Navagraha (Pron: nævəˈgrɑ:ə) pilgrimages are pilgrimages devoted to Navagraha—the nine (nava) major celestial bodies (Grahas) of Hindu astronomy. These temples are made of stone. These celestial bodies are named Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), 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 Navagrahas.

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

The Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu date from the Chola 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, 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 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 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. The other temples were built earlier, ranging back to 7th-9th century.[1]

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 [2] 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 Guwahati

The Navagraha Temple is on the top of Chitrasal Hill (or Navagraha Hill), in Guwahati city, Assam, India. The existing brick temple on Chitrasal hill was built by Ahom king Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha during his reign from 1751 to 1769. 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. Connected to this Navagraha temple a nine-cornered (Na-kunia) tank was dug down in the valley South of it. This tank is presently known as Silpukuri.

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. The only navgraha Siddhapeetham in Maharashtra Peth (central Pune), there is a major Navagraha temple behind Shaniwar Wada, which is also specifically devoted to Shani. 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.

A historical Navagraha temple is established inside the Bada Ganpati Temple just behind Makaleshwar Temple towards Harsidhhi 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 Pray their specially during their Shani -Sade sati period which is supposed to be the most dreaded phase in one's lifetime.

Devotees worship to all nine planets here and they offer Mustard oil and flowers to Shani at the temple during their prayers.

Devotees have to pray while doing Parikrama of Navagraha stones and present Flowers and or Bel Leaves while performing pooja. It is famous temple.

Navagraha temple - Prayagraj

Navagraha Temple at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh-India has been built by Shri Patharchatti Ram Lila Committee in prayagraj . It was opened for public in 2012. It is located in Rambagh area in prayagraj . It can be reached within two minutes from the City Railway Station at Rambagh in prayagraj.

There are other temples as well in it as below

  • Shri Khatu Shyam Temple
  • Shri Ram Temple

Nowadays, a very special Jhaanki of Ganga Avataran is under construction and is expected to complete by Nov 2012.

Navagrah temple - Karari Kaushambi

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 other gods are in it as well:

  • Rama
  • Radha Krishna
  • Shiva
  • Durga
  • Ganesha
  • Hanuman

See also

References

  1. ↑ Anantharaman, Ambjuam (2006). Temples of South India (second ed.). East West. pp. 43–47. ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8.
  2. ↑ Annual Reports on Indian Epigraphy 1887-1907, New Delhi, 1986
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