Navagrahas

Navagraha Temples History:- There is a cluster of Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu near Kumbakonam built during the reign of the Chola dynasty. According to Hindu legends, Sage Kalava was suffering from serious ailments along with leprosy. He with utmost devotion prayed to the Navagrahas to cure him of his ailments. The Navagrahas pleased with his devotion granted him a cure. However, Brahma, was extremely unhappy with this as he felt that the nine planets did not have any authority to bless people. He cursed the Navagrahas to suffer from ailments and sent them to earth in Vellurukku Vanam, the white wildflower jungle – the modern-time Suryanar Kovil. The 9 planets were extremely sad by this series of events and decided to pray to Lord Shiva to relieve them of their agony. 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.

Navagrahas temples name:-

• Surya Navagrahastalam — Sooriyanar Kovil
• Chandra Navagrahastalam — Kailasanathar Temple, Thingaloor
• Angaarakan Navagrahastalam — Vaitheeswaran Kovil
• Budha Navagrahastalam — Thiruvenkadu
• Guru Navagrahastalam — Alangudi
• Sukra Navagrahastalam — Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur
• Shani Navagrahastalam — Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple
• Raahu Navagrahastalam — Sri Naganathaswamy Temple, Thirunageswaram
• Ketu Navagrahastalam — Keezhperumpallam Temple

Navagrahas:-

No.	Image	Name	Western equivalent	Day
1.		Surya, Aditya	Sun	Sunday
2.		Chandra, Soma	Moon	Monday
3.		Mangala	Mars	Tuesday
4.		Budha	Mercury	Wednesday
5.		Bṛihaspati	Jupiter	Thursday
6.		Shukra	Venus	Friday
7.		Shani	Saturn	Saturday
8.		Rahu	Ascending node of the Moon
9.		Ketu	The descending node of the Moon

History of Navagraha Gods:-

The Navagraha is derived from the Sanskrit words “Nava” and “Graha”. Nava means “nine”, and Graha means “energy, planet, or spiritual body”.

The Navagraha Gods are Surya(Sun), Chandra(Moon), Mangal(Mars), Budha(Mercury), Guru(Jupiter), Shukra(Venus), Shani(Saturn), Rahu and Ketu.

They act upon every Past and Present birth cycle in every good and bad action of the person. They are the reasons and causes of the suffering and happiness of human living.