Suryascandro mangalasca budhascapi brahaspati
Sukrahsaniscaro rahuh ketusceti navagrahah ||
Navagraha – Celestial influencers
Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury (Budha), Jupiter Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu are the nine planets.
When you are in a remote village and look at the sky at night without the light pollution of the cities, you become aware of the shining stars (and may even recognize the zodiac formations) in the Milky Way overhead. At certain times of the year, you become very aware of certain glowing bodies and feel that they are reaching out to you.
Our ancients counted five of these that were very visible to even the naked eye along with the sun and moon and the two shadow planets, rahu and ketu, as the nava grahas or nine planets. The planetary positions at the time of a child’s birth are believed to influence the child’s destiny.
Thus, the Navagrahas may be considered celestial influencers. It was believed that living beings pass through the periods and positions of these nine and hence, the hardships in life were linked to the position of the grahas. Remedial measures or pariharas to overcome any adverse effects due to the planets were also suggested. It is not surprising therefore that the worship of these nine celestials has prevailed through the ages with stories about them appearing in various Puranas.
Why! Even the seven days of the week are named after them! Thus we have
- Ravivaram (Ravi = Sun),
- Somavaram (Soma=Moon),
- Mangalvaram (Mangal=Mars),
- Budhavaram (Budha=Mercury),
- Brihaspativaram or Guruvaram (Brihaspati/ Guru= Jupiter),
- Sukravaram (Sukra=Venus) and
- Shanivaram (Shani=Saturn).
Worship of the navagrahas is pan-Indian though the way of worship may be different. In many places, they are carved on the roof of many temples. Temples dedicated to Navagrahas are few. Around Tamil Nadu’s Kumbakonam, there are nine temples, each dedicated to one of the nine grahas and hence they are collectively known as the Navagraha temples.
On the other hand, in many Shiva temples in south India, especially in Tamil Nadu, there is a shrine exclusively dedicated to the navagraha, usually to the northeast of the sanctum. The nine celestial influencers are usually placed on a square pedestal, about three feet off the ground. Surya, the sun, takes the central position, facing east, and the other eight deities are placed around Surya with no two facing each other.
Each graha faces one of the four directions, the specific direction being defined by the pratishta (e.g. Agama or Vaidika) followed by the temple. In general, the navagrahas are to be worshipped after worshipping the main deity.
No wonder Purandaradasa sang ‘Sakala Graha Bala Neene Sarasijaaksha’- O lotus-eyed, you wield power over all the planets You pervade the universe as its protector You are the sun, moon, mercury; you are Rahu, ketu You are Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.
Navagraha Homam
is performed to strengthen beneficial grahas and pacify maleficent grahas for the removal of obstacles from one’s personal or even professional life. The nine planets are invoked by chanting the navagraha stotram and shanti mantras and offering nine types of grain, vastra, and naivedya.
Budhavaram (Budha=Mercury)
Closest to the sun, the smallest in the solar system, Mercury is a little larger than Earth’s moon and travels around the sun in 88 Earth days. It has a very thin atmosphere and has no moons or rings. Described as the son of Tara (wife of Brihaspati) and Chandra, this celestial body appears in many ancient texts such as Agni Purana and Mahabharata.
As part of the navagrahas, Budha lends his name to Budhavaram in Telugu, in English Wednesday.
In English, the name comes from Woden’s day, transformed from the Latin “Day of Mercury”, Mercurii dies. Inherently auspicious, he has three paces, slow, quick, and medium. He is described as riding a lion or a yaali, or a chariot made of wind and fire, golden in color, drawn by eight horses having the speed of the wind.
Not surprising then that Mercury moves fast, traveling through space at nearly 170 km per hour!
Budha holds three weapons – the mace, sword, and shield – while the fourth hand shows the varada mudra. Green-skinned, he is believed to be mild and eloquent, influencing intellect, communication, humor, and reasoning, Intelligent, worshipped for acumen, son of Soma, of a calm mind, bestowing brilliance.
Budho budharcitah saumyah saumyacittah subhapradah
Navagraha Kshetram
- Swetharanyeswarar Temple (Thiruvenkadu Suweathaaranyeshwarar Temple) in Thiruvengadu on the Sirkazhi- Poompuhar road, about 60 km from Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu is considered Budhakshetram, one of the navagraha kshetrams.
- In Kovur near Chennai, the Sundareswar temple is also considered as dedicated to Budhagraha.
A glimpse of Kirtana
Let us learn Muthuswami Dikshitar’s kirtana in Natakurunji ragam, Jhampatalam, which is a prayer to Budha: ‘Budhamashrayaami satatam…’.
May we receive blessings for health from the Sun, and for fame from the Moon. Be blessed by Mars for wealth, knowledge by Mercury, and honor by Jupiter. Blessings for clear speech from Venus, for happiness from Saturn; and be blessed with a sound body by Rahu and family well-being by Ketu.
Data Source – Article posted by Smt. D.K. Ahana Lakshmi in Sapthagiri Magazine.
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