Graha Drishti — Planetary Aspects

If Western astrology has aspects (angles), Vedic astrology has Drishti, or the 'planet's gaze'. It's the way a planet looks at other houses and casts its influence from where it sits.

There's one basic rule — Every planet looks at the seventh house from where it sits. But three planets also have special aspects. Mars looks at the 4th, 7th, and 8th; Jupiter looks at the 5th, 7th, and 9th; Saturn looks at the 3rd, 7th, and 10th. (Rahu and Ketu's special aspects vary by school of thought, so here we only use their default 7th.)

Why does this matter? Because a planet doesn't need to sit directly in a house to influence it — just looking at it is enough. For example, even if Jupiter isn't in House 5 (creativity, children), as long as it looks at House 5, that area gets infused with Jupiter's wisdom and expansiveness. If Saturn gazes at a house, that house takes on weight and discipline.

Without Drishti, a chart looks like a collection of twelve isolated boxes. Only once you add Drishti do planets and houses connect into a single web of mutual gazes. If Bhava Lords 'link' houses, Drishti 'illuminates' them.