The Nature of the Planets
Vedic Astrology is based on the visible planets in our solar system and their influence upon the earth and mankind. Along with these visible planets, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn, the great luminaries the Sun and the Moon are considered to be of superior importance. Additionally, the north and south nodes of the Moon, Rahu and Ketu, respectively, are said to have power and influence equal to that of a planet. The following is a basic description of the nature of the planets as stated in various classical astrological texts. As each planet governs many aspects of life, understanding the full nature of each planet enables us to more accurately arrive at conclusions about the indications given in a chart.

The Sun
The Sun represents the spirit, the Atman, the soul energy of a person. It is the inner light as well as the outer, it is the cosmic intelligence which determines our higher purpose. It is the royal planet, the King, the authority, the father, that which shapes our value system and determines our sense of self-worth and direction. The Sun also represents politicians and political power. He is the administrator who oversees and formulates the rules.

The Sun also indicates our physical vitality and health as well as our ego. It represents our endurance, conviction, confidence, independence and our capacity for leadership, visibility and importance. It is somewhat detached and doesn’t mix with people easily, he stands aloof.

The Sun rules the bones, blood, medicine and the head and his heat can bring fever and headaches. It can also bring eye trouble, indigestion and diarrhea.

He rules over the forests, the grasses and the mountains. He also rules over copper and topaz.

The Moon
The Moon is the planet of the mind and the emotions. It represents our connection to the world and our receptive feelings, our thoughts, cares and considerations in relation to others. Its nature is changeable, it waxes and wanes thus creating a lack on consistency -- highs and lows, likes and dislikes.

The Moon represents the mother, maternal feelings, family and teaching. It also represents the home, comforts, property, education and learning. It promotes and represents wealth as well.

The Moon deals with water and all liquids, including blood. In fact, it deals with cows, milk, all milk products and agriculture, especially fruit. It is an indicator for luster, silver, precious stones, flowers, perfumes, poetry and music. And it rules over rivers and ocean beds and shells that may be found there.

Mars
Mars is the planet of energy, effort, dynamism, activity and excitement. It is also the planet of war so it brings the spirit of competition, ambition, enthusiasm and success as well as competitiveness and conflict. Mars brings the spirit of magnetism to the personality, it is the force through which we project our outgoing emotions. It can also throw out a positive light in the form of its youthful nature and its rulership over physical strength.

Mars gives an independent spirit, persistence to the personality and strong organizational abilities due to its logical mind. When favorable it makes for good leaders who create cohesiveness and loyalty, when unfavorable it may lead to uprising, rebelliousness, dictatorship and violence.

Mars is the warrior and signifies brothers. Mars rules over bravery and courage and therefore represents the army, police, sports, fitness and the medical profession.

With regard to health, Mars represents bone marrow and bile, fiery diseases such as fever, cuts, burns, hemorrhaging, rupture of veins and arteries and muscular rheumatism. The places indicated by Mars are also fiery; kitchens, engine rooms, boilers and mines and he also indicates fiery events on the planet such as volcanoes, fires and earthquakes. He likes the forest near the mountains and represents the products of such places such as gold, copper and metal. It also represents red coral.

Mercury
Mercury is the planet of intellect. He rules over speech and all forms of communication and therefore indicates our interaction with society. Mercury represents commerce, the act of doing business and trade.

Mercury is the prince, the future King, and therefore can be youthful and playful in nature. He represents the enjoyment found through humor, cleverness and wit. In his more matured state he brings discrimination and through this discrimination wisdom.

Mercury rules over knowledge, education, writing, research and calculations. Mercury is the fastest moving, most mutable planet which indicates its facility, quick comprehension and ease. In his purest state he is not influenced by the emotions, he is an aspect of the purely informational, rational mind.

This nature also leads it toward travels, an interest in pleasures and entertainment. He has a fondness for mathematics, astrology, business, literature and handcrafts – all things which require creative thought and are supported by a sharp mind.

Since his nature is somewhat unstable and he is very easily influenced by the planets which surround him. As Mercury rules over the nervous system, when it is unfavorably influenced it may bring worry, nervousness, restlessness and anxiety.

Jupiter
Jupiter is the majestic ruler of the skies who presides over the heavens as the lord of righteousness, justice, knowledge and good judgment. His lofty status as prime minister and celestial father symbolizes wisdom and expansion. His rulership is a victory over materialism, for while wealth and good fortune fall within his domain his supreme path is the search for truth. His interest is in the building of good character and sound ethics, he is idealistic, optimistic and always hopeful. This hopefulness is his most benevolent qualities since hope is the nature of godliness.

Jupiter is the planet which allows one to attract and keep the company of spiritual people. It represents children, ministers, teachers, enthusiasm, devotion, kindness and wealth. His divine grace is supposed to remove the greatest of obstacles which may appear in a chart, revealing the role of providence due to past meritorious deeds. He brings ease of life and comfort of living so, to some extent, he may also bring laziness.

Jupiter’s magnetism brings a jovial nature, congeniality, sincerity and honesty and promotes a practical observance of the rules of life. He is very traditional and conservative and strongly given to moral and religious sentiments. It may be difficult to see the conservatism since he is so generous, noble and charitable toward others. As a planet of economics and business activities he supports professional work rather than menial jobs. He is likely to be an advisor, consultant, teacher, banker, benefactor, philanthropist or priest. One who works to alleviate human suffering. His presence is found in the charts of lawyers and judges.

Jupiter rules the stomach, especially the lower intestines, as well as the liver, fats and the arterial system. His kapha body is prone toward the easy accumulation of fat. He rules over tin, sometimes copper, gold, yellow sapphire and has an indirect rulership over coal because of it’s relationship with the gems he prefers.

He governs over religious places, temples, religious acts and sacrifices, learned assemblies, treasure houses, banks, insurance organizations and fortunes.

Venus
Venus gives us our sense of beauty and elegance. It is the planet of friendliness, warmth of heart and happiness and indicates both our enjoyments in life and our comforts of living. In a higher sense it is the refined sensitivity which elevates the mind. In a lower sense it the sensualist, enjoying leisureliness, passions and desires. It is creative and charming has the ability to draw people in with its magnetism and it gives balance in dealing with people as well.

Venus is aesthetic in nature, it is the planet which enjoys the arts, dramatics, singing, dancing, music and poetry. It holds a sense of luxury and refinement. It seeks to create beauty and comfort within the home through decoration, design and color. It also loves to express itself in terms of clothing, jewelry or any type of ornamentation of the body. It is also an indicator of wealth and is capable as an advisor in material matters.

Venus aspires toward the good, it has pure devotion toward truth even though it is said to be the guru to the asuras, the demons. It teaches its lessons through the use of charm, warmth and friendliness.

Venus is the indicator for silks, diamonds and all luxury items. It rules places where pleasure and amusement are attained.

Saturn
Saturn is a planet of truth and detachment. His essential purpose is to temper the ego, it attacks our weak points to broaden and define the scope of our character, driving us toward maturity. He does this by creating delays, obstacles, tensions, losses and suffering in our lives. He teaches the art of sacrifice by which mankind is able to reach higher stages of evolution.

He is pragmatic and practical in nature, hardworking and steadfast with a strong sense of righteousness. He has a sense of duty toward man and God but will only take this course once he is assured of his own security. Saturn gives us the fortitude to do difficult work and the strength to meet the arduous struggles of life. He gives democratic ideals, is oriented toward humanitarianism, sympathy and philosophical truths. He does not seek visibility, he prefers seclusion.

Saturn is careful in speech, disciplined, prudent and patient, but maintains a certain amount of stubbornness. He has a sense of self-control, concentration and diplomacy but he can be pessimistic, gloomy, separate and aloof.

He is an interpreter of the law and focused on justice with a concern for fairness, right attitude and right conduct. All of these traits make Saturn an indicator for the profession and the direction it will take. When strong, Saturn can bring all-around prosperity and position in life. He is also an indicator for longevity.

Physically Saturn is thick, lazy, dirty and slow by nature. He is lean and tall with ugly teeth, long nails and sharp eyes. Being cold and contracting he produces lingering diseases like rheumatism, nervous disorders, tumors, cancers and paralysis. He governs the joints, spleen, spinal column, teeth, knees and the lower portion of the legs and the gastric nerve. He also rules waste materials; urine, stool and phlegm.

Rahu and Ketu
Rahu is the north node of the moon and Ketu is the south node of the Moon. Rahu is said to be the head of Naga, the god-demon who takes the form of a snake, and Ketu is said to be the tail. The nodes are the only “planets” which can eclipse the Sun and the Moon, therefore they are considered shadowy or poisonous in nature, capable of darkening the light of the luminaries. Their nature is very difficult to pinpoint because they behave like smoke, as though they are there but not really there.

Rahu is said to behave like Saturn and Ketu like Mars. Like all poisons they can be used for good, i.e., as medicine but, on the other hand, they are usually involved whereever major diseases, illnesses or accidents occur. They are planets of misjudgment, they don’t follow logic so they take you in the wrong direction to teach their lessons.

Rahu is connected with expansion, it is sometimes called the negative Jupiter, but this expansion brings in new ideas, new interests, fads and novelties which, when unchecked can become fanaticism, obsession or excessive materialism. Rahu seeks stability but can bring unexpected changes, interest in foreign things as well as love and intrigue with somewhat unsavory people. He will take you quickly to heaven or hell depending on which path you choose to follow.

Ketu brings more disorganization and rejection of the material world and is considered more poisonous than Rahu. He makes unrealistic opportunities seem real. He is more strange and eccentric, associated with mischief and possibly malefic intent. This disorganization thus forces one to become self-reliant, the uncertainties make one rely on their inner experience of God thus making them more spiritual. So Ketu is considered to be a planet of mysticism and spirituality which leads people toward liberation, but it may do so as a result of suffering.

When either of the nodes are prominent in a chart they can attract spirits, entities, unusual and unconventional interactions and events. Strange things may happen to people.

The nodes rule over skin and blood diseases, cholera, small pox, boils, epilepsy, malaria and plague. Ketu rules over fires, mining and mining problems. They are also indicators for the grandparents.

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