A mirror to life, not a certainty
Girija S. Joshi
Astrology is a mirror to life. It is a guideline, not a guarantee — it is certainly not 100% correct, and no discipline is. But it helps within limits, the same way psychology, economics, and psychiatry do. Nothing is ever absolutely final or completely certain, though the chances of a prediction coming right are good, generally cited around 70%. Character analysis through astrology often helps too. Astrology is not a crutch to lean on — it is a tool to heal one's self.
The Nine Grahas
According to the Vedas, the planets are the instruments of God, through which the law of karma operates. The Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu are the nine "Grahas" — a Sanskrit word meaning "to grab" or "to hold."
The ancient scripture Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra explains that Vishnu incarnated as the Navagrahas to deliver the results of a person's karma, sustain the strength of the Devas, and establish Dharma, the cosmic order. Beyond their physical mass and gravitational pull, the grahas are understood as fields of subtle psychic energy — each with its own vibratory frequency, colour, element, and personality, with likes, dislikes, friendships, and rivalries of its own. Every person carries a unique combination of these energies, which shapes character, preferences, and behaviour.
Interestingly, Vedic astrology does not use the outer planets — Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto — even though ancient texts like the Mahabharata make references that some scholars connect to their positions.