Navagraha 'The Major Nine Planets

What does it signify? Do these planets have any influence on the earth? How can one define these influences ?
During the Vedic Era, the Sages and the Saints known as Rishis and Munis used to calculate the time from the sunrise till sunset by viewing the shadows. During night time they used the stars positions to judge the time of the moment. Unlike these days they never had any clock and measuring instruments, yet they were far more accurate in finding the planetary positions and their movements. What they found is astonishingly accurate to today's developed science and technology.

They identified the planets and its influence on the earth and its particles so precisely that each planet has some relative element in its existence. Listed below are some of the links and examples that are quite relevant to Astrology and its notions.

Sun being the largest star in our Solar system, while passing its rays to the earth, also touches many other planets before entering into the earth's atmosphere. Thus radiation emanated from the Sun is a mixture of rays with contamination from other planets. These mixed rays are suitable for some and not so for others, whether human or otherwise.

To overcome these problems they found simple solutions from nature itself and discovered that each planet is, in one or other way linked to the nature, viz. tree, plants, grain, mineral and color too. They precisely found the links and identified it with remarkable influences.

For instance, wheat is identified with Sun and if a person has the Star Sun placed in a weaker position, then he is advised to substitute wheat with other food items. This is a corrective measure which helped the sufferer from the ill effects of the planet/star.

Like wise, for each planet they marked a particular grain, mineral, metal, tree or plant, color and flower. Within my limited knowledge, I give below the list of each planet and its relative substance on the earth. 0ne can then easily understand why an astrologer suggests some gem or other to weed off the ill effects of a specific planet. I am giving hereunder the sample stones also for one to recognize.

Alright. Now what about its effects and influences on humans? How can one be sure which color or stone suites someone best? What effect these gems will have on a person?

Let us study these points one by one. First, let us discuss the planet Saturn. People in general tend to fear saying this planet's name and are scared once they find that they are under the influence of Saturn (Saade Sathi or the so called Seven and half years period of Saturn's cycle).

Planet ----- Color ---- Gem ----------- Grain ----- Metal
Sun ----- Cherry ---- Ruby ----------- Wheat ------- Bronze
Moon ----- White ---- Pearl ----------- Rice ------- Lead
Mars ----- Red ---- Coral ----------Red Lentil----- Copper
Mercury ---- Green ----Emerald--------GreenGram----Mercury
Jupiter ----- Yellow --Yellow Sapphire--Chana Dal -----Gold
Venus ------White ---- Diamond------ Soya Gram -----Silver
Saturn ------Black ---Blue Sapphire--Sesame(Gingili)--Iron & Steel
Rahu ------Blue ------- Zircon ----- Black Gram----- Rocks- Blackstone
Ketu -----Multi-color-- Cat's Eye----- Horse gram -------Red Let