
Planets
There are nine “planets” in Indian astrology: Only five of them are planets, one is a star, one is a moon, and the remaining two (Rahu and Ketu) are special astronomical points where the Sun and Moon eclipses occur
True Planet: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are classified as true planets for determining planetary war and combustion and in Yogas.
Everyone is familiar with the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn.
The other two elements included in Vedic Astrology are Rahu and Ketu, known as the North and South Lunar nodes. Rahu and Ketu do not have physical substance, they are astronomical positions where the Sun and Moon are eclipsed
The Sanskrit word “Graha” means “that which grasps.” The Grahas grasp our consciousness, and the astrological condition of a particular Graha represents our state of consciousness in the areas of life “held” by that Graha. The nine Grahas (planets) are called Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (Northern lunar node), and Ketu (Southern lunar node). These names are listed in Sanskrit, to encourage you to become familiar with their original names. The Sanskrit names/sounds are said to correspond more accurately to the actual properties of the Grahas. For example, when you consistently use the term “Shukra” your brain will be able to get to the true significance better than when you use “Venus”. Most texts on Jyotish use the word “planets” instead of Grahas. Since the Sun, the Moon, Rahu, and Ketu are technically not planets, it is more correct to call them Grahas.
The Grahas are divided into two groups, according to their general auspicious or inauspicious effects. The Sanskrit terms used to label these two groups are “Saumya” (benefic) and “Krura” (malefic). Surya (the Sun), Shani (Saturn), Mangal (Mars), waning Chandra (the Moon), Rahu, and Ketu are all classified as malefics. The waxing Chandra (the Moon), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter) and Shukra (Venus) are classified as benefics. When Mercury is in the same sign as another malefic, it is considered to be a malefic also. Most Grahas are fixed in nature. Only Chandra (Moon) and Budha (Mercury) can be affected by their specific placement in the chart. The Moon is benefic when bright.
In my chart, the Moon is waning, and 191:35:56 degrees from the Sun. It is therefore a malefic. Mercury is conjunct benefic Venus and therefore is considered benefic.

Traditional Vedic astrology does not consider the influences of Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto
Each Graha (planet) represents certain facets of human life.
SUN is SURYA signifies the soul and father
MOON is CHANDRA signifies the mind and mother
MARS is MANGALA signifies energy and activity and accidents
MERCURY is BUDHA signifies intellect and speech
JUPITER is GURU signifies knowledge and spiritual nature
VENUS is SHUKRA signifies the manifestation of beauty and enjoyment
SATURN is SHANI signifies discipline and hard lessons including loss
The NORTH NODE is RAHU signifying present Karma, desire, spiritual blessings and sacrifice. In which house Rahu sits determines the target of your desire that can be a blessing or a curse
THE SOUTH NODE is KETU signifying past Karma, spiritual power (siddhis) and Poison. In which house Ketu sits determines how that Karma manifests that can be a blessing or a curse. Ketu will make you a saint by fair means or foul.
The position of Planets in particular Houses form Astrological Yogas that tell about the nobility and character of the individual
The first of these yoga combinations are the Pancha Mahapurusha Yogas, the ‘five combinations of a great being’, which exist when Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus in a horoscope occupies its own or exaltation constellation an angular or trinal house. The yogas formed by each called Ruchaka (Mars: ‘luster, splendor, desire, taste’), Bhadra (Mercury), Hamsa (Jupiter ‘goose’ or ‘swan’), Malatya (Venus, ‘a resident of the India known as Malava’) and Shasta (Saturn, ‘hare’) Yogas respective
Here is a summary of the effects of the five Pancha Mahapurusha Yogas (extracted from Phaladipika 6:2-4):
The person born in Ruchaka Yoga (Mars) will have a long face, will acquire wealth by doing many daring deeds, will be brave, will overcome enemies, and will be powerful and arrogant. He [sic] will become renowned for his merits, will be a leader of an army, and will emerge victorious in all his attempts.
The person born in Bhadra Yoga (Mercury) will be gifted with long life intellect (buddbi), will be clean, will be praised by the learned, will be very rich, and will be clever in addressing an assembly.
The person born in Hamsa Yoga (Jupiter) has a fair complexion, prominent cheeks, beautiful face and will possess a beautiful body, with a skin of golden luster, will eat sumptuous food, and be of righteous disposition. The voice is sweet like that of a swan. The person is of a Kapha constitution and has a fondness of water sports. The sexual urge is insatiable. The person has a thirst for Knowledge and sacred scriptures, is virtuous, doing good for others and is blessed with a beautiful wife. Enjoying a variety of physical and material comforts he will leave this world at the age of 100 in a forest
The person born in Malavya Yoga will have strong limbs, will be resolute, wealthy and endowed with wife, children and good fortune, will be prosperous, will eat good food, enjoy pleasures and command good vehicles, and will become famous and learned. He will possess unperturbed senses.
The person born in Shasha Yoga will be extolled by all, will have good servants, will be strong, will be a king or the headman of a village, will be wicked in disposition, will have intrigues with women not his own, will usurp others’ wealth, and will be happy.
These and other yogas occur fairly frequently, but every has them does not enjoy their effects in full, and some do not enjoy their effects at all, except perhaps in their dreams. It all depends on the strength and position of the yogas. The less such a yoga is interfered with by the impact of other grahas, particularly malefics, the more the native will experience its energies. A Ruchaka Yoga, for example, is one thing when Mars is aspected by its friend Jupiter alone, and quite another when it is aspected by its enemy Saturn, and is conjoined with Rahu.
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Julie Smith Mercury in Ascendant Bhadra Mahapurusha Yoga