Graha
A 'planet' in Vedic astrology — the nine grahas including the Sun, Moon and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu.
Graha literally means 'that which seizes or grasps'. The nine grahas are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, plus the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. The Sun and Moon are counted as planets (luminaries), and the outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not part of classical Vedic astrology.
Each graha signifies certain people, qualities and areas of life — for example the Sun for the father and authority, the Moon for the mind and mother, Jupiter for wisdom and growth. They are read by the sign and house they occupy, the aspects they cast, and the company they keep.
A graha's condition is judged by strength (exaltation, debilitation, retrograde, combustion) and by formal measures like shadbala. Much of chart reading is simply assessing each graha's state and how the grahas relate to one another.
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