Navagraha – The Nine Planets in Hindu Astrology

Navagrahas fall under the the Hindu Astronomy and play a major part in the Hindu astronomical sphere. The Hindu astronomy whose origin dates back to the time of Vedas is concerned with the placement of nine planets and their influence on the world and on an individual. According to the Hindu astrology, the position of the planets when a person is born determines his potential in life.

The nine planets collectively are called Navagrahas. These 9 planets are worshipped by Hindus to overcome any hindrance, obstacle or bad luck. They are found mostly in all the temples and faithful believers pray to the Navagrahas before they pray to any other deity.

Out of those nine planets, seven are named after the planets in the Solar System and the other two are actually demons who managed their way into this group by trickery – Rahu and Ketu. Depending upon their location in the planetary system, they are deemed either auspicious or inauspicious. While Navagrahas are found in every temple, there are some temples that are solely dedicated to them. One such temple is the Navagraha temple located in the outskirts of Ujjain.

Effects of Navagrahas – Vedic Astrology

In Hindu Astrology, Navagrahas affects a person’s happiness, success and all-round prosperity. The good and bad, positive and negative influences of each of these nine planets are results of factors like the specific location of the planets on the birth chart, etc. Planets possessing Sattva nature are Jupiter, Sun and Moon. Planets bearing rajas are Venus and Mercury while planets with Tamas nature are Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.

These nine planets in vedic astrology are treated as deities with specific powers, nature and characteristic qualities depending on what each of these offers – positive or negative to people.

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Iconography of Navagrahas

1. Sun (Surya): In the group of other planets, he is normally shown facing towards east, standing in the center. Around him are the rest of the planets facing in all different direction but not towards each other. He rides are chariot with one wheel which is pulled by seven horses symbolizing the seven colors of white light and seven days of the week. He is also known as Ravi.

2. Moon (Chandra): In the images, he is never portrayed as a complete person. Only his upper body with two hands holding a lotus each, riding a chariot pulled by 10 horses is shown. He is also known as Soma.

3. Mars (Mangala): Mangala is a Ferocious God holding with two holding weapons and 2 in mudras. His transport is a ram.

4. Mercury (Budha): Budha has four hands and rides on a chariot or Lion. Out of which, three of his hands holds a sword, a shield and a mace and the fourth hand is in a mudra.

5. Jupiter (Brihaspathi): He is the teacher of Gods and is praised in Rig Veda. He is shown sitting on a chariot pulled by 8 horses each showing one branch of knowledge.

6. Venus (Sukra): Sukra is the teacher of the Demons. He has four hands and rides on a chariot pulled by 8 horses. Three of his hands hold a staff, a rosary, a vessel of gold while the fourth hand is held in a mudra.

7. Sani (Saturn): Sani is a god who makes or breaks fortunes by his planetary position for which individuals fear him. He is shown with four hands riding on a chariot or a buffalo or even a vulture. He has three hands in which he holds an arrow, a bow and a javelin while his other hand is held in a mudra.

8. Rahu: He somewhat looks like Budha (Mercury) but both Gods differ in fundamental nature. Just like how Budha rides a white lion, he is shown riding a black lion. But just like Budha, he carries all the same weapons.

9. Ketu:In Sanskrit, Ketu means comet. It is said that he has a tail of a serpent in his body and his nature very much matched to that of a comet. In pictures, he shown riding a vulture and holding a mace.

Elements of Navagraha

Navagraha Nature: Benefic / Malefic

Navagraha Temples

There is a cluster of Navagraha temples in Tamil namdu near Kumbakonam built during the reign of the Chola dynasty. According to Hindu legends, Sage Kalava was suffering from serious ailments along with leprosy. He with utmost devotion prayed to the Navagrahas to cure him of his ailments. The Navagrahas pleased with his devotion granted him cure. However, Brahma, was extremely unhappy with this as he felt that the nine planets did not have any authority to bless people. He cursed the Navagrahas to suffer from ailments and sent them to earth in Vellurukku Vanam, the white wild flower jungle – the modern time Suryanar Kovil. The 9 planets were extremely sad by these series of events and decided to pray to Lord Shiva to relieve them of their agony. Shiva appeared to them and said that the place belonged to them and they would have to grace the devotees worshipping them from the place. Each temple is located in a different village, and is considered an abode of one of the Navagrahas.

• Surya Navagrahastalam — Sooriyanar Kovil
• Chandra Navagrahastalam — Kailasanathar Temple, Thingaloor
• Angaarakan Navagrahastalam — Vaitheeswaran Kovil
• Budha Navagrahastalam — Thiruvenkadu
• Guru Navagrahastalam — Alangudi
• Sukra Navagrahastalam — Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur
• Shani Navagrahastalam — Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple
• Raahu Navagrahastalam — Sri Naganathaswamy Temple, Thirunageswaram
• Ketu Navagrahastalam — Keezhperumpallam Temple

Location of Navagraha Temples

Navagraha Temple Tour Map