The Grahas

The ancient system of Indian or Vedic astrology was called in sanskrit as Jyotish. It stems from two root words Jyoti (means light) and Isha means God, thus meaning seeing the Light of past present and future through the eyes of God. Any astrological prediction is bound by space and time, for there is always a constant change in the state of living and non living things with respect to time and that being influenced more or less , to the positive or negative , to the likes or dislikes of the living entity depedening upon the place and position of the natural forces (magnetic and gravitational in nature- exhibited by Planets.) that act upon. The closest english translation to sanskrit term Grahas is planets.

The philosophies, divinations and practices are all closely interlinked as a holistic system of thought in ancient India to answer the fundamental questions of who we are and why things happen the way it does and where do we go. Hence Astrology is closely interlinked with other schools of thought like Sankyas, yogas and Karmas.

Grahas are believed t0 be the the executing agents of Karma, which rewards or punishes for the actions done at the present or at the past by creating situations or circumstances by which you will be subjected to undergo the return. There are totally 9 Grahas and their influence on the the being creates the oppurtunity to execute your karmas , which will facilitate continuous rebirth until no further accumulation of karma is possible. ( acheived through relinquishment of desire and by enlightenment , not merely understadning the principle)

Human Body is composed of many layer of Sheaths or Kosas according to Taitriya Upanishad.

1. Annamaya Kosa (made of food and intakes)
2. Pranyama Kosa (made of air or prana - the vital force)
3. Manomaya Kosa (made of mind or manas)
4. Vijnanamaya Kosa (made of knowledge & wisdom )
5. Anandamaya Kosa (made of bliss)

The Grahas influence first the Manomaya Kosa and the Karmas dormantly stored of previous life times comes into fruition and ignites the Manomaya or the mind where you hold the concept, ideologies, philosophies and ideas of you and everything else. The mind is the most vulnerable part of the human being and the influence results in directing the Pranayama vital force sheath which helps and energises the being for the participation \ preparation \ or involvement to fullfill his Karma. The energization results in the Annamaya Sheath or the physical body performing or avoiding / participating or resisting in actions and events directed by one's mind. The Vijnanamaya or the Knowledge here refers to the Knowledge of the Self and depening upon how much you know through your experiences through many lives it determines the path to salvation and holds your individual karma of the lifetimes. The Anandamaya kosa is the final fruition of liberation which is unconditional bliss and is believed to hold the relative karma shared with one's family, relatives, friends, community, country.

Those nine grahas that determine your fate are

Sun (Surya)
Moon (Chandra)
Mars(Mangal)
Mercury(Budha)
Jupiter(Guru)
Venus(Shukra)
Saturn(Shani)
Northern Lunar Node (Rahu)
Southern Lunar Node(Ketu)