Grahas in Vedic Astrology

Astrological planets are called GRAHAS in Vedic Astrology.

The Sanskrit word GRAHA captures the idea that these nine grahas are living energies which put out waves of energy.

These waves of energy affect our awareness. The active power of these celestial energies is to seize (grab) our consciousness when we come under their influence or to take hold of what we focus on... This is how GRAHAS affect us (in the astrological sense).

Any celestial body that has above qualities will be a GRAHA - be it a planet (mars, jupiter...etc), Star (Sun), Satellite (moon) or shadow (rahu and Ketu).

Those who understand this concept of graha can understand why Vedic Astrology prescribes MANTRA chanting to turn a graha's energy positive in our life or to strengthen the positive energies of a graha in our life.

Word "Planet" is an unfortunate translation to use for GRAHAS in astrological context.

Greeks invented the word planet to mean "that which wanders in the sky".

Sun or Moon have a very organised motion, they do not seem to  wander as seen from earth. Greeks never intented to call SUN a planet. They never intended to call either Moon a planet.

Europeans, when they borrowed knowledge from Greece and  Arab in the renaissance period, they started to use the word planet for all the celestial enties that have astrological influence on us.