Navagraha, Sun at the center surrounded by the planets, Painting byRaja Ravi Varma
Thenavagraha 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]
A typical navagraha shrine found inside aHindu temple
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.
Media related toNavagraha at Wikimedia Commons
