Navagraha temples
Encyclopedia
Navagraha temples are temples devoted to Navagraha
- the nine (nava) major celestial bodies (Grahas) of Hindu astronomy
. These celestial bodies are named Surya
(Sun), Chandra
(Moon), Chevvaai/Mangal
(Mars), Budhan (Mercury), Guru/Brihaspati
(Jupiter), Shukra
(Venus), Shani
(Saturn), Rahu
(North Lunar Node
) and Ketu
(South Lunar Node
). Many temples in South India contain a shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas. However, the term Navagraha temples refers to a cluster of nine separate temples, each an abode of one of the Navagrahams.
city, Assam
, India
. Enshrined in this temple are nine Shivalingams, representing the nine Celestial bodies, each covered with a colored garment symbolic of each of the celestial bodies, with a Shivaligam in the centre symbolising the Sun. The Navagraha temple was built by the king (1751–1769), son of or Sukhrungphaa
in late 18th century. It has been renovated in recent times during the late 1923 45}}]
), there is a major Navagraha temple behind Shaniwar Wada
, which is also specifically devoted to Shani
. There is also a Navagraha Maruti temple in Balaji Nagar.
temple in City of Ujjain
in Madhya Pradesh
. It is believed that it is their since hundreds of years and people are getting blessing and relief when priya their specially during their Shani -Ssde sati period which is supposed to be the most dreaded phase in one's lifetime.
Devotees have to pray while doing Parikrama of Navagraha stones and present flowers /bilva patra while performing pooja.
in Tamil Nadu
. Each temple is located in a different village, and is considered an abode of one of the Navagrahas. However, the majority of these temples are dedicated to Shiva
. The Surya temple is the only one dedicated to the Graham. In fact, it is dedicated entirely to the worship of the Sun-God and the other navagrahas, the former being the object of worship as the principal deity and the latter as attendant deities. It was built around the 11th or 12th century C.E. The other temples were built earlier, ranging back to 7th-9th century.
Navagraha Temples in Chennai Kundrathur
There is a similar cluster of Navagraha temples in Chennai , erstwhile Thondai Nadu in and around Kundrathur.
Navagraha
Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
- the nine (nava) major celestial bodies (Grahas) of Hindu astronomy
Hindu astronomy
Historical Indian astronomy develops as a discipline of Vedanga or one of the "auxiliary disciplines" associated with the study of the Vedas.The oldest extant text of astronomy is the treatise by Lagadha, dated to the Mauryan era ....
. These celestial bodies are named Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
(Sun), Chandra
Chandra
In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and...
(Moon), Chevvaai/Mangal
Mangala
In Jyotish astrology, Mangala is the name for Mars, the red planet. Mars is also called Angaraka In Jyotish astrology, Mangala (Devanagari: मंगल) is the name for Mars, the red planet. Mars is also called Angaraka In Jyotish astrology, Mangala (Devanagari: मंगल) is the name for Mars, the red...
(Mars), Budhan (Mercury), Guru/Brihaspati
Brihaspati
Bṛhaspati also known as Brahmanaspati and Deva-guru , is the name of a Vedic deity...
(Jupiter), Shukra
Shukra
Shukra , the Sanskrit for "clear, pure" or "brightness, clearness", is the name of the son of Bhrigu, and preceptor of the Daityas, and the guru of the Asuras, identified with the planet Venus, one of the Navagrahas...
(Venus), Shani
Shani
Sanskrit Śhani शनि, Kannada Śhani ಶನಿ ದೇವರು,Shani/Sani , is one of the Navagraha or Jyotiṣa . Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday....
(Saturn), Rahu
Rahu
In Hindu mythology, Rahu is a cut-off head of an asura, that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas in Vedic astrology...
(North Lunar Node
Lunar node
The lunar nodes are the orbital nodes of the Moon, that is, the points where the orbit of the Moon crosses the ecliptic . The ascending node is where the moon crosses to the north of the ecliptic...
) and Ketu
Ketu
*In Vedic astrology, Ketu is the Moon's South node. Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet.*Ketu is a historical location in present day Benin.*Ketu is another name for the mountain K2....
(South Lunar Node
Lunar node
The lunar nodes are the orbital nodes of the Moon, that is, the points where the orbit of the Moon crosses the ecliptic . The ascending node is where the moon crosses to the north of the ecliptic...
). Many temples in South India contain a shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas. However, the term Navagraha temples refers to a cluster of nine separate temples, each an abode of one of the Navagrahams.
Navagraha Temple in Assam
The Navagraha Temple is found on the top of Chitrasal Hill (or Navagraha Hill), in GuwahatiGuwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
city, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Enshrined in this temple are nine Shivalingams, representing the nine Celestial bodies, each covered with a colored garment symbolic of each of the celestial bodies, with a Shivaligam in the centre symbolising the Sun. The Navagraha temple was built by the king (1751–1769), son of or Sukhrungphaa
Sukhrungphaa
Sukhrungphaa , or Rudra Singha, was a Tungkhungia king of the Ahom kingdom under whom the kingdom reached its zenith of power and glory. Rudra Singha, known as Lai before he became the king, was the son of the previous Ahom king Gadadhar Singha...
in late 18th century. It has been renovated in recent times during the late 1923 45}}]
Navagraha Temples in Maharashtra
In Kasba Peth (central PunePune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
), there is a major Navagraha temple behind Shaniwar Wada
Shaniwar Wada
Shaniwarwada is a palace fort in the city of Pune in Maharashtra, India. Built in 1736, it was the seat of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire until 1818 when the Peshwas surrendered to the British...
, which is also specifically devoted to Shani
Shani
Sanskrit Śhani शनि, Kannada Śhani ಶನಿ ದೇವರು,Shani/Sani , is one of the Navagraha or Jyotiṣa . Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday....
. There is also a Navagraha Maruti temple in Balaji Nagar.
Navgraha Temple in Madhya Pradesh
A historical Navagraha temple is established inside the Bada Ganpati Temple just behind Makaleshwar Temple towards HarsidhhiHarsidhhi
Harsidhhi is considered one of the aspect of Amba and also Kalika, the Hindu Devi.Her temples are found in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.-Kuldevi:She is worshiped as Kuldevi by many Kshatriya and Rajput clans of India...
temple in City of Ujjain
Ujjain
Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. It is believed that it is their since hundreds of years and people are getting blessing and relief when priya their specially during their Shani -Ssde sati period which is supposed to be the most dreaded phase in one's lifetime.
Devotees have to pray while doing Parikrama of Navagraha stones and present flowers /bilva patra while performing pooja.
Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu
There is a cluster of Navagraha Temples dating from the Chola dynasty near KumbakonamKumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Each temple is located in a different village, and is considered an abode of one of the Navagrahas. However, the majority of these temples are dedicated to Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. The Surya temple is the only one dedicated to the Graham. In fact, it is dedicated entirely to the worship of the Sun-God and the other navagrahas, the former being the object of worship as the principal deity and the latter as attendant deities. It was built around the 11th or 12th century C.E. The other temples were built earlier, ranging back to 7th-9th century.
- Surya Navagrahastalam -- Sooriyanar KovilSuryanar TempleThe Suryanar Temple is a Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, South India. It is located in the village of Suryanarkoil in the Thanjavur district. It is dedicated to the worship of the Hindu Sun-God and the other Navagrahas, and is considered one of the Navagraha temples....
- Chandra Navagrahastalam -- ThingaloorKailasanthar Temple,ThingalurThe Kailasanathar Temple is a Hindu temple in the village of Thingalur, 18 kilometres from Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Soma. However, the main idol in the temple is that of "Kailasanathar" or Shiva.-The Temple:...
- Angaarakan Navagrahastalam -- Vaitheeswaran KovilVaitheeswaran TempleVaitheeswaran Temple or Pullirukkuvelur is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Vaitheeswaran or the "God of healing" and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. It is one of the nine Navagraha temples associated...
- Budha Navagrahastalam -- Thiruvenkadu
- Guru Navagrahastalam -- Alangudi
- Sukra Navagrahastalam -- KanjanurAgniswarar Temple, KanjanurThe Agniswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in the village of Kanjanur, 18 kilometres north-east of Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Sukra . However, the main idol in the temple is that of "Agniswarar" or Shiva...
- Shani Navagrahastalam -- Thirunallar
- Raahu Navagrahastalam -- ThirunageswaramRahu StalamRahu Stalam is among the navagraha templesis a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam signifying the nine planet gods...
- Ketu Navagrahastalam -- Keezhperumpallam
Navagraha Temples in Chennai KundrathurKundrathurKundrathur is a village in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kundrathur Murugan Temple is located in this town. It is a lesser known fact that this town is also home to the Navagraha Temples of Thondai Nadu. The town also has a college, Madha Engineering College which is...
There is a similar cluster of Navagraha temples in Chennai , erstwhile Thondai Nadu in and around Kundrathur.- Agatheeswarar Temple - Surya - Kolapakkkam
- Somanaadheeswarar Temple - Chandran - Somamangalam
- Vaidheeswarar Temple - Angaragan - Poonamallee
- Sundereswarar Temple - Budhan - Kovur
- Ramanaadheeswarar Temple - Guru - Porur
- Valeeswarar Temple - Sukran - Mangadu
- Agatheeswarar Temple - Shaneeswaran - Pozhichalur
- Neelakandeeswarar Temple - Kethu - Gerugambakkam
- Nageshwarar Temple - Rahu - Kundrathur
External links
- Navagraha Temples in Assam
- Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu
- Navagraha Temple Phone numbers and Contact Informations in Tamil Nadu
- Navagraha Temple Route Map in Tamil Nadu & Other Information from Sasikumar
- Navagraha Temple on Google Maps - Virtual Darshan of Navagraha Sthalam
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundrathur