Graha means "seizer." This is the term used in Indian astrology to refer to the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu (north node), and Ketu (south node). These grahas are said to seize us—they exert a powerful influence on our lives. This perspective is quite different from that of Western astrology, where planets are often seen as mere symbols reflecting our free will and choices. (We’ll explore why that view is problematic later.)
Anugraha means favor, kindness, or the act of bestowing benefits. This is a more constructive way to relate to the grahas. When we accept that the planets can indeed compel us, we can begin to engage with them in a meaningful dialogue. Naturally, it's easier to engage with 'kind' planets than with 'cruel' ones. But it's important to understand that planetary harshness isn't without purpose—cruelty in this context often serves a higher, corrective function. The grahas, even the difficult ones, act with our long-term well-being in mind.
In Indian astrology, cruel planets outnumber the kind ones. Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu, the Sun, and the waxing Moon are considered cruel (krura), while Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and the waning Moon are seen as kind (sauyma). If we don't even acknowledge their influence, how can we hope to respond to or work with it?
To ignore or deny the power the planets hold over us is to fall into nigraha—a state of concealment, occlusion, imprisonment, subjugation, or restraint.
When we refuse to have intimate conversations with ourselves and others, conversations that are reflected in the planets in our birth charts, they continue to influence us but in a different way; they begin to become harsher to get our attention.
Every single impulse that arises within you, whether subtle or obvious, is a graha expressing itself through you. But when you turn your awareness to yourself, you begin to realise that you are as much a graha as the planets; you possess them as much as they possess you!
Anugraha means favor, kindness, or the act of bestowing benefits. This is a more constructive way to relate to the grahas. When we accept that the planets can indeed compel us, we can begin to engage with them in a meaningful dialogue. Naturally, it's easier to engage with 'kind' planets than with 'cruel' ones. But it's important to understand that planetary harshness isn't without purpose—cruelty in this context often serves a higher, corrective function. The grahas, even the difficult ones, act with our long-term well-being in mind.
In Indian astrology, cruel planets outnumber the kind ones. Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu, the Sun, and the waxing Moon are considered cruel (krura), while Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and the waning Moon are seen as kind (sauyma). If we don't even acknowledge their influence, how can we hope to respond to or work with it?
To ignore or deny the power the planets hold over us is to fall into nigraha—a state of concealment, occlusion, imprisonment, subjugation, or restraint.
When we refuse to have intimate conversations with ourselves and others, conversations that are reflected in the planets in our birth charts, they continue to influence us but in a different way; they begin to become harsher to get our attention.
Every single impulse that arises within you, whether subtle or obvious, is a graha expressing itself through you. But when you turn your awareness to yourself, you begin to realise that you are as much a graha as the planets; you possess them as much as they possess you!
