Week 1 · Unit 2 · The Chart's Language
The Nine Grahas
Who the nine are, what each one carries, and the two whose nature depends on company.
Assumes you have done: Unit 1 — Parashara's argument for what a graha is
Why this matters
This is where the vocabulary of every remaining chapter gets set. When Parashara later says a house is afflicted, or that a yoga is blocked, or that a period will be difficult, he is relying on classifications made here in eleven short verses. They look almost too simple to matter. They are the simplest thing in the book and among the most consequential.
Learn
Maitreya has just been told what the grahas are. His next question is the obvious one: fine — but who are they?
Parashara answers in a way that is easy to read past. Verses 2 to 9 sound like housekeeping. He distinguishes the fixed stars from the bodies that move through the asterisms; he notes that the zodiac has twenty-seven asterisms beginning from Aśvinī and twelve signs beginning from Aries; he says planetary positions should be taken by Dṛkgaṇita, calculation that agrees with observation.
That last point is worth pausing on. Parashara is telling you to use the method that matches the sky. Not the traditional figure, not the convenient one — the one that is observationally right. It is a small remark and a rather modern attitude, and you will meet its consequences in Week 2 when you look at what a chart’s numbers actually depend on.
The nine
Then verse 10, which simply names them:
Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu.
Learn that order. Not a different one — that one. Parashara reuses it for the rest of the book, and later chapters will hand you a list of nine values with no labels attached and expect you to know which is which.
Two of the nine are not physical bodies at all. Rahu and Ketu are the lunar nodes, the two points where the Moon’s path crosses the Sun’s — the points where eclipses happen. They have no disc to see. Parashara counts them among the grahas anyway, and treats them throughout as capable of delivering results in their own right.
The division that runs through everything
Verse 11 is eleven verses in and is the most consequential thing you will read this week:
Among these planets, the Sun, Saturn, Mars, decreasing Moon, Rahu and Ketu are malefics, and the remaining — full Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus — are benefics. Mercury, however, becomes malefic if he is joined with a malefic.
Read it again, slowly. Two of the nine are given with conditions attached, and the conditions are of two entirely different kinds.
The Moon depends on its own state. A waxing Moon is benefic; a waning Moon is malefic. Nothing about the rest of the chart changes that — it is a fact about where the Moon is relative to the Sun, and it travels with the Moon.
Mercury depends on its company. Alone, Mercury is benefic. Joined by a malefic, Mercury becomes malefic. The same Mercury, in the same sign, at the same degree, classifies differently depending on who else is standing there.
That distinction — a planet’s own condition versus its relationships — is one of the organising contrasts of the whole book. You will meet it again in this very week, when dignity turns out to be about a planet’s own position and planetary relationships turn out to be about how planets regard each other. Two different questions, asked separately, answered separately, and combined only later and carefully.
What “malefic” actually means
Here is the thing most likely to go wrong in your head over the next few weeks, so let us deal with it now.
Malefic does not mean bad. Benefic does not mean good.
They describe how a graha operates. Benefics expand, soften, sustain, protect and grant. Malefics separate, restrict, harden, delay and force effort. Both descriptions are morally neutral, and either can be exactly what a situation requires.
A life with no malefic influence at all would not be a charmed life; it would be a life with nothing to push against. Saturn delays things — which is precisely how Saturn produces the kind of achievement that only comes from sustained difficulty. Mars separates — which is how surgery works, and courage, and leaving a situation you should leave.
And the classification is only the first layer. By Week 6 you will find that Saturn is one of the very best things that can happen to a Taurus ascendant, because of what it rules there. The natural nature never goes away, but it stops being the whole story quite quickly.
So resist the arithmetic. Counting your benefics against your malefics is not a technique, it is not in BPHS, and it will not tell you anything about a life.
Where this is going
You now have the cast, and you know how each member of it acts. What you do not yet know is who each of them is — what the Sun signifies as against the Moon, why Jupiter is the one who confers knowledge, what Mars is doing in the list at all.
Verse 12 begins to answer that, and it is the next unit. Parashara does it in one dense sweep: the Sun is the soul, the Moon the mind, Mars strength, Mercury speech, Jupiter knowledge and happiness. Five clauses, and a surprising amount of the rest of Jyotish falls out of them.
Read BPHS
This is the source itself. The teaching above prepares you for it; it does not replace it.
कथितं भवता प्रेम्णा ग्रहावतरणं मुने ! ।
तेषां गुणस्वरूपाद्यं कृपया कथ्यतां पुनः ॥ १ ॥
- Maitreya says, “O Sage you have affectionately explained about the planetary incarnations. Now kindly tell me in detail their characters and dispositions".
श्रृणु विप्र ! प्रवक्ष्यामि भग्रहाणां परिस्थितिम् ।
आकाशे यानि दृश्यन्ते ज्योतिर्बिम्बान्यनेकशः ॥ २ ॥
तेषु नक्षत्रसंज्ञानि ग्रहसंज्ञानि कानिचित् ।
तानि नक्षत्रनामानि स्थिरस्थानानि यानि वै ।। ३ ।।
2-3 Sage Parasara replies, "O Brahmin, listen to me, I shall give an account of the placement of the heavenly bodies. Out of the many luminous bodies that are seen in the heavens (skies) some are called stars, while others are termed (named) as grahas or planets. Those which have no movements and the places of which are fixed are termed as Nakshatras or asterisms.
गच्छन्तो भानि गृह्लन्ति सततं ये तु ते ग्रहाः ।
भचक्रस्य नगाश्र्व्यंशा अश्विन्यादि-समाह्वयाः ॥ ४ ॥
तद्द्वादशविभागास्तु तुल्या मेषादिसंज्ञकाः ।
प्रसिद्धा राशय: सन्ति ग्रहास्त्वर्कादिसंज्ञका ॥ ५ ॥
राशीनामुदयो लग्नं तद्वशादेव जन्मिनाम् ।
ग्रहयोग-वियोगाभ्यां फलं चिन्त्यं शुभाशुभम् ॥ ६ ॥
4-6 Those bodies that continuously move through the asterisms in the Zodiac are called grahas or planets. The said Zodiac comprises of 27 asterisms commencing from Ashwini. The same area is divided into 12 parts which, commencing from Aries are known as 'signs'. The planets have names like the Sun etc. The sign rising in the East is known as the Lagna or the Ascendant. From the condition of the Ascendant and the planets joining and departing from each other are deduced the native's good and bad effects.
For the purposes of Predictive Astrology, 27 asterisms and 9 planets have been taken. The earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun through a certain path in the heavens. This path is referred to as Ecliptic. On both sides of the Ecliptic there is an imaginary belt of 90°-9° inside which all these planets revolve. This broad belt of 18° is called Zodiac. To facilitate the study of astronomy, Zodiac has been divided into 12 equal parts. Each part is called a Sign or Rashi. Each of these signs has been christened or named as follows.
1.Aries (Mesha)
2.Taurus (Vrash)
3.Gemini (Mithuna)
4.Cancer (Karka)
5.Leo (Simha)
6.Virgo (Kanya)
7.Libra (Tula)
8.Scorpio (Vrishchika)
9.Sagittarius (Dhanu)
10.Capricorn (Makara)
11.Aquarius (Kumbha)
12.Pisces (Meena).
This Zodiac has also been divided into 27 equal parts. This division is based on asterisms or Nakshatras. The names according to this division are as follows.
Sl. No. Hindi name
| 1. Aswini | 2. Bharani | 3. Kritika |
| 4. Rohini | 5. Mrigasira | 6. Arudra |
| 7. Punarvasu | 8. Pushyami | 9. Aslesha |
| 10. Magha | 11. Poorva Phalguni | 12. Uttara Phalguni |
| 13. Hastha | 14. Chitra | 15. Swati |
| 16. Vishakha | 17. Anuradha | 18. Jyeshta |
| 19. Moola | 20. Poorvashadha | 21. Uttara shadha |
| 22. Abhijit | 23. Sravana | 24. Dhanishta |
| 25. Sathabhisha | 26. Poorva Bhadrapada | 27. Uttara Bhadrapada |
| 28. Revati |
Abhijit Nakshatra is not counted among the 27 Nakshatras because it is outside the Zodiac. It is used in the consideration of Muhurta or auspicious period of time. This Nakshatra is a little far away from the centre of Uttarashadha and Sravana. The last fourth part of Uttarashabha and the 15th part of the beginning of the Sravana joined together form the sphere of the Abhijit.
The Ascendant: This term is the most important factor in a horoscope. Ascendant is the point in Zodiac which rises in the eastern horizon on the latitude of birth. The earth is egg-shaped and rotates once a day on its axis and thus all the Zodical signs are invariably exposed to the solar influence. As the earth is egg shaped certain signs are exposed to a greater extent of time than others. The 12 solar months are named after the 12 signs of the Zodiac. On the first day of Aries the first degree of that particular sign rises on the eastern horizon at sunrise and the remaining signs gradually ascend till the next day at sunrise when the sunrise takes place in the second degree of Aries. The sunrise takes place in the last degree of Zodiac on the 30th day of Pisces when the solar year ends. Thus the Lagna or the Ascendant is that particular point of the ecliptic considered with reference to the particular horizon. Therefore certain periods of time are allotted to each of the Zodiacal signs to rise, the duration of such periods depending upon the latitude of the place.
Actually the Sun has no motion. His is an apparent one as viewed from the rotating earth. Every planet rotates around the Sun in anti clockwise direction as seen from the Northern celestial hemisphere. Its projection from the earth in Zodiac would look like in a way that it crosses the 1st sign, then enters the second sign, after crossing the 2nd sign, it enters the third one and after crossing each degree of the zodiac upto the 12th sign it enters again in the 1st sign.
Planets including the nodes have varied rates of motion. The average daily angular motion of the planets which are not constant are as follows:
| The Sun | : 00° - 59’ - 10.68" |
| The Moon | : 13° - 20' |
| Mars | : 00° - 31.26' - 46" |
| Mercury | : 1° - 40' |
| Jupiter | : 00° - 04’ - 59.17“ |
| Venus | : 1° - 36’ |
| Saturn | : 00° - 02’ - 00.4” |
| Node | : 00° - 3’ - 11“ |
A planet has varied aspects with other planets. In Predictive Astrology the inter planetary longitudinal distances of the planets play important role for the prediction of effects.
संज्ञा नक्षत्रवृन्दानां ज्ञेयाः सामान्यशास्त्रतः ।
एतच्छास्त्रानुसारेण राशि-खटेफलं ब्रुवे ॥ ७ ॥
- Details of the conceptual framework and dispositions of stars be known through general literature of astrology. Now I tell about the effects of planets and signs.
यस्मिन् काले यतः खेटा यान्ति दृग्गणितैकताम् ।
तत एव स्फुटा: कार्या: दिक्कालौ च स्फुटौ विदा ॥ ८ ॥
स्वस्वदेशोद्भवैः साध्यं लग्नं राश्युदयैः स्फुटम् ।
अथादौ वच्मि खेटानां जातिरूपगुणानहम् ॥ ९ ॥
8-9 The positions of the planets for the given time be taken as per Drikganita. And with the help of sign durations applicable to the respective places, the ascendant at birth should be known. Now I tell you about the castes, descriptions and dispositions of the planets.
अथ खेटा रविचन्द्रो मङ्गलश्च युधस्तथा ।
गुरुः शुक्रः शनी राहु केतुश्वैते यथाक्रमस् ।। १० ।।
- The names of the nine planets respectively are : the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu.
One of the salient features of Hindu Astrology is the importance and recognition that is given to Rahu and Ketu, physically non existent; yet regarded and treated as full fledged planets. The Hindus conceived the Moon's nodes as the cross roads of magnetic influences full of potency and gave them the status of planets in so far as their effects are concerned. The real character of the Indian Astrology can thus be said to be dependant on these two shadowy points. A knowledge of Rahu and Ketu has existed from ancient times, this is apparent from the known fact that our predecessors, thousands of years ago were able to forecast Eclipses. If Astrologers leave out the Moon's node they will miss one of the most important luck areas in any chart. The subtle relationship between the Sun, the Moon and the Earth plays a significent part in the unfolding of each individual's consciousness.
तत्रार्क-शनि-भूपुत्राः क्षीणेन्दु-राहू-केतवः ।
कुराः शेषग्रहा सौम्याः, क्रूरः क्रूर-युतो बुधः ॥ ११ ॥
- Among these planets, the Sun, Saturn, Mars, decreasing Moon, Rahu and Ketu, are 'malefics' and the remaining, full Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus are 'benefics'. Mercury, when in conjunction with a malefic, becomes a malefic.
Planetary Governances.
Practice
Name the nine grahas in the order verse 10 gives them.
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu.
Worth learning in exactly this order rather than any other, because Parashara reuses it constantly — in the Antardaśā chapters, in the correspondence tables, in the Aṣṭakavarga contributions. When a later chapter gives you a list of nine things with no labels, this is the order it assumes you know.
Source: BPHS 3.10
According to verse 11, which grahas are malefic?
Show the answer and why
Answer: Sun, Saturn, Mars, Rahu, Ketu — and the decreasing Moon.
The full Moon sits with Mercury, Jupiter and Venus among the benefics; the decreasing Moon is listed among the malefics. That single word does a great deal of work and is the reason the Moon's classification is not fixed.
Source: BPHS 3.11
The Moon and Mercury are both conditional — but the conditions are of completely different kinds. What is the difference?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: The Moon's condition is about its own state (waxing or waning); Mercury's is about its company (whether a malefic joins it).
This is a distinction worth fixing early, because BPHS uses both kinds of condition throughout and they behave differently. A planet's own state travels with it — the Moon is waning in this chart whatever else happens. A condition of company is relational, and can change the moment you look at a different chart with the same Moon. You will meet this contrast again in dignity, which is about a planet's own position, and in planetary relationships, which are about how planets treat each other.
A student says: 'My chart has five malefics, so it must be a difficult life.' What is wrong with the reasoning?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: Counting malefics is not a technique. Nothing in BPHS judges a life by the tally, and 'malefic' does not mean 'bad for you'.
Two errors are stacked here. The first is arithmetic standing in for judgment — Parashara never counts benefics against malefics to reach a verdict. The second is deeper: natural malefic status describes how a graha acts, not whether its results are welcome. A malefic in the right place, ruling the right houses, is one of the most useful things a chart can have. You will see this properly in Week 6, when the same planet turns out to be a functional benefic for one ascendant and a functional malefic for another.
Apply it to a chart
Chart A — the teaching chart — The chart you follow from Week 1 to Week 13, one layer at a time. · about 20 min
Last unit you listed what was in the chart. Now you add the first layer of meaning to that list — and it is a layer you can apply without any interpretation at all.
- Beside each of the nine grahas on your sheet, write benefic or malefic according to verse 11.
- For the Moon, check whether it is waxing or waning in this chart, and classify it accordingly. Note what you had to look up to decide.
- For Mercury, note which grahas share its sign. If any of them is a malefic, Mercury becomes malefic here — write down both the classification and the reason.
- Count how many benefics and how many malefics you ended up with. Do not conclude anything from that count yet. Just notice it.
Check your understanding
Answer from memory first. Looking back at the reading before you try turns a memory test into a copying exercise.
Under what condition does Mercury become malefic?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: When it is joined by a malefic planet.
On its own, Mercury is benefic. In a malefic's company it takes on that character. It is the clearest example in BPHS of a graha whose nature is not a fixed property but a function of its situation.
Source: BPHS 3.11
Why does it matter that Parashara's benefic/malefic division is described as functional rather than moral?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: Because it stops you predicting good and bad outcomes directly from the labels, which is not how the system works.
If malefic meant bad, chart reading would be counting. It does not, and it is not. Malefics separate, harden, delay and force effort; benefics expand, soften and sustain. Whether either is welcome depends entirely on what the person needs and what the planet rules. Holding this now saves you from a very common kind of confident nonsense later.
Where in BPHS is the natural benefic/malefic division stated?
Write your answer down before opening the explanation.
Show the answer and why
Answer: Chapter 3, verse 11.
One verse. Worth knowing the address, because you will want to point at it — and because a surprising amount of what people attribute to BPHS on this subject is not in it.
What you carry forward
Two things grow across the whole course. This unit adds to both.
To your chart-analysis process
- Nothing yet — but you now hold the classification that Step 7 of the finished process (assess dignity, strength, support and affliction) is built on.
To your field manual
- Natural benefic: full Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus. Natural malefic: Sun, Saturn, Mars, Rahu, Ketu, waning Moon. (BPHS 3.11)
- Mercury is benefic alone, malefic in a malefic's company. Check its co-tenants before classifying it.
- Malefic describes how a graha acts, not whether the result is welcome.
By now you should be able to
- Name the nine grahas in Parashara's own order
- State which are natural benefics and which are natural malefics
- Explain precisely what makes the Moon's and Mercury's classification conditional
- Say why 'malefic' is not a moral judgment