Understanding Grahas and Nak¾atras Nak¾atras
The grahas are energy centers, energy fields that planets exert in the universe. Each of the nine main grahas in Vedic astrology has a specific energy field that creates specific effects on our planet Earth. For example, the moon has a strong impact on the movements of the sea and on plant growth; it even influences the mind of human beings. In the same way, the major energy centers produce an effect on living beings and influence their potential at birth, their mental set-up and, therefore, the course of their destiny. In Jyoti¾a, grahas are often referred as the agents of the karmas for which the soul took birth. Human personality and life have their counterparts in the structure of the cosmic physiology, represented by the graha*s* and the nak¾atras.
There are nine graha*s* (nine influences or 'planets') in our solar system: the Sun (S¦rya), the Moon (Candra), Mars (Mangal), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Guru), Venus (¹ukra), Saturn (¹ani) and two nodes called R¢hu (ascending lunar node) and Ketu (descending lunar node). These represent archetypes. S¦rya, for example, represents consciousness; Candra represents the cosmic mind; Budha represents the cosmic intellect, etc.
Most of the calendars of the world have been set by the Sun's and Moon's movements (measuring the day, month and year) and were of great importance for agriculture, because the harvest depended on planting at the correct time of the year. But the Vedic tradition uses a system of 27 nak¾atras to calculate months. The nak¾atra is the constellation in which the moon sits in the heaven at a particular time. In each month, the full moon sits in a particular constellation, and the Vedic month will have this nak¾atra'sname.
Each nak¾atra falls under the rule of one, sometimes two grahas. Each graha is assigned three nak¾atras. For example, if the child is born when the moon sits in Aºvini nak¾atra, his birth star will be Aºvini, and his sign will be Aries (called mesha in Sanskrit), ruled by planet Mars (Mangala). Bhara´i and K¨ttika, the two next nak¾atras, also fall under the lordship of Aries sign. All three will therefore have similar characteristics and will influence the child's mind and consciousness at the time of birth, shaping his destiny.
If Mercury is your Planet
'I worship Mercury, dark like the priya¬gu flower, who has an unequalled form, the intelligent son of the moon, endowed with a gentle nature.'
- Veda Vyasa
Dynamic: How we understand, how we express ourselves
Keywords: Intelligence, wit, cleverness, skill, eloquence, communication, agility, versatility, adaptability, detachment, spirituality
Sign: Gemini, Virgo
Color: Green
Cakra: Viºuddhi
Temperament: Sattva
Governing deity: Vi¾´u
Mercury in Vedic Scriptures
Mercury is the eternal youth. He is depicted with four arms; one carries a sword, another a shield and a
third a mace. The fourth hand is held in a gesture of blessings.
He wears green garments; his vehicle is a lion. He rides on a white chariot illuminated by light and drawn by ten horses that are as fast as the wind and as fast as thought.
His father is Soma, the Moon, his mother is T¢r¢, the consort of B¨haspati, the Guru of the Gods. Brahma the creator gave him the name Budha meaning 'intelligent' and 'wise', because of his quick mind.
He is said to be adept in all the Vedic scriptures, auspicious but sensitive, and if disturbed, he can trigger natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and according to some… earthquakes.