Glossary
Graha: meaning in astrology
Graha means "one that seizes" and is the Vedic word for the bodies used in a chart. There are nine: the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, plus Rahu and Ketu, the two lunar nodes. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not part of the traditional system, although some modern Vedic astrologers note them.
The Sun and Moon count as grahas even though astronomy doesn't call them planets.
Where does "Graha" come up on this site?
147 guides use the term. The ones that use it most:
- Chiron in the 3rd house: two-lens reading
- Ketu in Aries: Vedic and Western readings
- Lilith in the 6th house: two-lens reading
- Lilith in Aquarius: Western and Vedic readings
- Lilith in Leo: Western and Vedic readings
- Lilith in Taurus: Western and Vedic readings
- Pluto in the 11th house: two-lens reading
- Rahu in Aries: Vedic and Western readings
How we calculate
Is astrology a guarantee of what will happen?
No. These calculations locate celestial bodies; astrology is a reflection and timing tradition, not evidence of guaranteed health, financial or relationship outcomes.
How are these results calculated?
Positions come from Astronomy Engine, an open-source astronomy library, and are checked against Swiss Ephemeris in our methodology tests. Western readings use the tropical zodiac; Vedic readings subtract the Lahiri ayanamsa. Terms are defined in the glossary.
Next: compare your birth chart, see today's sky, or make a private vision board.