Among all the planets Mercury is nearest to Sun. It revolves round the Sun in 88 days. Its diameter is nearly 3,200 miles. Mythological Mercury was known as Thoth, Hermes and “The Messenger of Gods”. It was usually portrayed as a youth, flying with wings at his heels, bearing a caduceus made of…

Jupiter the mighty planet is called a giant of the solar system. It has a diameter of 88,000 miles. Jupiter takes a little less than twelve years to go once round the Sun. Mythologically, Jupiter is the preceptor of Gods. Old Greeks considered Jupiter as the father of Gods-Zeus. Egyptians call Mm Ammon.…

Saturn is called ‘Sanaischara’ as it moves along the Zodiac leisurely and more slowly than other planets. He is the outermost planet amongst the planets recognised by Hindu Astrology. Saturn is smaller than Jupiter and his diameter is around 75,000 miles. Saturn takes 291/2 years to go round the Sun. Hence on an average…

Venus is much closer to the Sun than the Earth. The size of Venus is similar to that of the Earth. Venus has a diameter of 7,600 miles. Venus can never be more than 48 degrees away from the Sun. Venus is the brightest planet in the solar system. Mythologically, Venus is considered…

Rahu and Ketu are called shadowy planets by our ancients. They are not substantial heavenly bodies with an observable body shape or mass like the Sun, Moon and other planets. Hindu mythology has in its characteristic way symbolized these two parts of a single body. According to a Puranic story after churning of…