To Nanda about Nine Planet Upayas - A sankalpa for Mother Earth

[Guest guest]

Devananda wrote to Nanda:

> This is wonderful. But besides Sun and Moon, I don't know what the

> other planets are. Can you say which are which?

Nanda wrote back: > > *Surya*Sun> > *Chandra*Moon> > *Mangala*Mars> >

*Buddha*Mercury> > *Brihaspati*Jupiter> > *Sukra*Venus> >

*Sani*Saturn> > *Rahu*Moon's North Node> > *Ketu*Moon's South Node

Dear Nanda ~ thank you so much. I am surprised not to see earth on the

list. Is there a particular reason for this. Also, I know just from

reading the digest, especially discussions of puja that the North and

South Nodes of the Moon are very important. Do you know why? And are

these nodes related in any way to the bright fortnight and the dark

fortnight of the moon's nodes, and if so, which? Thank you for always

being able to help ~ Linda