NAVAGRAHAS

People all over the world have believed in the influence of the planets on humans. Logically speaking the creation of the planets precedes that of the living beings. Hence, some sort of cause and effect relation must exist.
The Navagrahas or the nine planets are regarded by the Hindus as of the greatest astrologicl significance and are believed to influence the life of the individual as also the course of history.
As per the traditional list, the nine planets are
1. Ravi or Surya (sun)
2. Soma or Candra (moon)
3. Mangala
4. Kuja or Angaraka (mars)
5. Budha (mercury)
6. Brhaspati or Guru (Jupiter)
7. Sukra (venus)
8. Sani (Saturn)
9. Rahu and Ketu

The seven days of the week have derived their names from the first seven planets. Rahu and Ketu are not planets but ascending and descending nodes of the moon. Sometimes Ketu is depicted as the personification of comets and meteors.

Sani, Rahu and Ketu are considered inauspicious, even positively maleficent and responsible for children’s diseases. Hence they need to be propitiated.

The nine planets are invariably found in almost every temple in South India. In many North Indian temples, they are depicted on the lintels of doors, to protect the temple and all those who enter it. They may also be housed in a separate Mandapa or atleast a platform where the images of these nine Grahas are installed in such a way that no two of them will face each other. It is sometimes stated that the images of the planets are set up in the temples in the order in which they are in zodiacal circle at the time of construction of the temple.

• The image of Surya must always be placed in the centre of the planets, facing east, with the other Grahas fixed round him, each in a specified direction. He has two hands, holding a lotus in each. His chariot has one wheel, is drawn by seven horses and has Aruna (diety of the dawn) as the charioteer.
• Soma or Candra has only a face and two hands but no body. He is shown holding white lotuses in his two hands. He rides on a two or three wheeled chariot drawn by ten horses.
• Mangala or Kuja has four hands, carrying the weapons mace and javelin in two, showing the Varada and Abhaya Mudras with the other two. He rides on a ram.
• Budha also has four hands, three of them wielding the weapons sword, shield and mace. The last hand shows the Varadamudra. He rides on a lion or a chariot drawn by four horses.
• Brhaspati, being the Guru, is shown holding a book and a rosary in his two hands. His chariot is golden and is driven by eight horses.
• Sukra is also seated in a golden chariot drawn by eight horses or in a silver one drawn by ten horses. He has two hands holding a Nidhi (treasure) and a book. Sometimes he is shown with four hands holding the staff, rosary and waterpot, the fourth exhibiting the Baradamudra.
• Sani rides in an iron chariot drawn by eight horses. He is more often shown as riding on a vulture. A buffalo also may be his mount. He holds the arrow, bow and javelin in three of his hands, the last hand being in the Varada Mudra.
• Rahu is usually described as having only a face and Ketu is depicted like a serpent’s tail. Sometimes, Rahu may be shown riding a black lion or as seated on a Simhasana (throne) or in a silver chariot drawn by eight horses. He may have two hands, the right hand carrying a woolen blanket and a book, the left hand being shown empty. If four hands are shown, they can carry sword, shield and lance, the fourth one being in Varadamudra. Ketu has an ugly face and rides on a vulture. In his two arms he exhibits a mace and the Varadamudra or Abhayamudra.
• All the Grahas have crowns and ear-rings. The eight grahas round the Sun always facing him.

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

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