Thenavagraha (Sanskrit:नवग्रह,Nine planets) are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according toHinduism andHindu mythology.[1] The term is derived fromnava (Sanskrit:नव "nine") andgraha (Sanskrit:ग्रह "planet, seizing, laying hold of, holding"). The nine parts of the navagraha are the Sun, Moon, planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and thetwo nodes of the Moon.[2]
The termplanet was applied originally only to the five planets known (i.e., visible to thenaked eye) and excluded theEarth. The term was later generalized, particularly during theMiddle Ages, to include the sun and the moon (sometimes referred to as "lights"), making a total of seven planets. Theseven days of the week of theHindu calendar also corresponds with theseven classical planets and European culture also following same patron and arenamed accordingly in most languages of theIndian subcontinent. MostHindu temples around the world have a designated place dedicated to the worship of the navagraha.
| No. | Image | Name | Western equivalent | Day | Stotra[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  | Surya | Sun | Sunday | japākusuma saṅkāśaṃ kāśyapēyaṃ mahādyutim । tamō'riṃ sarva pāpaghnaṃ praṇatōsmi divākaram ॥1॥ |
| 2. |  | Chandra | Moon | Monday | dadhiśaṅkha tuṣārābhaṃ kṣīrōdārṇava sambhavam । namāmi śaśinaṃ sōmaṃ śambhō-rmakuṭa bhūṣaṇam ॥2॥ |
| 3. |  | Mangala | Mars | Tuesday | dharaṇī garbha sambhūtaṃ vidyutkānti samaprabham । kumāraṃ śaktihastaṃ taṃ maṅgaḻaṃ praṇamāmyaham ॥3॥ |
| 4. |  | Budha | Mercury | Wednesday | priyaṅgu kalikāśyāmaṃ rūpēṇā pratimaṃ budham । saumyaṃ saumya guṇōpētaṃ taṃ budhaṃ praṇamāmyaham ॥4॥ |
| 5. |  | Brihaspati | Jupiter | Thursday | dēvānāṃ cha ṛṣīṇāṃ cha guruṃ kāñchanasannibham । buddhimantaṃ trilōkēśaṃ taṃ namāmi bṛhaspatim ॥5॥ |
| 6. |  | Shukra | Venus | Friday | himakunda mṛṇāḻābhaṃ daityānaṃ paramaṃ gurum । sarvaśāstra pravaktāraṃ bhārgavaṃ praṇamāmyaham ॥6॥ |
| 7. |  | Shani | Saturn | Saturday | nīlāñjana samābhāsaṃ raviputraṃ yamāgrajam । Chāyā mārtāṇḍa sambhūtaṃ taṃ namāmi śanaiścharam ॥7॥ |
| 8. |  | Rahu | Ascendingnode of the Moon/Uranus | ardhakāyaṃ mahāvīraṃ chandrāditya vimardhanam । siṃhikā garbha sambhūtaṃ taṃ rāhuṃ praṇamāmyaham ॥8॥ | |
| 9. |  | Ketu | Descendingnode of the Moon/Neptune | palāśa puṣpa saṅkāśaṃ tārakāgrahamastakam । raudraṃ raudrātmakaṃ ghōraṃ taṃ kētuṃ praṇamāmyaham ॥9॥ |
Muthuswami Dikshitar (1776–1835), aCarnatic music composer from southern India, composed theNavagraha Kritis in praise of the ninegrahas.[4] Each song is a prayer to one of the nine planets. TheSahitya (lyrics) of the songs reflect a profound knowledge of themantra andjyotishasastras.
Media related toNavagraha at Wikimedia Commons | ||
