AstrologgerGrahas
The planets, right now
Live sidereal positions, retrograde states, transits and eclipses — computed with the Lahiri ayanamsa, the same system your Vedic chart uses.
Ask our AI astrologer — free — how the current planets affect your own birth chart.
How the grahas shape your chart
In Vedic astrology the nine grahas are the engines of the chart. Their fixed birth positions describe your nature and potential, while their ongoing movement — transit (gochar) — and the planetary periods (Vimshottari dasha) time when those potentials unfold. A graha’s effect depends on the sign it sits in (its dignity — exalted, debilitated or own sign), the house it rules and occupies, its retrograde or combust state, and the company of other planets. The pages here let you read all of that from the live sky.
Transit (gochar) vs dasha
Two clocks decide when a planet acts. Transit (gochar) is where the planet is in the sky today, moving through your houses — this is what the positions and retrograde pages track. Dasha is the Vimshottari cycle of planetary periods running from birth, each graha ruling a span of years (Ketu 7, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19, Mercury 17). A result usually ripens when a planet is prominent in both — its dasha is active and a supportive transit arrives.
Retrograde, combust and dignity
A planet’s strength shifts with its state. Retrograde (vakri) turns its energy inward and, in Chesta Bala, is counted as strong. Combust (asta) — too close to the Sun — weakens it, which is why muhurat rules avoid a combust Jupiter or Venus for marriage. Dignity matters most: a graha in its exaltation or own sign gives full, clean results, while one in debilitation struggles until a cancellation (neecha-bhanga) lifts it. Our positions page lists the live dignity and retrograde state of every graha so you can judge this at a glance.
Remedies for the grahas
When a graha is weak or troublesome, tradition offers remedies to harmonise it — chanting its beej mantra, wearing its gemstone after proper assessment, donating its associated items on its weekday, fasting, and worshipping its deity. The Navagraha page lists the gemstone, beej mantra, ruling day and a simple remedy for each planet. Remedies should support, not replace, practical effort, and a gemstone in particular is best worn only on a qualified astrologer’s advice.
The nine grahas at a glance
- Surya (Sun) — soul, father, authority and health; rules Leo, gemstone Ruby.
- Chandra (Moon) — mind, emotions and the mother; rules Cancer, gemstone Pearl.
- Mangal (Mars) — energy, courage, land and siblings; rules Aries & Scorpio, gemstone Red Coral.
- Budh (Mercury) — intellect, speech and commerce; rules Gemini & Virgo, gemstone Emerald.
- Guru (Jupiter) — wisdom, wealth, children and fortune; rules Sagittarius & Pisces, gemstone Yellow Sapphire.
- Shukra (Venus) — love, marriage, art and comfort; rules Taurus & Libra, gemstone Diamond.
- Shani (Saturn) — karma, discipline, longevity and labour; rules Capricorn & Aquarius, gemstone Blue Sapphire.
- Rahu — desire, ambition and foreign matters; a shadow planet, always retrograde, gemstone Hessonite.
- Ketu — detachment, moksha and past karma; a shadow planet, always retrograde, gemstone Cat’s Eye.
Planets and the twelve houses
A planet delivers its results through the house it sits in and the houses it rules. The twelve houses (bhavas) each own an area of life — the 1st is the self and body, the 2nd wealth and family, the 3rd courage and siblings, the 4th home and mother, the 5th children and creativity, the 6th enemies and health, the 7th marriage and partnership, the 8th longevity and sudden events, the 9th fortune and dharma, the 10th career and status, the 11th gains and friends, and the 12th loss, foreign lands and moksha. When a strong benefic activates a house, that area flourishes; when a weak or malefic planet does, it is tested. This is why the same transit affects two people differently — it lands on different houses in each chart. To read it for yourself you need your birth chart; the positions here show the sky that everyone shares today.
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Frequently asked questions
How many planets are there in Vedic astrology?
Vedic astrology reads nine grahas (Navagraha) — Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu.
What is the difference between sidereal and tropical planetary positions?
Sidereal (Nirayana) positions are measured against the fixed stars and use the Lahiri ayanamsa in Vedic astrology; tropical (Sayana) positions are measured against the equinox and are used in Western astrology. The two differ by about 24° today.
Which planets are benefic and which are malefic?
Jupiter, Venus, a full Moon and a well-associated Mercury are natural benefics; Saturn, Mars, Rahu, Ketu, a waning Moon and an afflicted Mercury are natural malefics — though the real effect depends on their house and rulership in your chart.
How often do the planets change signs?
The Moon changes sign about every 2.25 days, the Sun/Mercury/Venus about monthly, Mars ~1.5 months, Jupiter ~1 year, Saturn ~2.5 years, and Rahu–Ketu ~1.5 years.
Which planets govern marriage, career and money?
Venus (and the 7th house) is the chief karaka for marriage and spouse; the Sun, Saturn and Mercury — with the 10th house — shape career; Jupiter is the karaka for wealth and the 2nd and 11th houses govern income. No single planet acts alone — the result depends on the whole chart.
What is a combust (Asta) planet?
A planet too close to the Sun is "combust" (asta) and is considered weakened because its light is overpowered. This is why muhurat rules avoid a combust Jupiter or Venus for weddings. Mercury and Venus, being near the Sun, combust most often.
What is the difference between a transit and a birth position?
Your birth (natal) positions are fixed — they are the sky at the moment you were born and describe your nature. A transit (gochar) is where a planet is today, moving over your natal chart. Predictions compare the two: a transit only matters in relation to where the planets sat at your birth.
Can I strengthen a weak planet?
Traditional remedies aim to harmonise a weak or troublesome graha — chanting its beej mantra, donating its items on its weekday, fasting, worshipping its deity, and (after a qualified astrologer’s assessment) wearing its gemstone. The Navagraha page lists the gemstone, mantra and ruling day for each planet. Remedies support, but do not replace, practical effort.