What this is, and what it is not
Indian tradition links each of the nine planets with a day of the week, a group of colours and a direction. Many families keep to these in small ways: a fast or a prayer on a particular day, a shade chosen for an interview, or a desk turned to face a certain way. This calculator finds your birth planet and shows what tradition links to it.
It is a tradition and a matter of custom. It is not a prediction, it makes no promise of luck or money, and the astrology literature does not agree on every colour. Where families or teachers differ, follow them.
How your birth planet is chosen
There is no single “birth planet” in Jyotish, so the calculator gives four, and you pick which comes first.
- Moon sign lord. The planet that rules your Moon sign (rashi). This is the usual starting point in Indian astrology, because the Moon sign is the one used for names, matching and the daily rashifal. See the Moon sign calculator.
- Rising sign lord. The planet that rules your lagna, the sign rising at birth. This needs the time of birth. See the Ascendant calculator.
- Birth nakshatra lord. The Vimshottari lord of the nakshatra the Moon was in, the same planet that starts your dasha sequence. See the Nakshatra calculator.
- Weekday lord. The planet of the day you were born. In the Hindu day count, the weekday runs from sunrise to sunrise, so someone born before sunrise takes the previous weekday. The calculator makes that adjustment.
Scorpio and Aquarius have two lords in the classical scheme, and this tool uses Mars and Saturn for them, as the other tools on this site do.
The planet table
The traditional links are these. Colours are shades, not strict rules.
| Planet | Weekday | Colours | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Sunday | Red, orange, saffron, copper | East |
| Moon | Monday | White, cream, silver | North-west |
| Mars | Tuesday | Red, maroon, coral | South |
| Mercury | Wednesday | Green | North |
| Jupiter | Thursday | Yellow, saffron gold | North-east |
| Venus | Friday | White, cream, pink, pastels | South-east |
| Saturn | Saturday | Black, dark blue, indigo | West |
| Rahu | Saturday in most customs | Smoky grey, charcoal, dark blue | South-west |
| Ketu | Tuesday in most customs | Brown, grey, mixed colours | None fixed |
The directions are those given to the planets in the eight direction scheme used in Vastu and in the layout of Navagraha shrines. Rahu and Ketu have no weekday of their own in the seven day week, so their days are customs that vary by region. Ketu has no direction of its own in the eight direction scheme, and some teachers give it the south-west beside Rahu.
How people use it
Some people wear the colour of their planet on its day, or pray or fast on that day, and some face the planet’s direction when they study or begin something new. If it gives you a quiet moment of intention, that is a fine reason to keep it. Nothing in the tradition says that a colour or direction outside your list is harmful, and it is wise to be cautious of anyone who says it is.
If you have the time of birth, enter it. Without it, the calculator uses the Moon at noon and tells you whether the Moon changes sign or nakshatra on that day, in which case the Moon sign or nakshatra lord needs your time. The Moon sign and nakshatra are sidereal, with the Lahiri ayanamsa. For worship on the day, the Navagraha mantras page has the traditional verses.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which planet should I follow, Moon sign lord or lagna lord?
There is no single rule. In India the Moon sign is the usual starting point, and many people follow the lagna lord as well. The calculator shows all four so you can see where they agree.
↳ Is this the same as lucky numbers or a lucky colour from numerology?
No. This page uses your birth chart and the planet tradition of Jyotish. Numerology picks a planet from your date of birth or name by a different method, so the result can differ.
↳ Will wearing the colour or facing the direction change my luck?
Nothing is promised. These are customs that many people find steadying. They are not a replacement for effort, advice or care, and no colour is harmful.
↳ Why do Rahu and Ketu have different days in different places?
The seven weekdays belong to the seven visible planets. Rahu and Ketu were later given days by custom, so regions and families differ. Use the one your family follows.
↳ What if I do not know my time of birth?
Tick the box. The Moon sign lord, nakshatra lord and weekday lord are still found, using noon, and the page tells you when the Moon moves during that day so the answer may depend on the time.