelfth and second house of the natal Moon.
Saturn represents hard work, sorrow, old men, servants, workers, people in the iron and steel industry, municipality and drainage works.
A well placed Saturn can bestow excellent power, prestige, name and fame and a badly placed Saturn can devastate you.
Saturn is also called the teacher or the judge, because Saturn believes in discipline and rules. Like a teacher, he rewards you for good deeds and also punishes for the bad ones.
As a God, Saturn is Black in colour and short in stature, its metal is iron, colour is blue, and gem is blue sapphire.
He is the
‘Udyogakaraka’ or planet connected with profession.
Rahu or Dragons Head or North Node represents foreigners, foreign countries, foreign travel, engineering and the technical trades, smoke, old men, grandparents, theft, gambling, drinking, nonconformists, the underworld and the bad elements in the society.
Rahu has the power to give sudden rise in life and sudden wealth. Rahu takes approximately 1-1/2 years to travel a sign and completes the round of the zodiac in 18 years.
Its colour is black, metal mixed-metal and gem is
Gomedh.Ketu or Dragons Tail or
South Node represents grandparents, technical trades, spiritual inclinations, superstitions and electronics.
Ketu influence psychic /astrology knowledge, the pharmaceutical/medicinal industry. When placed favourable it endows luxuries, wisdom but when unfavourable placed it causes depression, worries and anxiety.
Its colour is brown and gem is cat’s eye.
Ketu is always in the opposite sign to Rahu, i.e., exactly 180 degrees away. Like Rahu, Ketu also takes approximately 1-1/2 years to travel a sign and completes the entire zodiac in 18 years.
Ketu is also called the Mokhsakaraka or planet connected with spiritualism.
