Days of the Week

1. To do that remember the first lesson in three parts: start counting the weekdays – Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. These seven days represent seven planets – Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.

2. In Hindu astrology we make use of two other planets, called the shadowy planets, called Rahu and Ketu. This gives you a total of nine planets. It is why we have the famous navagraha stotra or worship of nine planets.

Note : In Hindu astrology we do not use, Uranus (Herschel), Pluto and Neptune. In the scheme of stotra these planets have no place, though an American has given mantras for these three planets also in his book which is not given in any book of Hindu astrology we have or know of.

Note : Now, also remember the sacred number 108 which are the number of beads we have in the garland, of tulasi or rudraksha with which we do our japam.

3. The part of the first lesson is: there are 27 Nakshatras or Asterisms or Lunar mansions that we make use of in Hindu astrology. It is a very remarkable, brilliant and subtle division which is being explained later.

Each nakshatra has four equal parts. Again you will see that twenty-seven multiplied by four gives you one hundred and eight number (108) which are the number of beads we have in the garland, of tulasi or rudraksha with which we do our japam.

Now see all this in the table given here:

Name of Day Ruler of the Day

1. Ravivar or Sunday                       1. Ravi, Surya, Bhanu or Sun

2. Somavar or Monday                 2. Chandra, Indu or Moon or Luna

3. Mangalvar orTuesday                3. Mangal, Kuja or Mars

4. Budhavar or Wednesday         4. Budha or Mercury

5. Brihaspativar or Thursday        5. Guru, Brihaspati or Jupiter

6. Shukravar or Friday                    6. Shukra, Bhargava or Venus

7. Shanivar or Saturday                  7. Saturn, Shani, or Manda

Note : No days are allotted for Rahu or Ketu. South Indian astrologers allot a specified time on each of the days for Rahu and call it Rahukalam during which time they avoid all auspicious work.

Note : Rahu and Ketu cannot be seen through any telescope like other planets. Yet, how effective and accurate is their use in Hindu astrology clearly proves that the ancient rishis combined their knowledge of physical sciences with metaphysical  knowledge which we call Yogic.