Navagraha (Pron: nævəˈgrɑ:ə) pilgrimages are pilgrimages devoted to

Navagraha The navagraha are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu mythology. The term is derived from ''nava'' ( "nine") and ''graha'' ( "planet, seizing, laying hold of, holding"). The nine part ...

—the nine (nava) major celestial bodies (

Graha The navagraha are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu mythology. The term is derived from ''nava'' ( "nine") and ''graha'' ( "planet, seizing, laying hold of, holding"). The nine part ...

s) of

Hindu astronomy Astronomy has a long history in the Indian subcontinent, stretching from pre-historic to modern times. Some of the earliest roots of Indian astronomy can be dated to the period of Indus Valley civilisation or earlier. Astronomy later develope ...

. These temples are made of stone. These celestial bodies are named

Surya Surya ( ; , ) is the Sun#Dalal, Dalal, p. 399 as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchaya ...

(Sun),

Chandra Chandra (), also known as Soma (), is the Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night, plants and vegetation. He is one of the Navagraha (nine planets of Hinduism) and Dikpala (guardians of the directions). Etymology and other ...

(Moon),

Mangala Mangala (, IAST: ) is the personification, as well as the name for the planet Mars, in Hindu literature. Also known as Lohita (), he is the deity of anger, aggression, as well as war. According to Vaishnavism, he is the son of Bhumi, the eart ...

(Mars),

Budha Budha () is the Sanskrit word for the planet Mercury (planet), Mercury, personified as a god. Also a god who represented the intelligence. He is also known as Somaya, Rohinaya, and rules over the nakshatra, ''nakshatra''s (lunar mansions) of A ...

(Mercury),

Brihaspati Brihaspati (, ), is a Hindu god. In the ancient Vedic scriptures, Brihaspati is associated with fire, and the word also refers to a god who counsels the devas and devis (gods and goddesses). In some later texts, the word refers to the large ...

(Jupiter),

Shukra Shukra (, ) is a Sanskrit word that means "clear" or "bright". It also has other meanings, such as the name of a sage who was the preceptor of the asuras and taught them the Vedas. In medieval mythology and Hindu astrology, the word refers to ...

(Venus),

Shani Shani (, ), or Shanaishchara (, ), is the divine personification of the planet Saturn in Hinduism, and is one of the nine heavenly objects ( Navagraha) in Hindu astrology. Shani is also a male Hindu deity in the Puranas, whose iconography cons ...

(Saturn),

Rahu Rāhu (Sanskrit: राहु, 16px, ☊) is one of the nine major celestial bodies ( navagraha) in Hindu texts and the king of meteors. It represents the ascension of the Moon in its precessional orbit around the Earth, also referred to as ...

(North

Lunar Node A lunar node is either of the two orbital nodes of the Moon; that is, the two points at which the orbit of the Moon intersects the ecliptic. The ''ascending'' (or ''north'') node is where the Moon moves into the northern ecliptic hemisphere, ...

) and

Ketu KETU (1120 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Catoosa, Oklahoma, and serving the Tulsa metropolitan area. The station broadcasts a Spanish adult contemporary radio format and is owned by Antonio Perez, through licensee Radio Las Amer ...

(South

). Many temples in South India contain a shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas.

Navagraha temple in Nepal

Nepals First Navagraha temple is in Arjunchaupari-1, Syangja District of Nepal. The temple is built differently in an open roof concept. Check: www.navagaraha.com for more.

Navagraha temples in Kerala

In Kerala, Navagraha temples are rare, like other states. Unlike other Navagraha temples, Kilimarathukavu navagraha temple is elliptical in structure, much like the galaxy.

Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu

The Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu situated in the vicinity of

Mayiladuthurai Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) is a :ta:சிறப்பு நிலை நகராட்சிகள், Special Grade Municipality and district headquarters of Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The town ...

and

Kumbakonam Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum), or Kudanthai, is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the hea ...

, were constructed during the

Chola The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...

dynasty. As per Hindu legend, Sage Kalava was suffering from serious ailments along with leprosy. He prayed to the Navagrahas, the nine planet deities. The planets were pleased by his devotion and offered cure to the sage.

Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...

, the Hindu god of creation, was angered, as he felt that the planets had no powers to give boons to humans. He cursed the nine planets to suffer from leprosy and sent them down to earth in Vellerukku Vanam, the white wild flower jungle – the modern Suryanar Kovil. The planets prayed to

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

to relieve them of the curse. Shiva appeared to them and said that the place belonged to them and they would have to grace the devotees worshipping them from the place. Each temple is located in a different village, and is considered an abode of one of the Navagrahas. However, eight of these temples are dedicated to

. 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. The other temples were built earlier, ranging back to 7th-9th century. * Surya Navagrahastalam— Sooriyanar Kovil (

Thanjavur District Thanjavur District is one of the Districts of Tamil Nadu, 38 districts of the States and territories of India, state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Its headquarters is Thanjavur (Tanjore) . The district is located in the delta of the Cauv ...

) * Chandra Navagrahastalam— Thingalur (

) * Angaarakan Navagrahastalam— Vaitheeswaran Kovil (

Mayiladuthurai District Mayiladuthurai District is one of the youngest districts of Tamil Nadu, having been carved out from Nagapattinam district, Nagapattinam District in 2020. Tamil Nadu has 38 districts in total, and Mayiladuthurai is among them, located in the sout ...

) * Budha Navagrahastalam -- Thiruvenkadu (

Mayiladuthurai district Mayiladuthurai District is one of the youngest districts of Tamil Nadu, having been carved out from Nagapattinam district, Nagapattinam District in 2020. Tamil Nadu has 38 districts in total, and Mayiladuthurai is among them, located in the sout ...

) * Guru Navagrahastalam -- Alangudi (

Thiruvarur District Thiruvarur district is one of the 38 districts in the Tamil Nadu state of India. As of 2011, the district had a population of 1,264,277 with a sex-ratio of 1,017 females for every 1,000 males. Geography The district occupies an area of 2,161 ...

) * Sukra Navagrahastalam -- Kanjanur (

) * Shani Navagrahastalam -- Thirunallar (

Karaikal District Karaikal district ( French: ''District de Karikal'') is one of the four districts of the Union Territory of Puducherry in India. Geography Karaikal district occupies an area of . Karaikal is a small coastal enclave of territory which was f ...

, Union Territory of Puducherry) * Raahu Navagrahastalam -- Thirunageswaram (

) * Ketu Navagrahastalam -- Keezhperumpallam (

)

Navagraha temples in Chennai Kundrathur

There is a similar cluster of Navagraha temples in Chennai, erstwhile Thondai Nadu in and around Kundrathur. * Agatheeswarar Temple - Suryan - Kolapakkkam * Somanaadheeswarar Temple - Chandran - Somangalam * Vaidheeswaran Temple - Angaragan - Poovirundhavalli (Poondhamalli) * Sundareswarar Temple - Budhan - Kovur * Ramanaadheeswarar Temple - Guru - Porur * Velleeswarar Temple - Sukran - Mangadu * Agatheeswarar Temple - Shaneeswaran - Pozhichalur * Neelakandeswarar Temple - Kethu - Gerugambakkam * Nageshwarar Temple - Rahu - Kundratthur These were founded by Thiyagaraja Gurukkal and Bhuvaneshwari and their family published to people through small sized book of Navagraha stalam puranam in Chennai.

Thirunelveli

A separate set of Navagraha temples which are dedicated to Lord Vishnu on the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route are called Nava Tirupathi. * Srivaikuntanathan Perumal Temple—Suryan * Vijayaasana Perumal Temple—Chandran * Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple—Sevvai * ThiruPulingudi Perumal Temple—Budhan * AlwarThirunagari Temple—Gurubhagawan * Makara Nedunkuzhai Kannan Temple—Sukran * Srinivasa Perumal Temple—Shaniswaran * Irattai Thiruppathy, Aravindalochanar—Raghu * Irattai Thiruppathy, Devapiran—Kedhu

Gudiyatham, Vellore

Navagraha temples Annual Reports on Indian Epigraphy 1887-1907, New Delhi, 1986 The Navagraha temples listed contain separate shrines for these gods or temple deity worshipped as that god. *Surya Navagrahastalam - Karupulleshwarar temple, Vellore, Gudiyatham *Chandra Navagrahastalam - Sri Linganatha Swamy temple *Angaarakan Navagrahastalam - Sri Mahadevar temple *Budha Navagrahastalam - Sri Semmalai temple *Guru Navagrahastalam - Sri Gurubhagavan temple, Perumbadi. *Sukra Navagrahastalam - Sri Kaalabhairavar temple, Pogalur *Shani Navagrahastalam - Sri Baalasarthuleshwarar temple, Gudiyatham north *Raahu Navagrahastalam - Sri Naganathaswamy temple, near Gudiyatham *Ketu Navagrahastalam - Sri Naganathaswamy temple, near Gudiyatham

Navagraha temple in Assam

The Navagraha Temple is on the top of Chitrasal Hill (or Navagraha Hill), in

Guwahati Guwahati () the largest city of the Indian state of Assam, and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the seat of the Government of Assam. Th ...

city,

Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...

. The existing brick temple on Chitrasal hill was built by Ahom king Swargadeo

Rajeswar Singha Suremphaa (reign 1751–1769), or Rajeswar Singha, the fourth son of Rudra Singha, became the Ahom Dynasty, king of the Ahom kingdom after the death of his brother King Pramatta Singha. Rudra Singha's third son, Mohanmala Maladev Gohain, Mohanma ...

during his reign from 1751 to 1769. Enshrined in this temple are nine Shivalingams, representing the nine celestial bodies, each covered with a coloured garment symbolic of each of the celestial bodies, with a Shivaligam in the centre symbolising the Sun. Connected to this Navagraha temple a nine-cornered (Na-kunia) tank was dug down in the valley south of it. This tank is known as Silpukuri.

Navagraha temples in Nashik Maharashtra

Shri Anna Ganapati Navgraha Siddhapeetham, Nasik, which is 1.5 km from Nasik Road railway station. All Navgraha are residing in nine temple (gabhara/garbhagudi) with their wives. It is the only navgraha Siddhapeetham in Maharashtra. Peth (central

Pune Pune ( ; , ISO 15919, ISO: ), previously spelled in English as Poona (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1978), is a city in the state of Maharashtra in the Deccan Plateau, Deccan plateau in Western ...

), there is a major Navagraha temple behind

Shaniwar Wada Shaniwar Wada is a historical fortification in the city of Pune, India. Built in 1732, it was the seat of the Peshwas of the Maratha Confederacy until 1818. The fort itself was largely destroyed in 1828 by an unexplained fire, but the surviving ...

, which is also specifically devoted to

. The temple complex is at a distance of 1.5 km from Kherdi junction. It is owned by Shri Sainath Maharaj Trust, Dombivli (E), Thane. The main temple belongs to Sai Baba and there are surrounding temples of Ganesha, Shiva, Navagraha temple and Sri Dattatreya temple.

Navgraha temple in Madhya Pradesh

A long-established Navagraha temple is inside the Bada Ganpati Temple just behind Makaleshwar Temple towards the Harsidhhi temple in the city of

Ujjain Ujjain (, , old name Avantika, ) or Ujjayinī is a city in Ujjain district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the fifth-largest city in Madhya Pradesh by population and is the administrative as well as religious centre of Ujjain ...

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (; ; ) is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and the largest city is Indore, Indore. Other major cities includes Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar. Madhya Pradesh is the List of states and union te ...

. It is believed to have been there for hundreds of years with people getting blessings and relief when praying there, specially during their Shani ''sade sati'' period which is held to be the most dreaded phase in one's lifetime. Devotees worship all nine planets here and they offer mustard oil and flowers to Shani at the temple during their prayers. Devotees pray while doing parikrama of Navagraha stones and present flowers and bel leaves while performing pooja.

Navagraha temple in Uttar Pradesh

Navagraha temple – Prayagraj

The Navagraha temple at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh was built by the Shri Patharchatti Ram Lila Committee in Prayagraj. It was opened to the public in 2012. It is located in the Rambagh area of Prayagraj. It can be reached within two minutes from the City Railway Station at Rambagh. There are other temples as well: * Shri Khatu Shyam Temple * Shri Ram Temple A jhaanki of Ganga Avataran is under construction and was expected to be complete by November 2012.

Navagrah temple – Karari Kaushambi

Navagrah temple at Karari Kaushambi in Uttar Pradesh was built by Shri Somnath Verma. It was opened to the public in 2017, in Ashok Nager in Karari Kaushambi. It can be reached within 15 minutes from the Bharwari railway station at Ashok Nagar. There are other gods in it as well: * Rama * Radha Krishna * Shiva * Durga * Ganesha * Hanuman

References

External links

Various Navagraha TemplesKaveri Delta Navagraha Temples on Google MapsNavagraha temple tour in Tamil Nadu - Step by Step Guide
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