Surya

The Graha "Surya", whose name means "the Supreme and Divine Light" is the father of our solar system, called Aditya in the Vedas.

Chandra

The Moon rules over our psyche, which is represented by the deer on which he rides. According to the teachings of Sanatan Dharma the Lord Chandra is one of the most handsome of deities.

Mangala

Mangala is masculine, authoritative, aggressive and courageous. He is regarded as a warrior and the commander in chief of the assembly of gods.

Budha

Mercury [Budha] is neutral, emotional, joyful, and evergreen. He is famous for ready wit, wisdom, and power of communication.

Brihaspati

The Graha "Brihaspati" (Jupiter) who is also known as "Guru" (meaning "teacher" and "heavy"), is the epitome of righteousness, piety, majesty, magnificence, truth and wisdom.

Shukra

The Graha "Shukra", whose name means "semen" is described as a young, gentle, fair-complexioned and effeminate man with dark curly hair and a beautiful physique.

Shani

The Lord Shani (Saturn) is a stern disciplinarian, a sort of grandfatherly figure and sage who is an overseer of the process of karmic retribution for our good and bad deeds.

Rahu

The Graha "Rahu", which represents the north node of the moon, is a shadow planet indeed, one that does not exist physically, but one whose effects are felt by all.

Ketu

The Graha "Ketu", which represents the south node of the moon, is a malefic shadow planet, but not as malefic as Rahu. In fact, in some ways Ketu is the direct opposite of Rahu in its effects.

The Hindu astrology is based on an elaborate calculation of the positions of these planets at the time of one's birth. For example, the zodiac is divided in to twelve zones ('houses' of 30 degrees each). The planet Sun travels in to one of these houses each month. Similarly, the other planets have their times of travel through the zodiac assigned to them. As the planets travel through these zodiac signs, their relative positions with respect to each other changes and is supposed to determine the fate of the human affairs. An astrologer can draw up a horoscope of a person based on his time of birth and calculate the relative positions of the planets relative to this horoscope.

The planets are also believed to influence the outcomes of historical events of entire nations and the Earth. Each planet has its own mode of circumambulation - clockwise or anti-clockwise. Each planet faces a different direction. In religious rites, beetle nuts represent the planets and the priest invites each planet to be present there and witness and bless the puja. Navagrahas the planet deities of which the first seven are Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn give names to the days of the week: Sunday to Saturday respectively. The other two Rahu (Ascending node) and Ketu (Descending node) are also fabled as planets, the former as a planet with a head and no body and the latter as a planet with a body and no head.

In the Puranas, they are all represented as deities borne in cars. They are propitiated because of their sinister effects (Saturn, Rahu and Ketu) and for their favorable influences (Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars, the sun and the moon). The favor of all must be conciliated before marriages and other auspicious events can be successfully accomplished. In addition to the nine planets, twenty seven nakshatras (constellations) through which the moon passes and twelve signs of zodiac of the sun, regarded as deities, are consulted at births, marriages and on all occasions of family rejoicing, distress or calamity. Shanti (Peace) propitiation ceremony is held to appease any unfavorable constellations.