Navgraha (Navagraha - Nine planets or nine realms)
Graha is a "cosmic marker of influence" on the living being of mother earth (Bhumidevi or Prithvi). In Hindu Vedic Astrology, the Navgraha (Navagraha - Nine planets or nine realms) are some of the major markers that point out the karmic influence on the behavior of the living beings.
The Navgraha (Navagraha), personified as celestial beings, are:
- Surya (Sun): Its considered as Male with Sattvik guna and represents soul, king, highly placed persons, father.
- Chandra (Moon): Its considered as Female with Sattvik guna and represents Mind, queen, mother.
- Mangala (Mars): Its considered as Male with Tamas or Tamsik guna and represents energetic action, confidence and ego.
- Budha (Mercury): Its of Neutral gender with Rajas or Rajsi guna and represents communication.
- Brihaspati (Jupiter): Its of Male gender with Sattva or Sattvik guna and represents the great teacher.
- Shukra (Venus): Its of Female gender with Rajas or Rajsi guna and represents wealth, pleasure and reproduction.
- Shani (Saturn): Its of Female gender with Tamas or Tamsik guna and represents learning (the hard way), Career and Longevity.
- Rahu (Head of Demon Snake - Ascending/North Lunar Node): Its of Female gender with Tamas or Tamsik guna and represents an Asura who does his best to plunge any area of one's life he controls into chaos.
- Ketu (Tail of Demon Snake - Descending/South Lunar Node): Its considered of Male gender having Tamas or Tamsik guna and represents supernatural influences.
"Nav" or "Nava" means "nine". Graha is sometimes translated as "planet", but the Sun, Moon, and Rahu and Ketu are not "planets" according to modern astronomy. "Graha" is sometimes translated as "celestial body", but Rahu and Ketu are not celestial bodies either. A third translation is celestial god or demi-god, but again, Rahu and Ketu are Asuras not Devas. Rahu and Ketu are further believed to be only positions in the planetary paths. A fact common to all navagrahas is that they have relative movement with respect to the backgound of fixed stars in the zodiac belt.
There is also a stotra in the praise of the Navgrahas (Navagrahas).
"Namah Sooryaya, Chandraya, Mangalaya, Budhaya cha, Guruhu, Shukra, Shanibhihi cha Rahuve, Ketuve Namaha"
Some people believe that by chanting this stotra, man is relieved from all his sins and bad effects that may occur due to these grahas on him.
A general mantra for Navgrahadevataaya (Navagrahadevataaya) :
"Aum, brahmaamuraaris-tripuraantakaari, bhaanuh-shashi, bhoomi sutau buddhashca, gurooshca-shukrah shani-raahu-ketavah, kurvantu sarve grahaah shaanti-karaa bhavantu".
This mantra is associated with Brahmaa and the nine planets (grahas). Brahmaa is the Lord who controls the nine planets. This mantra calls for him and the nine planets to relieve the ill effects of the nine planets in general. You can chant this mantra for at least 7 times a day.
Navgraha Yantra
Navgraha Yantra (Navagraha Yantra) helps negate or nullify the bad and malefic effects of the
nine planets or Navgraha and bestows beneficial effects. It consists of nine squares, each
with a talisman representing one of the nine planet. The nine planets that influence humankind and
their lives are Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangal), Mercury (Buddha), Jupiter (Brihsapati),
Venus (Shukra), Saturn (Shani), Rahu (Dragon's head) and Ketu (Dragon's Tail). Navgraha Yantra is
extremely useful for worship to strengthen benevolent planets by increasing their positive influences.
At the same time, this Yantra pacifies malefic planets and netralizes their negative effects.
The Nav-Graha Yantra is recommended for all individuals whose birth charts indicate negative
positioning of planets within the horoscope that can afflict one's health, prosperity and peace of mind.
Lifelong worship of the Nav Graha Yantra maximizes advantages from planetary influences.
Associations Of Navgraha Yantra
- Navgraha Yantra Represents: Nine Planets or Navgraha
- Navgrah Yantra's Purpose: Negate the malefic effects of the nine planets of vedic astrology
Yantra Worship Guidelines
- First purify your body and start with a clear and positive mind frame
- Find a place on the floor facing east, where you will be undisturbed.
- Light the incense or diya. (It does not matter how many you light).
- Lay a fresh flower and a fresh fruit on the altar.
- Open the Yantra and place it along with the image of the deity of yantra and your isht God.
- Take the water with any leaf from any tree and sprinkle the water on yourself followed by sprinkling the water on the Yantra.
- Then purify your soul and surrender yourself completely in devotion to God and chant 21 times the mantra.
- Close your eyes and concentrate on the deity to bless you with wishes. Now with all sincerity, ask God to grant you the desire of your life that you wanted to be fulfilled in your own language.
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