Suryascandro mangalasca budhascapi brahaspati
Sukrahsaniscaro rahuh ketusceti navagrahah ||
Navagraha – Celestial influencers
Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury (Budha), Jupiter, Sukra (Venus), Saturn (Shani), 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.
Sukra – Sukravaaram – Venus
Sukra is considered an auspicious deity among the grahas, very interested in doing good to the world and ensuring people’s happiness. He never goes far away from Surya, the sun. After all, Sukra is Venus personified and Venus is the second planet from the Sun.
The sixth day of the week (Friday) is named after Sukra, ‘sukravaaram’. It may be noted that Friday is also the day when we pray to Mother Goddess, as well as to Sukra.
An Ardent devotee of Lord Shiva
In Indian mythology, Sukra is considered the son of Sage Bhrigu and the preceptor of the Asuras. Holding a staff, a Japa mala, a pot, and a lotus, he is seen seated, riding a big chariot drawn by horses from the earth. An ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, he received the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya that allowed him to revive the dead.
A scholar, he is associated with the color white, and rice, camphor, and curd are among the offerings that please him. Prayers are offered to Sukra to bless devotees with wealth, luxuries, and happiness.
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar has composed the song
“Sri Sukra bhagavantam cintayami santatam sakala tattvagjnam”,
“I meditate on Lord Sukra, the knower of all truths”, in the raga “Paraz’.
Dhavalagataram
This song is embellished with various jyotisha terms. Dikshitar also refers to him as ‘Dhavalagataram’, or brilliantly white complexioned. Interestingly, Venus the planet also appears white to us because of its thick atmosphere.
Dikshitar has described the various qualities of Sukra including that he was a repository of Vedic knowledge. He also refers to the incident where Sukra lost one eye when Lord Vishnu in his Vamanavatara pushed Mahabali to Patala and Sukra tried to obstruct.
Sukransthalam – Lord Agniswara
The Kanjanur temple dedicated to Lord Agniswara is also known as the ‘Sukransthalam’ where Lord Sukra is believed to be in the stomach of Lord Shiva. Kanjanur is located about 18 km northeast of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.
Among the Nava-Tirupathis, the Makara Nedunkuzhaikathar temple in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu is referred to as Sukransthalam. It is also a Divya-desam.
Sukra stotram
Many hymns have been written extolling Sukra. There is a Sukra stotram in Skanda Puranam while Sukra Kavacham which appears in the Brahmanda Purana begins thus:
Mrnala kundendu payoja suprabham
pitambaram prasrtamaksamalinam
samasta sastrartha vidhim mahantamdhyayetka
vimvanchitamartha siddhaye
Bright like a white lotus in the morning, attired in Pitambara, wearing a garland Knower of all sacred precepts, poet, fulfiller of desires, I meditate on thee, great one.
Data Source – Article posted by Smt. D.K. Ahana Lakshmi in Sapthagiri Magazine.
