Lord Navgraha Anushthan

Description

The Lord Navgraha Anushthan is a sacred ritual performed in Hinduism to honor the nine planets or celestial bodies, known as the Navgraha. The term “Navgraha” translates to “nine planets” in Sanskrit, and these planets are believed to have significant influence over various aspects of human life, health, wealth, and spiritual progress. The nine planets in the Navgraha system are:

1. Lord Surya (Sun)
2. Lord Chandra (Moon)
3. Lord Mangala (Mars)
4. Lord Budha (Mercury)
5. Lord Guru (Jupiter)
6. Lord Shukra (Venus)
7. Lord Shani (Saturn)
8. Lord Rahu (North Node of the Moon)
9. Lord Ketu (South Node of the Moon)

Purpose of the Navgraha Anushthan

The Navgraha Anushthan is performed to:

● Mitigate the negative effects of malefic planetary positions in one’s horoscope.
● Improve health, wealth, and relationships by gaining the favorable influence of benefic planets.
● Enhance spiritual growth and remove obstacles from life.
● Propitiate the nine planets for success, happiness, and prosperity.

This ritual is often recommended for those whose horoscopes indicate afflictions from specific planets, or during particular planetary periods like Dasha or Antardasha in Vedic astrology.

How is the Navgraha Anushthan Performed?

The Navgraha Anushthan involves a series of steps, and the process may vary depending on the specific tradition, region, or priest conducting the ceremony. The general steps include:

1. Preparation:
● The person performing the Anushthan or the participants should purify themselves with a bath.
● A clean and sacred space is created, often near an altar.

2. Invocation: The nine planets (Navgraha) are invoked by chanting their respective mantras. Each planet has a specific mantra to invoke their blessings:

● Lord Surya: “Om Suryaya Namah”
● Lord Chandra: “Om Chandraya Namah”
● Lord Mangal: “Om Angarakaya Namah”
● Lord Budha: “Om Budhaya Namah”
● Lord Guru: “Om Gurave Namah”
● Lord Shukra: “Om Shukraya Namah”
● Lord Shani: “Om Shanaya Namah”
● Lord Rahu: “Om Rahave Namah”
● Lord Ketu: “Om Ketave Namah”

3. Recitation of Sacred Texts:
● The Navgraha Stotra, a prayer dedicated to the nine planets, may be recited.
● Other sacred texts like the Navgraha Ashtakshara Mantra and Navgraha Kavach can also be recited during the ritual.

4. Homa or Yajna:
● A fire sacrifice (homa) is often performed to invoke the blessings of the planets, offering oblations to the fire while chanting mantras.

5. Prayers for Each Planet:
● The individual or the priest prays for the specific planetary influences affecting the life of the devotee. The purpose is to rectify any doshas (flaws) in the birth chart or to gain the positive effects of the planets.

6. Conclusion:
● The ritual ends with a final prayer for health, prosperity, and spiritual wellbeing. The priest may perform an Aarti (a devotional song) to honor the nine planets.