Planets are a celestial body that orbits around a star, while in our solar system they orbit the Sun. Each of the planets have its name but varies over several cultures and languages. In India where the language is dominated by Hindi, one can find names of planets in Hindi as imbibed from religion and tradition. Here, in this article, we are going to have names of the planets in Hindi and English languages, their significance, and some interesting facts about each of them.
Overview of the Solar System
There are eight planets in our solar system, and all of them revolve around the Sun. In terms of distance from the Sun, they are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Many more dwarf planets exist, like Pluto; however, here we will talk about only the eight core planets.
Names of Planets in Hindi and English
Here below is the list of our solar system’s eight planets with their name in Hindi and English:
| Planet (English) | Planet (Hindi) |
| Mercury | बुध (Budh) |
| Venus | शुक्र (Shukra) |
| Earth | पृथ्वी (Prithvi) |
| Mars | मंगल (Mangal) |
| Jupiter | बृहस्पति (Brihaspati) |
| Saturn | शनि (Shani) |
| Uranus | अरुण (Arun) |
| Neptune | वरुण (Varun) |
1. Mercury (बुध – Budh)
- Distance from Sun: 57.9 million km
- Diameter: 4,880 km
- Interesting Fact: Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and has the shortest orbit of all the planets, completing one revolution in just 88 Earth days.
In Hindi, the word “बुध” or Budh is used for Mercury, which also shares a relation with the planet’s influence in Hindu astrology. Budh is held as the planet of intellect, communication, and reasoning.
2. Venus (शुक्र – Shukra)
- Distance from Sun: 108.2 million km
- Diameter: 12,104 km
- Interesting Fact: Venus is also the twin of Earth as it is nearly the same in size and in composition but its atmosphere is too dense, and temperatures melt lead.
Venus, or “शुक्र” (Shukra) in Hindi, has a very special status in Hindu mythology. Shukra defines love, beauty, and art that reflects the glowing, shiny nature of the planet as it appears in the night sky.
3. Earth (पृथ्वी – Prithvi)
- Distance from Sun: 149.6 million km
- Diameter: 12,742 km
- Interesting Fact: Earth is the only planet whose presence has been confirmed to harbor life and its large oceans and atmosphere contribute immensely to living organisms.
Prithvi (Prithvi) is also a female goddess of the earth in Hindu mythology. She is the incarnation of the earth.
4. Mars (मंगल – Mangal)
- Distance from Sun: 227.9 million km
- Diameter: 6,779 km
- Interesting fact: Mars is sometimes called the “Red Planet” because of the iron oxide or rust that covers its surface with a reddish color.
In Hindi known as “” or Mangal, this planet has been an important one in astrology since long time symbolising power, war and energy. Mangal is also a worshiped deity in Hindu tradition which represents Mars.
5. Jupiter (बृहस्पति – Brihaspati)
- Distance from Sun: 778.5 million km
- Diameter: 139,820 km
- Did you know: Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system with a mass more than twice that of all others combined. The storm in Jupiter, known as the Great Red Spot, is large enough to swallow Earth whole.
Jupiter is also known as (Brihaspati) It is said that Jupiter acts as the guru or mentor of the gods in Hindu mythology. In astrology, it stands for wisdom, knowledge, and religious power.
6. Saturn (शनि – Shani)
- Distance from Sun: 1.429 billion kilo meters
- Diameter: 116,460 kilometers
- Fascinating Fact: Saturn is regarded as one of the most beautiful planets in the solar system owing to its spectacular rings made of ice and rock particles.
“शनि” (Shani) is a Hindi word for Saturn. Shani is a major deity of Hinduism, used as the god of justice and karma. Shani is supposed to induce discipline, challenges, and obstacles in one’s life according to its position in one’s horoscope.
7. Uranus (अरुण – Arun)
- Distance from Sun: 2.871 billion km
- Diameter: 50,724 km
- Interesting Fact: Uranus rotates on its side. Its axis is tilted by nearly 98 degrees, thus making a season take well over 20 years.
Uranus is named after Hindi as “अरुण” or Arun, which is the name of the god of dawn as cited in Hindu mythology. It has icy and cold composition with pale blue complexion that makes the planet even more ethereal in the solar system.
8. Neptune (वरुण – Varun)
- Distance from Sun: 4.495 billion km
- Diameter: 49,244 km
- Cool Fact: Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun and has very strong winds of speeds over 2,000 kph, which are some of the strongest in the solar system.
Varun is actually another name for Neptune in Hindi, meaning the god of oceans and seas in Hindu mythology. That is rather apt since Neptune is a very cold far-off planet with color hues of the deepest ocean.
Meaning and Significance of the Planets in Hindu Culture and Astrology
Of course, in Hindu culture, planets are not just the physical bodies that roam around the sun. They are also gods, or rather divine energies, which affect human life on earth. Vedic astrology says that one’s destiny, personality, or fate and what happens in life is decided by Grahas, also known as planets.
- Budh (Mercury): Intellect, communications, learning
- Shukra (Venus): Love, beauty, luxury
- Prithvi (Earth): Stability, nourishment, life itself
- Mangal (Mars): Courage, energy, passion.
- Brihaspati (Jupiter): Knowledge, wisdom-give and take according to one’s wisdom
- Shani (Saturn): Discipline, challenges, karma, fate
- Arun (Uranus): Something new, change, disruption
- Varun (Neptune): Intuitive, dreamy, mystical by nature
Conclusion
Names of planets in Hindi and their counterparts in English are equally apt to describe the variations in existence between two languages, because this word reflects cultural and mythological values. For Hindus, the planets form an integral part of astrology and religious life that basically encompasses day-to-day as well as decisions taken for a long time. Only in both languages can we appreciate beauty in tradition with a connection to scientific discoveries that have been made today.
