The Navagrahas are the nine planetary deities honoured in jyotisha and temple worship: Surya, Chandra, Kuja (Angaraka), Budha, Guru (Brihaspati), Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu. Each is traditionally associated with a weekday, a colour and a grain. The usual way to worship them is to circle the Navagraha mandapam found in most Shiva temples and offer a lamp and the nine grains.
Who are the Navagrahas?
For devotees, the Navagrahas are not merely planets in the sky but deities who deliver the fruits of karma under the Lord's command. Rahu and Ketu are chaya grahas, shadow planets without a physical body. The Purana says that during the churning of the ocean, the asura Swarbhanu sat among the devas and drank amrita; Vishnu severed him with the Sudarshana Chakra, and his head became Rahu and his body Ketu.
Weekday, colour and grain of each graha
This table reflects the widely followed tradition in the Telugu states; small regional and family variations exist.
| Graha | Weekday | Colour | Grain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surya | Sunday | Red | Wheat |
| Chandra | Monday | White | Rice |
| Kuja | Tuesday | Red | Toor dal (kandulu) |
| Budha | Wednesday | Green | Green gram (pesalu) |
| Guru | Thursday | Yellow | Bengal gram (senagalu) |
| Shukra | Friday | White | Cowpea (bobbarlu) |
| Shani | Saturday | Black / blue | Sesame (nuvvulu) |
| Rahu | — | Black / smoky | Black gram (minumulu) |
| Ketu | — | Multicoloured / smoky | Horse gram (ulavalu) |
Rahu and Ketu have no weekday of their own, but many people worship Rahu during Rahu Kalam and both on Tuesdays or Saturdays.
What are navadhanyalu?
The nine grains above together are called navadhanyalu: wheat, rice, toor dal, green gram, Bengal gram, cowpea, sesame, black gram and horse gram. They are used in Navagraha shanti, homams, gruhapravesam and weddings. Placing a little grain before each graha in the temple mandapam, or donating grain, is also customary.
How to do Navagraha pradakshina in a temple
- In most temples, first have darshan of the main deity; follow the archaka if the local custom differs.
- Stand before the Navagraha mandapam and bow with folded hands.
- Circle the mandapam, usually nine times; some do seven or eleven.
- While circling, mentally chant the graha names or "Om Navagrahebhyo Namah".
- Offer a sesame-oil lamp, navadhanyalu or cloth of the graha's colour.
- Many temples ask devotees not to touch the Navagraha idols; please respect this.
Navagraha worship at home
Reciting a Navagraha stotram during daily deeparadhana is the simplest home practice. Rituals like Navagraha shanti homam must follow shastra, so have them done under your family purohit.
What is the Navagraha Stotram?
The most popular hymn for daily home worship is the Navagraha Stotram attributed to Sage Veda Vyasa. It has nine verses, one for each graha, followed by a phala shruti. The first verse, to Surya, is:
Japakusuma Sankasham Kashyapeyam Mahadyutim, Tamorim Sarvapapaghnam Pranatosmi Divakaram
It means: I bow to Surya, red like the hibiscus flower, son of Sage Kashyapa, of great radiance, the destroyer of darkness and of all sins. The other eight verses describe each graha in the same way. Reciting it once after morning deeparadhana takes only a few minutes; learn the pronunciation from a reliable book or an elder.
A note on gemstones
Each graha is traditionally linked to a gem, but wearing one is a personal choice. Consult an experienced pandit before buying costly stones; elders say no gem is greater than devotion, good conduct and charity.
Which are the famous Navagraha temples?
Srikalahasti
The Srikalahasteeswara temple in Andhra Pradesh is the Vayu linga among the Pancha Bhuta kshetras and is renowned for Rahu-Ketu sarpa dosha puja. It is also known for staying open during eclipses. For puja timings and tickets, rely only on the devasthanam's official information.
Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu
Around Kumbakonam, each graha has its own temple, visited together as a Navagraha yatra:
- Surya — Suryanar Koil
- Chandra — Thingalur
- Kuja — Vaitheeswaran Koil
- Budha — Thiruvenkadu
- Guru — Alangudi
- Shukra — Kanjanur
- Shani — Thirunallar
- Rahu — Thirunageswaram
- Ketu — Keezhperumpallam
Things to keep in mind
- Worship the grahas with devotion and gratitude, not fear.
- Take horoscope and dosha advice only from experienced pandits, and be wary of anyone selling costly rituals through fear.
- If you fast, keep your health in mind and consult a doctor if needed.
- Elders teach that grain donation and annadanam are an important part of graha worship.
Key points
- The Navagrahas: Surya, Chandra, Kuja, Budha, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu.
- Seven grahas rule the weekdays; Rahu and Ketu are shadow planets.
- Navadhanyalu: wheat, rice, toor dal, green gram, Bengal gram, cowpea, sesame, black gram and horse gram.
- Nine pradakshinas are common; many temples forbid touching the idols.
- Srikalahasti is famed for Rahu-Ketu puja; Kumbakonam for the Navagraha yatra.