Grahas (ग्रहाः)

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Grahas (Samskrit: ग्रहाः) generally refer to planets. Planets are also referred to by other terms such as भ्रमन् ग्रहः, तारा, तारका, तारकं, ज्योतिस्, ज्योतिषी, ज्योतिष्कः, खेचरः, खगः, गगणेचरः, गगणाध्वगः, विहगः, खोल्कः, नक्षत्रं, ऋक्षः, द्युषद्, द्युसद्, and भं.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

MW

Planets are enumerated as either 5, 7 or 9 in number.

The 5 that are generally enumerated together include Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.

Ref: MBh. vi , 4566 f. R. i , 19 , 2 Ragh. iii , 13 etc.

While राहु and केतु are added when enumerated as 7

Ref: MBh. vii , 5636

And addition of the Sun [See. S3Br. iv , 6 , 5 , 1 and 5 MBh. xiii , 913 ; xiv , 1175 ] and moon Ya1jn5. i , 295 MBh. iv , 48 VarBr2S. make it 9 in number. They are termed together as the नवग्रहाः or ‘the nine planets'. Thus, the nine planets include

1. the sun, सूर्य्यः;

2. the moon, चन्द्रः;

3. Mercury, बुधः;

4. Venus, शुक्रः;

5. Mars, मङ्गलः;

6. Jupiter, गुरुः m.;

7. Saturn, शनिः m.;

8. the ascending node, राहुः m.;

9. the descending node, केतुः m.

The two last are considered to be minor planets.

The polar star is also at times referred to as a ग्रह

Ref: Garg. (Jyot. 5 Sch.)

The planets are generally described as either auspicious शुभ-, सद्-, or inauspicious क्रूर-, पाप-VarBr2S. ;

--Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon are generally termed as Auspicious planets or शुभग्रह-s, सुग्रह-s, सौम्यग्रह-s

--Mars, Saturn, the Sun, and the two nodes are considered as Inauspicious planets or कुग्रह-s, अशुभग्रह-s, पापग्रह-s

The minor planets other than the 9 enumerated above are called as उपग्रह-s

Terms associated with Graha

Graha-gaṇa, as, m. the whole number of planets taken collectively. The planets collectively are also called as ग्रहगणः, ज्योतिर्गणः, ग्रहमण्डलं, भ्रमन्तो ग्रहाः

Graha-nāyaka, as, m. the leader of the planets; the planet Saturn; the sun.

Graha-nemi, is, m. the moon.

Graha-pati, is, m. the chief of the planets, the sun; the plant Calotropis Gigantea [cf. arka], = gṛha-pati.

--Graha-pusha, as, m. the sun (cherishing the planets with his light).

--Graha-rāja, as, m. the king of the planets; the sun; the moon; the planet Jupiter or its regent.

--Grahādhāra (ºha-ādhº), as, m. the polar star as the fixed centre of the planets.

--Graheśa (ºha-īśº), as, m. the chief of the planets, the sun.

Graha-gaṇita, am, n. = gaṇita, the astronomical part of a Jyotiḥ-śāstra.

Graha-ćintaka, as, m. an astrologer.

--Graha-vipra, as, m. an astrologer.

‘motion of the planets,’ ग्रहचारः;

‘motion in their orbits,’ गतिः f.;

‘passage of a planet,’ सङ्क्रमः, सङ्क्रान्तिः f.;

‘aspect,’ ग्रहदशा;

‘ascertainment of their aspect,’ ग्रहसाधनं;

‘calculations or tables for determining their position,’ ग्रहसारणी;

‘diagram representing their aspect,’ ग्रहकुण्डली;

‘meeting of the seven planets under one sign,’ सप्तग्रहसङ्गमः.

Grahavarsha, as, m. a planetary year; title of the nineteenth Adhyāya of Varāha-mihira's Bṛhat-saṃhitā, which describes the good or evil fortune belonging to certain days, months or years ruled over by particular planets.

--Grahaśṛńgāṭaka, am, n. triangular position of the planets with reference to each other; title of the twentieth Adhyāya in Varāha-mihira's Bṛhat-saṃhitā, treating also of many other positions of the planets.

--Graha-bhakti, is, f. distribution among the planets, division of countries &c. with respect to the presiding planets; title of the sixteenth chapter in Varāha-mihira's Bṛhat-saṃhitā.

‘conjunction,’ सङ्गमः;

Graha-yuti, is, m. conjunction of the planets.

--Grahasamāgama, as, m. conjunction of the planets; also in the comp. śaśi-graha-samāgama, conjunction of the moon with asterisms or planets.

--Graha-yuddha, am, n. strife or opposition of the planets; title of the seventeenth Adhyāya of Varāha-mihira's Bṛhatsaṃhitā.

Graha-mardana, am, n. friction or opposition between the planets.

--Graha-vimarda, as, m. friction of the planets, opposition, = graha-mardana.

Grahāvamardana (ºha-avº), am, n. friction of the planets, opposition; [cf. graha-mardana.]

‘influence,’ ग्रहयोगः, ग्रहावेशः;

‘propitious influence,’ ग्रहानुकूल्यं, ग्रहबलं;

‘unpropitious influence,’ ग्रहपीडा, ग्रहबाधा;

Graha-pīḍana, am, n. or grahapīḍā, f. the pain or oppression caused by a planet; the obscurity caused by Rāhu, an eclipse; the influence of an unpropitious planet.

--Grahapūjā, f. worship of the sun and other planets.

‘worship of the planets,’ ग्रहपूजा;

--Graha-yajṅa or grahayāga, as, m. worship or sacrifice offered to the planets.

‘sacrifice in propitiation of them,’ ग्रहयागः, ग्रहयज्ञः, ग्रहमखः;

--Graha-śānti, is, f. propitiation of the planets by sacrifices &c.

‘propitiation of them,’ ग्रहशान्तिः f., ग्रहसाधनं;

‘incantations to render them propitious,’ ग्रहजपः;

‘presents made to Bra4hmans for propitiating them,’ ग्रहदानं;

Grahārāma-kutūhala or karaṇa-kutūhala, am, n., N. of an astronomical work by Bhāskara.

Apte

PLANET, s. ग्रहः, भ्रमन् ग्रहः, तारा, तारका -कं, ज्योतिस् n., ज्योतिषी, ज्योतिष्कः, खेचरः, खगः, गगणेचरः, गगणाध्वगः, विहगः, खोल्कः, नक्षत्रं, ऋक्षः, द्युषद् m., द्युसद् m., भं; ‘minor planet,’ उपग्रहः; ‘the planets collectively,’ ग्रहगणः, ज्योतिर्गणः, ग्रहमण्डलं, भ्रमन्तो ग्रहाः m. pl.; ‘the nine planets,’ नवग्रहाः m. pl. These, according to the Hindu4s, are 1. the sun, सूर्य्यः; 2. the moon, चन्द्रः; 3. Mercury, बुधः; 4. Venus, शुक्रः; 5. Mars, मङ्गलः; 6. Jupiter, गुरुः m.; 7. Saturn, शनिः m.; 8. the ascending node, राहुः m.; 9. the descending node, केतुः m. The two last are considered to be minor planets. The other names of the planets will be found under each separate head of Mercury, &c

--(Auspicious planet) शुभग्रहः, सुग्रहः, सौम्यग्रहः; of these there are four, viz. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon

--(Inauspicious planet) कुग्रहः, अशुभग्रहः, पापग्रहः; of these there are five, viz. Mars, Saturn, the Sun, and the two nodes. ‘Planet at its apex,’ तुङ्गी m. (न्); ‘motion of the planets,’ ग्रहचारः; ‘motion in their orbits,’ गतिः f.; ‘passage of a planet,’ सङ्क्रमः, सङ्क्रान्तिः f.; ‘conjunction,’ सङ्गमः; ‘aspect,’ ग्रहदशा; ‘influence,’ ग्रहयोगः, ग्रहावेशः; ‘unpropitious influence,’ ग्रहपीडा, ग्रहबाधा; ‘propitious influence,’ ग्रहानुकूल्यं, ग्रहबलं; ‘worship of the planets,’ ग्रहपूजा; ‘propitiation of them,’ ग्रहशान्तिः f., ग्रहसाधनं; ‘sacrifice in propitiation of them,’ ग्रहयागः, ग्रहयज्ञः, ग्रहमखः; ‘presents made to Bra4hmans for propitiating them,’ ग्रहदानं; ‘incantations to render them propitious,’ ग्रहजपः; ‘ascertainment of their aspect,’ ग्रहसाधनं; ‘calculations or tables for determining their position,’ ग्रहसारणी; ‘diagram representing their aspect,’ ग्रहकुण्डली; ‘meeting of the seven planets under one sign,’ सप्तग्रहसङ्गमः.

Shabda Sagara

m. (-हः)

1. Taking, whether by seizure or acceptance.

2. An eclipse or seizure of the sun or moon, by RAHU, &c.

3. A planet.

4. The place of a planet in the fixed zodiac.

5. A moveable point in the heavens.

6. A name of RAHU, or the ascending node.

7. An imp, one of a particular class, beginning with PUTANA, supposed especially to seize upon young children producing convulsions.

8. Effort in battle.

9. Tenacity, perseverance.

10. Purpose, design.

11. Favor, patronage. E. ग्रह् to take, &c. affix अच्.

Amarakosha

ग्रह पुं।

ग्रहणम्

समानार्थक:उपराग,ग्रह

1।4।9।2।2

सा दृष्टेन्दुः सिनीवाली सा नष्टेन्दुकला कुहूः। उपरागो ग्रहो राहुग्रस्ते त्विन्दौ च पूष्णि च॥

वैशिष्ट्य : अर्कादयः

पदार्थ-विभागः : , द्रव्यम्, कालः

Kalpadruma

ग्रहः, पुं, (गृह्णाति गतिविशेषानिति । यद्वा, गृह्णाति फलदातृत्वेन जीवानिति । ग्रह् + “विभाषा ग्रहः ।” ३ । १ । १४३ । इति पक्षे अच् ।) सूर्य्यादिनव । यथा । रविसोममङ्गल- बुधबृहस्पतिशुक्रशनिराहुकेतवः । (यदुक्तम्, -- “सूर्य्यश्चन्द्रो मङ्गलश्च बुधश्चापि बृहस्पतिः । शुक्रः शनैश्चरो राहुः केतुश्चेति नव ग्रहाः ॥” “लोकानद्रीन् स्वरान् धातून् मुनीन् द्बीपान् ग्रहानपि । समिधः सप्त सङ्ख्याताः सप्तजिह्वा हविर्भुजः ॥”

References: Bhagavata Purana, Mahabharata, Matsya Purana, Linga Purana, Garuda Purana, Ramayana, Skanda Purana (Reva Khanda), Surya Siddhanta, Raja Nighatu, Kurma Purana, Yajnavalkya Smrti, Manusmrti, Skanda Purana, Agni Purana, Sattvata Tantra, Vishnu Smrti, Dhanvantari Nighantu, Katyayana Smrti, Aitareyopanishad, Arthashastra, Gopathabrahmana, Kalika Purana, Narada Smrti, Sankhyakarika Bhashya.

The fact that graha, `seize,' is the name used for planets right from the time of Atharvaveda (34) suggests that the waxing and waning of the two inferior planets, Mercury and Venus, as well as the change in the intensity of the others was known.

Grahas in the Vedic literature

The Rgveda and the Shatapatha Brahmana refer to five planets as deities, out of which the Rgveda mentions Brhaspati (Jupiter) and Vena (Venus) by name.

अमी ये पञ्चोक्षणो मध्ये तस्थुर्महो दिवः । देवत्रा नु प्रवाच्यं सध्रीचीना नि वावृतुर्वित्तं मे अस्य रोदसी ॥१०॥ Rg. 1.105.10

बृहस्पतिः प्रथमं जायमानो महो ज्योतिषः परमे व्योमन् । सप्तास्यस्तुविजातो रवेण वि सप्तरश्मिरधमत्तमांसि ॥४॥ Rg. 4.50.4

अयं वेनश्चोदयत्पृश्निगर्भा ज्योतिर्जरायू रजसो विमाने । इममपां संगमे सूर्यस्य शिशुं न विप्रा मतिभी रिहन्ति ॥१॥ Rg. 10.123.1

अथ मन्थिनं गृह्णाति । अयं वेनश्चोदयत्पृश्निगर्भा ज्योतिर्जरायू रजसो विमाने इममपां संगमे सूर्यस्य शिशुं न विप्रा मतिभी रिहन्ति उपयामगृहीतोऽसि मर्काय त्वेति - ४.२.१.[१०] Shat. brah. 4.2.1

Shani (Saturn), Rahu (Moon's ascending node), and Ketu (Moon's descending node) are mentioned in the Maitrayani Upanishad 7.6

शनिराहुकेतूरगरक्षोयक्षनरविहगशरभेभादयोऽधस्तादुद्यन्ति तपन्ति वर्षन्ति स्तुवन्ति पुनर्विशन्ति अन्तर्विवरेणेक्षन्ति यः प्राज्ञो विधरणः सर्वान्तरोऽक्षरः शुद्धः पूतः भान्तः क्षान्तः शान्तः ॥ ७.६॥ Mait. Upan. 7.6

It also mentions 34 lights which, in all probability, are the Sun, the Moon, the 5 planets and the 27 nakshatras (Rg 10.55.3)

आ रोदसी अपृणादोत मध्यं पञ्च देवाँ ऋतुशः सप्तसप्त । चतुस्त्रिंशता पुरुधा वि चष्टे सरूपेण ज्योतिषा विव्रतेन ॥३॥ Rg. 10.55.3.

In fact, the Taittiriya Samhita (33) speaks of the 33 daughters of Prajapati, personifi�cation of time here, that are given in marriage to Soma, the moon, viewed as Raja. These are the 27 nakshatras, the �5 planets, and the sun. The Rgveda describes the Sun as the sole light-giver of the universe, the cause of the seasons, the controller and the lord of the world.

एक एवाग्निर्बहुधा समिद्ध एकः सूर्यो विश्वमनु प्रभूतः । एकैवोषाः सर्वमिदं वि भात्येकं वा इदं वि बभूव सर्वम् ॥२॥ Rg. 8.58.2

त्रीणि जाना परि भूषन्त्यस्य समुद्र एकं दिव्येकमप्सु । पूर्वामनु प्र दिशं पार्थिवानामृतून्प्रशासद्वि दधावनुष्ठु ॥३॥ Rg. 1.95.3

सनेमि चक्रमजरं वि वावृत उत्तानायां दश युक्ता वहन्ति । सूर्यस्य चक्षू रजसैत्यावृतं तस्मिन्नार्पिता भुवनानि विश्वा ॥१४॥ Rg. 1.164.14

Aitareya brahmana 2.7 describes Sun as the cause of the wind. The Moon is called Surya-rashmi ie. one which shines by sunlight (Taittiriya Samhita 3.4.7.1)

ऋताषाड् ऋतधामाग्निर् गन्धर्वस् तस्यौषधयो ऽप्सरस ऊर्जो नाम स इदम् ब्रह्म क्षत्रम् पातु ता इदम् ब्रह्म क्षत्रम् पान्तु तस्मै स्वाहा ताभ्यः स्वाहा सꣳहितो विश्वसामा सूर्यो गन्धर्वस् तस्य मरीचयो ऽप्सरस आयुवः सुषुम्नः सूर्यरश्मिश् चन्द्रमा गन्धर्वस् तस्य नक्षत्राण्य् अप्सरसो बेकुरयः । भुज्युः सुपर्णो यज्ञो गन्धर्वस् तस्य दक्षिणा अप्सरस स्तवाः प्रजापतिर् विश्वकर्मा मनः Tait. Samh. 3.4.7.1.

According to the Taittiriya brahmana 3.1.1, "Jupiter when born was first visible in the nakshatra Tishya (Pushya).

बृहस्पतिः प्रथमं जायमानः । तिष्यं नक्षत्रमभि संबभूव ।

The Rgveda speaks of the fi�ve bulls of heaven, which appear to be the �five planets. Being faster than the �fixed stars, the planets can, in turn, be compared to bulls.

The explicit name of Budha for Mercury appears in Panchavimsha Brahmana.

Evolution in the study of the Grahas

The study of the five planets, that were known in the vedic period, came to be included within the scope of astronomy in the post-vedic period. And astronomy began to be studied as a science for its own sake outgrowing its original purpose of providing a calendar for the performance of Vedic yajnas.

The various facets related to the grahas that were studied were:

• their synodic motion
• the times of their first and last visibility
• the duration of their appearance and disappearance
• the distance from the Sun at the time of their first and last visibility
• the times of their retrograde motion
• the distances from the Sun at the times of their becoming retrograde and re-retrograde

It also studied the motion of the planets in various zodiacal signs under different velocities called gatis (viz. very fast, fast, mean, slow, very slow, retrograde, very retrograde, and re-retrograde) along their varying paths called vithis.

The synodic motion of a planet, called grahachara, was elaborately recorded in the astrological works particularly the samhitas, the earlier works of the Jainas, the earlier puranas, and the earlier siddhantas such as the Vasishthasiddhanta and the Paulishasiddhanta. Analysis of these records led to the evolution of a few crude methods and empirical formulae to get the longitudes of the planets. Later, a systematic theory was established giving rise to the astronomy of the later Siddhantas.

The synodic motion of the planets and the empirical formulae for knowing the positions of the planets Jupiter and Saturn were described in the Vasishthasiddhanta which is the earliest of the astronomical works written in the post-vedic period. This is known through the summary of the Vasishthasiddhanta available in the Panchasiddhantika of Varahamihira.

The motion of the planets, visibility of the Moon and eclipses are dealt with in the Paulishasiddhanta also. In the treatment of the planetary motion, it gives the distances from the Sun at which the planets rise or set heliacally and become retrograde and re-retrograde. However, Paulisha's treatment of the visibility of the planets and the eclipses is considered to be very approximate.

A synodic year is the time it takes for a planet-sun alignment to reoccur.

The synodic periods (in days) of the planets according to Vasishtha, Paulisha, Aryabhata, Ptolemy and the modern astronomers are as follows:

Synodic periods in days

Planet	Vasishtha	Paulisha	Aryabhata	Ptolemy	Modern
Mars	779.955	799.978	779.92	779.943	779.936
Mercury	115.879	115.875	115.87	115.879	115.877
Jupiter	398.889	398.885	398.889	398.886	398.884
Venus	583.909	583.906	583.89	584.000	583.921
Saturn	378.1	378.110	378.08	378.093	378.092

We note that the understanding of the motions of the planets arose at some time during the unfolding of the Rgvedic period. For example, Venus is described in early Vedic literature in terms of the twin Ashvins, the morning and evening stars.

Sidereal Period of the Grahas

The sidereal periods (ie. the orbit of a planet around the Sun) suggested by the astronomical code in the organization of the Rgveda are: (35)

Mercury: 87 days

Venus: 225 days

Mars: 687 days

Jupiter: 4,340 or 4,350 days

Saturn: 10,816 days.

Grahas and Vaidika Devatas

Jaimini grhyasutra (32) gives the following equation between the planets and the Vedic gods:

• The sun is Shiva
• The moon is Uma (Shiva's wife)
• Mars is Skanda (the son of Shiva)
• Mercury is Vishnu

Mercury's identification with the Vishnu, an important deity in the Rgveda, is of particular significance. Vishnu is the younger brother of Indra in the Rgvedic era; and Indra is sometimes identified with the sun. The most essential feature of Vishnu are his three steps by which he measures out the universe (e.g. RV 1.154). Two of these steps are visible to men, but the third or highest step is beyond the flight of birds or mortals (RV 1.155, 7.99). Later, Vishnu did this remarkable thing in the Vamana Avatara. This agrees with the identification as the small Mercury.

Also, the explanation of the three steps of Vishnu comes to the fore when we consider Vedic altar ritual. It appears likely that the three steps of Vishnu are nothing but the three revolutions of Mercury in a cycle of 261 sky days. With this supposition the period of Mercury will be 87 days. Furthermore, three synodic periods of Mercury, at 118 days a period, equal the 354 lunar days or 360 tithis. It appears that this dual relationship led to the great importance being given to the story of the three steps of Vishnu. Of course, the figures for the periods are only approximate but as expected at the first determination of these numbers an attempt was made to connect them to the basic numbers of 261 and 354.

Also, Panchavimsha Brahmana 24.18 speaks of Budha in connection with a 61 day rite. Three such rites imply a total of 183 days which equals the days exclusively devoted to the heavens. This appears to be the analog, in the field of ritual, of the three steps of Vishnu covering the heavens.

• Jupiter is Brahman (symbolizing the entire universe)
• Venus is Indra
• Saturn is Yama (the dual god - death)

One may speculate that the equation of Saturn and Yama arises out of the fact that the synodic period of Saturn is the dual to the lunar year; 378 days of Saturn and 354 days of the lunar year with the centre at the 366-day solar year.

The colours assigned to the planets elaborated further are from the same source.

Grahas and Colour

Although it is certain that the planets had been studied by the Rgvedic people, we do not �find a single place in the texts where the names are listed together. The list below brings together some of the names, together with the ascribed colours, used in a variety of places including the later Puranic literature.

MERCURY. Budha, Saumya, Rauhineya, Tunga (yellow)

VENUS. Ushanas, Shukra, Kavi, Bhrgu (white)

MARS. Angaraka, Bhumija, Lohitanga, Bhauma, Mangala, Kumara, Skanda (red)

JUPITER. Brhaspati, Guru, Angiras (yellow)

SATURN. Shanaishchara, Sauri, Manda, Pangu, Patangi (black)

There is one other name that is not well attested, namely Vena for Venus.

Graha Vamsha

• Mercury is viewed as the son of the moon by Tara, the wife of Jupiter, or the nakshatra Rohini (Aldebaran).

• Venus is viewed as the son of Bhrgu and the priest of the demons.
• Mars is viewed as the son of the earth or Shiva.
• Jupiter is viewed as the son of Angiras and the priest of the gods.
• Saturn is seen as being born to Revati and Balarama or to Chaya and the sun.

Among them, Saturn is described as the lord of the planets, lord of seven lights or satellites, and the slow-goer.

The main characters in the planetary stories are Jupiter and Venus as is to be expected for the two brightest planets. Venus, in its earlier incarnation as the Ashvin twins, was seen as born to the sun. Mercury as Vishnu is Upendra, the younger brother of the Indra, here a personifi�cation of the sun. But once Mercury fi�tted into the planetary scheme, its association with Vishnu was forgotten. Later acccounts describe the planets in relation to each other.

Astronomical Explanation of Planetary Stories

• The rivalry between the families of Angirasas and the Bhrgus in the Rgveda, represents the motions of Jupiter and Venus. This is clear in later accounts where Brhaspati (Jupiter), the priest of the gods because its motion is closest to the ecliptic, is an Angiras and Kavi Ushanas or Shukra (Venus), a Bhargava, is the priest of the Asuras.