Navagraha

Navagrahas, a Raja Ravi Varma painting.

The Graha (Sanskrit: graha "seizing, laying hold of, holding",[1] ) or Navagraha (Sanskrit, "nine houses") are deities Who are the personified forms of major celestial bodies in Hinduism and Hindu astrology.[2]

There are nine graha. They include the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn, and the ascending and descending lunar nodes, respectively known as Rahu and Ketu.

Planets, celestial bodies and lunar nodes

The Navagraha are:[2]

  1. Surya (a.k.a. Ravi, Bhaanu, Aaditya, Arka, Savitr, Suraj, Suruj, etc.), The Sun
  2. Chandra (a.k.a. Soma, Indu, etc.), The Moon
  3. Mangala, (a.k.a. Bhauma, Bhumisuta, Bhuminandan, Lohit, Lohitanga, Kuja, Angaaraka, Raktavarna, etc.), Mars
  4. Budha, (a.k.a. Saumya, Rauhineya, Tunga, etc.), Mercury
  5. Guru (a.k.a. Brhaspati, Suraguru, Devaguru, etc.), Jupiter, the Master/Teacher or Guru of the Suras/Devas (Gods)
  6. Shukra, (a.k.a. Bhrugu, Bhrigusuta, Bhrigunandan, etc.), Venus
  7. Shani, (a.k.a. Sthira, Shanaischar, etc.), Saturn
  8. Rahu, (a.k.a. Bhayanaka, etc.), North Node/Ascending Node
  9. Ketu, South Node/Descending Node

Temples

Temples that incorporate or are dedicated to one or all nine of the Navagraha are found in different parts of India, such as in Tamil Nadu.[3]

Navagraha sculpture from Bihar, India, 10th century, now at the San Diego Museum of Art.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, (c) 1899
  2. 1 2 Roshen Dalal (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
  3. ↑ Anantharaman, Ambjuam (2006). Temples of South India (second ed.). East West. pp. x–xxi, 302–304. ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8.
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