Eight Gatis Or Speeds

Ancient Siddhaanta and Phalit classics mention eight types of speeds (Gati) of planets. All these eight types apply to Pancha-taaraa planets only : Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Rahu and Ketu are always retrograde. Sun and Moon are never retrograde.

The eight types of speeds are as follows :-

1. Vakra (Faster Retrograde)
2. Anuvakra (Slower Retrograde)
3. Kutila (complicated and very slow retrograde, sometimes relapsing into non-retro)
4. Mandatara (slowest forward motion)
5. Manda (slow forward motion)
6. Sama (normal forward motion)
7. Sheeghra (fast forward)
8. Sheeghratara (very fast forward)

These eight speeds according to their numbers are shown in the picture below, which is GEOCENTRIC epicycloidal motion of any Pancha-taara planet. In heliocentric model, there is no such differentiation and speed is always "sama". In Geocentric system too, speed of Sun or Moon is always "sama".