Are Rahu and Ketu real planets?

No — they are the two points where the Moon's orbit crosses the Sun's apparent path (the lunar nodes). They are treated as 'shadow planets' because eclipses occur near them.

Which planet is the most important?

It depends on your chart. Generally the Moon (mind) and the Lagna (rising sign) lord receive most weight, followed by the Sun and the lord of the 10th house for career.

Can wearing a gemstone really help?

Vedic tradition holds that gemstones channel a planet's frequency. Effects are subtle and depend on the gem's quality and your chart. Always consult a qualified astrologer before wearing one.

Vedic Astrology

Navagraha Mantras & Remedies

The nine planetary deities — their beej mantras, days, colors, gemstones, offerings and time-tested remedies for weak or afflicted planets.

Planet	Day	Color	Gemstone	Rules signs
Surya सूर्य	Sunday	Deep red / saffron	Ruby (Manik)	Leo (Simha)
Chandra चन्द्र	Monday	White / pearl	Pearl (Moti)	Cancer (Karka)
Mangala मङ्गल	Tuesday	Coral red	Red coral (Moonga)	Aries (Mesha), Scorpio (Vrischika)
Budha बुध	Wednesday	Green	Emerald (Panna)	Gemini (Mithuna), Virgo (Kanya)
Brihaspati बृहस्पति	Thursday	Yellow / gold	Yellow sapphire (Pukhraj)	Sagittarius (Dhanu), Pisces (Meena)
Shukra शुक्र	Friday	White / silver	Diamond (Heera)	Taurus (Vrishabha), Libra (Tula)
Shani शनि	Saturday	Black / dark blue	Blue sapphire (Neelam)	Capricorn (Makara), Aquarius (Kumbha)
Rahu राहु	Saturday (with Shani)	Smoky grey	Hessonite (Gomed)	(co-ruler of Aquarius — Kumbha)
Ketu केतु	Tuesday (with Mangala)	Ash / multicolor	Cat's eye (Lehsunia)	(co-ruler of Scorpio — Vrischika)

Sunday

Surya

सूर्य · Leo (Simha)

Soul, vitality, father, leadership, government, ego

Beej Mantra

ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रौं सः सूर्याय नमः

Oṃ Hrāṃ Hrīṃ Hrauṃ Saḥ Sūryāya Namaḥ

Color

Deep red / saffron

Gemstone

Ruby (Manik)

Metal

Gold / copper

Direction

East

Offerings

WheatJaggeryRed flowersCopperGhee lamp

Signs of affliction

•Low confidence and weak willpower
•Strained relationship with father / authority figures
•Frequent eye, heart, or bone issues
•Career stagnation, lack of recognition

Remedies

✦Offer Arghya (water) to the Sun at sunrise daily
✦Recite Aditya Hridaya Stotra on Sundays
✦Wear ruby in gold (after astrologer consultation)
✦Fast on Sundays — single meal without salt

Open full mantra page

Monday

Chandra

चन्द्र · Cancer (Karka)

Mind, emotions, mother, intuition, peace, water

Beej Mantra

ॐ श्रां श्रीं श्रौं सः चन्द्राय नमः

Oṃ Śrāṃ Śrīṃ Śrauṃ Saḥ Candrāya Namaḥ

Color

White / pearl

Gemstone

Pearl (Moti)

Metal

Silver

Direction

Northwest

Offerings

White flowersMilkRiceCamphorWhite sandalwood

Signs of affliction

•Mood swings, anxiety, restlessness
•Insomnia and disturbed sleep
•Strained bond with mother
•Emotional sensitivity, low resilience

Remedies

✦Offer milk to Shivling on Mondays
✦Wear pearl set in silver (with guidance)
✦Drink water from a silver glass
✦Meditate under moonlight on Purnima

Open full mantra page

Tuesday

Mangala

मङ्गल · Aries (Mesha), Scorpio (Vrischika)

Energy, courage, brothers, land, conflict, ambition

Beej Mantra

ॐ क्रां क्रीं क्रौं सः भौमाय नमः

Oṃ Krāṃ Krīṃ Krauṃ Saḥ Bhaumāya Namaḥ

Color

Coral red

Gemstone

Red coral (Moonga)

Metal

Copper / gold

Direction

South

Offerings

Red flowers (hibiscus)Masoor dalJaggeryRed sandalwood

Signs of affliction

•Anger, accidents, blood disorders
•Manglik dosha — marriage delays/conflicts
•Disputes over property and siblings
•Surgical issues, injuries

Remedies

✦Recite Hanuman Chalisa on Tuesdays
✦Donate red lentils and sweets
✦Visit Hanuman or Kartikeya temple weekly
✦Wear red coral in copper (with consultation)

Open full mantra page

Wednesday

Budha

बुध · Gemini (Mithuna), Virgo (Kanya)

Intellect, communication, business, learning, skin

Beej Mantra

ॐ ब्रां ब्रीं ब्रौं सः बुधाय नमः

Oṃ Brāṃ Brīṃ Brauṃ Saḥ Budhāya Namaḥ

Color

Green

Gemstone

Emerald (Panna)

Metal

Bronze

Direction

North

Offerings

Green moongDurva grassGreen vegetablesTulsi leaves

Signs of affliction

•Speech and communication issues
•Poor concentration, indecision
•Skin disorders, nervous problems
•Losses in business and trade

Remedies

✦Worship Lord Vishnu on Wednesdays
✦Donate green moong and books to students
✦Wear emerald in gold (with guidance)
✦Plant or care for a Tulsi plant

Open full mantra page

Thursday

Brihaspati

बृहस्पति · Sagittarius (Dhanu), Pisces (Meena)

Wisdom, dharma, teachers, children, wealth, marriage (for women)

Beej Mantra

ॐ ग्रां ग्रीं ग्रौं सः गुरवे नमः

Oṃ Grāṃ Grīṃ Grauṃ Saḥ Gurave Namaḥ

Color

Yellow / gold

Gemstone

Yellow sapphire (Pukhraj)

Metal

Gold

Direction

Northeast

Offerings

Yellow flowersChana dalTurmericBananaGhee

Signs of affliction

•Lack of wisdom and good counsel
•Delays in marriage (especially for women)
•Issues with children, fertility
•Liver, pancreas, weight problems

Remedies

✦Fast on Thursdays — yellow food only
✦Worship Vishnu / Brihaspati / Guru
✦Donate yellow lentils, turmeric, banana
✦Wear yellow sapphire in gold (with consultation)

Open full mantra page

Friday

Shukra

शुक्र · Taurus (Vrishabha), Libra (Tula)

Love, beauty, marriage, luxury, art, vehicles

Beej Mantra

ॐ द्रां द्रीं द्रौं सः शुक्राय नमः

Oṃ Drāṃ Drīṃ Drauṃ Saḥ Śukrāya Namaḥ

Color

White / silver

Gemstone

Diamond (Heera)

Metal

Silver / platinum

Direction

Southeast

Offerings

White flowersCurdSugarWhite sandalwoodPerfume

Signs of affliction

•Marital discord, lack of harmony in love
•Loss of beauty, charm, comfort
•Reproductive and urinary issues
•Lack of wealth and luxuries

Remedies

✦Worship Goddess Lakshmi on Fridays
✦Offer white flowers and sugar to Devi
✦Donate white clothes and sweets
✦Wear diamond or white sapphire (with guidance)

Open full mantra page

Saturday

Shani

शनि · Capricorn (Makara), Aquarius (Kumbha)

Karma, discipline, longevity, justice, hard work, servants

Beej Mantra

ॐ प्रां प्रीं प्रौं सः शनैश्चराय नमः

Oṃ Prāṃ Prīṃ Prauṃ Saḥ Śanaiścarāya Namaḥ

Color

Black / dark blue

Gemstone

Blue sapphire (Neelam)

Metal

Iron

Direction

West

Offerings

Black sesameMustard oilBlack urad dalIron itemsBlack cloth

Signs of affliction

•Sade Sati or Dhaiya troubles
•Chronic delays, obstacles, depression
•Joint pain, bone issues, premature aging
•Loss of job, sudden setbacks

Remedies

✦Light mustard-oil lamp under Peepal tree on Saturdays
✦Recite Hanuman Chalisa daily
✦Donate black sesame, urad dal, iron, mustard oil
✦Serve the elderly, poor, and laborers

Open full mantra page

Saturday (with Shani)

Rahu

राहु · (co-ruler of Aquarius — Kumbha)

Illusion, foreign lands, technology, sudden gains, obsession

Beej Mantra

ॐ भ्रां भ्रीं भ्रौं सः राहवे नमः

Oṃ Bhrāṃ Bhrīṃ Bhrauṃ Saḥ Rāhave Namaḥ

Color

Smoky grey

Gemstone

Hessonite (Gomed)

Metal

Lead / mixed

Direction

Southwest

Offerings

Black urad dalCoconutSesameBlue/black cloth

Signs of affliction

•Sudden anxieties, phobias, addictions
•Mysterious illnesses, mental confusion
•Legal troubles, betrayal, scandals
•Restlessness, insatiable desires

Remedies

✦Recite Durga Saptashati or Kalabhairava mantra
✦Donate coconut and black urad on Saturdays
✦Feed dogs and crows
✦Avoid second-hand items in bedroom

Open full mantra page

Tuesday (with Mangala)

Ketu

केतु · (co-ruler of Scorpio — Vrischika)

Moksha, detachment, spirituality, past karma, mysticism

Beej Mantra

ॐ स्रां स्रीं स्रौं सः केतवे नमः

Oṃ Srāṃ Srīṃ Srauṃ Saḥ Ketave Namaḥ

Color

Ash / multicolor

Gemstone

Cat's eye (Lehsunia)

Metal

Mixed

Direction

—

Offerings

Sesame seedsMulticolored flowersCoconutGrey blanket

Signs of affliction

•Confusion, sudden losses, isolation
•Skin diseases, mysterious ailments
•Spiritual restlessness, disconnection
•Accidents, surgeries

Remedies

✦Worship Lord Ganesha on Wednesdays
✦Recite Ketu beej mantra 17,000 times in 40 days
✦Donate blankets and sesame to the poor
✦Feed dogs, especially black ones

Open full mantra page

Before wearing gemstones

Gemstone remedies and fasting practices should ideally be undertaken after consulting a qualified Vedic astrologer who has examined your full birth chart. Mantras, prayers and offerings are universally beneficial and may be practiced by anyone with sincerity.

Learn

The Navagraha — nine planets of Vedic astrology

Navagraha means "nine seizers" — the nine celestial influences that Vedic Jyotish uses to interpret destiny. These are the seven classical visible planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn) plus the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. Each governs specific life areas, body systems, gemstones, mantras and remedial practices.

The seven planets

Surya (Sun) rules vitality and the soul; Chandra (Moon) the mind and emotions; Mangal (Mars) drive and courage; Budha (Mercury) intellect and speech; Guru (Jupiter) wisdom and dharma; Shukra (Venus) love and the arts; Shani (Saturn) discipline, karma and longevity.

Rahu and Ketu — the lunar nodes

Rahu (north node) and Ketu (south node) are not physical planets but mathematical points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic. Rahu represents worldly ambition, foreign influences and obsession; Ketu represents detachment, spirituality and past-life tendencies. Together they describe the karmic axis of your chart.

Remedies and worship

Each Graha has dedicated mantras, beej syllables, gemstones, colours and weekday observances. Strengthening a benefic Graha or softening a malefic one is the heart of Vedic remedial astrology (Upaya). See our mantras section for the Navagraha mantras.

Frequently asked questions

Are Rahu and Ketu real planets?: No — they are the two points where the Moon's orbit crosses the Sun's apparent path (the lunar nodes). They are treated as 'shadow planets' because eclipses occur near them.
Which planet is the most important?: It depends on your chart. Generally the Moon (mind) and the Lagna (rising sign) lord receive most weight, followed by the Sun and the lord of the 10th house for career.
Can wearing a gemstone really help?: Vedic tradition holds that gemstones channel a planet's frequency. Effects are subtle and depend on the gem's quality and your chart. Always consult a qualified astrologer before wearing one.