Graha

Sanskrit for 'planet' — but the Vedic 9 Grahas include the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu (not actual celestial bodies but mathematical points). The 9 Grahas are: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu.

Related terms

• Rashi

  Zodiac sign (1 of 12). The Moon's Rashi at birth is the conventional 'sign' a Vedic astrologer asks for first; the Sun's Rashi is closer to the Western convention.

• Nakshatra

  One of 27 lunar mansions — finer-grained subdivision of the zodiac than Rashi. The Moon's Nakshatra at birth governs the structure of the Vimshottari Dasha system and is read as a strong indicator of personality and disposition.