Grahas are the bedrock of Jyotiṣa. Plain and Simple. Understanding the nature and behavior of the Grahas therefore is the only way to unravel the mystery and enigma called Jyotiṣa.
Every single element manisfested or otherwise falls under the purview (Kārakatva) of one of these Grahas.
Krura, Saumya
Most beginners and even some experienced Jyotiṣis fall prey to classifying Grahas into benefic and malefic. This, in my opinion, is the most fundamental error that they make. Grahas are nothing but the manisfested form of the Devatās, the celestial beings, who in turn are chartered with chaperoning us mere mortals from ignorance to ultimate truth.
Krura is often equated to cruelty and malficence which is is not. Krura is the masculine-survialist-side of our nature that brings it with a unique toolset that helps us better ourselves on the outside. The brave, forceful, independent, rational yet risk taking, action oriented side side that is responsible for all worldly progress the absence of which would mean extiction through decay and disintegration. Saumya, the flip side of the coin, is equated with beneficence, which is not correct either. Saumya is the feminine-nurturing-side of us with its own unique tooolset that helps us better our innerselves. The tender, content, relational, emotional and receptive side that helps steadfastly works towards re-aligning us to the divine whole that we emanated from in the first place. Absence of Saumya energy would be a one-way man-eat-man ticket to self-annihilation.
Below is order of the Grahas from the Saumya end of the spectrum to the Krura end. The shade changes from Saumya to Krura starting with Ketu. Mercury and Moon find a place on either side of the divide with the full / waxing Moon being classified as Saumya and the dark / waning moon being classified as Krura. Mercury being the malleable prince of the celestial kindom is influenced by the company it keeps. It is innately Saumya and stays so in company of the other Sauyma Grahas. When with Krura Grahas, Mercury switches over to the Krura side of the spectrum.
Jupiter, Venus, Full Moon, Mercury (by itself or with Saumya Grahas), Waxing Moon, Ketu, Waning Moon, Waning Moon, Mercury (with Krura Grahas), Dark Moon, Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu.
Gunas, Doshas, Dhatus
| Planet | Guna | Dosha | Dhatu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Sattva | Pitta | Mula (organic) |
| Moon | Sattva | Kapha, Vata | Mula (organic) |
| Mars | Tamas | Pitta | Dhatu (inorganic) |
| Mercury | Rajas | Pitta, Kapha, Vata | Jiva (living beings) |
| Jupiter | Sattva | Kapha | Jiva (living beings) |
| Venus | Rajas | Kapha, Vata | Mula (organic) |
| Saturn | Tamas | Vata | Dhatu (inorganic) |
| Rahu | Tamas | – | Dhatu (inorganic) |
| Ketu | Tamas | – | – |
Elements
| Planet | Element | Dry/Wet |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Fire | Dry |
| Moon | Water | Wet |
| Mars | Fire | Dry |
| Mercury | Earth | – |
| Jupiter | Ether | Wet |
| Venus | Water | Wet |
| Saturn | Air | Dry |
| Rahu | – | – |
| Ketu | – | – |
Miscellaneous
| Planet | Sense | Tissue | Motivation | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Sight | Bones | Dand (Punishment) | Average |
| Moon | Taste | Blood | Daam (Temptation) | Short |
| Mars | Sight | Marrow & Muscle | Dand (Punishment) | Short |
| Mercury | Smell | Skin | Diplomacy (Bhed) | Short |
| Jupiter | Hearing | Fat | Saam (Counsel) | Tall |
| Venus | Taste | Semen/Ovum | Saam (Counsel) | Average |
| Saturn | Touch | Nerve | Diplomacy (Bhed) | Tall |
| Rahu | – | – | Tall | |
| Ketu | – | – | Tall |
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