Research Article No. 2051

Written by London swaminathan

Swami_48@yahoo.com

Date : 7  August  2015

Time uploaded in London : – 14-11

Ashmolean Museum of Oxford University and British Museum in London hold over 1000 year old Nava Graha statues and dolls with the details of their provenance. Navagrahas are worshipped by Hindus until today. All the South Indian temples have special enclave for the Nine Planetary Deities. Sani or Saturn is the most sought after deity because every Hindu who believes in astrology is scared of the evil influence of the planet. Every Tamil Nadu temple gets a big crowd in the Navagraha shrine, particularly on saturdays.

Hindu Brahmins offer water oblations to Navagrahas thrice a day in their Sandhya vandhana. So it must be a deep rooted Vedic custom. Tamil saint Sambandhar sang about it in seventh century. He starts from Sun and finishes with Saturn in his Thevaram hymn. Some scholars wrote that this nine planetary system was imported from Greece which is not correct. None could have squeezed it into Vedic custom or Thevara Hymns.  More over Varahamihira who dealt with it  in his Brahat Jataka and Brhat Samhita says that he has been just summarising what his forefathers or scholars of eternity wrote in bulky volumes.

Hindus have incorporated their scientific knowledge into the hymns of hymns on Navargraha. I have already given it in my articles. Just a recap of important points from my previous article “ Hindus’ Future Predictions part 1 and 2 posted on May 20, 2012:

Venus and Rain: Tamil literature and Sanskrit literature associate Venus with the rains. Astronomers and meteorologists will discover that Venus has a link with the rains in future. If Venus goes towards south, the world will have a drought (going south is an astrological jargon to denote appearing towards south). The Vedas and Tamil literature talk about twelve year long droughts. So the scientists will find out that the position of Venus has an impact on world’s weather.

We know that the sun has a big role in the growth of plants. We read plants make food by photosynthesis using sun light. But Sanskrit literature is very clear and loud in saying moon’s rays give energy to the plants. So biologists will find out soon the link between the moon and the plants. But Hindus never denied Sun’s role.

Sanskrit Navagraha Stotras (hymns on nine heavenly bodies) gives the relationship between the planets. Hindus have already found out that Jupiter is the largest and heaviest planet and named it GURU appropriately. Guru means leader, teacher and heavy in Sanskrit. Mars is called Red planet by Tamil and Sanskrit poets. Mars is already confirmed red by scientists. Mars is called Bhumi Puthra/ son of earth. Scientists also believe Mars may have water and life.

Saturn is called a black planet by Sangam Tamil poets and Sanskrit poets (Maim meen in Tamil and Neela in Sanskrit). Saturn will be confirmed black by scientists in future. It is also called chaya puthra (son of shadow as well as son of sun). Hindus said that Saturn has a son called Manthi. It corresponds to the ring (Mantle) around it.

Planet Mercury is called “son of moon”. Science is yet to prove the link between the two heavenly bodies. Probably mercury came into existence because of moon. When moon or/ and another body collided with earth mercury might have born. Science will prove  Hindus are right about mercury .

Venus is described as the “son of sun”. Scientists will prove the link between the sun and Venus. We already know that Venus is the brightest object in the sky next to sun and moon. It is always with the sun (it can be seen either at dawn or at sunset).

FOLLOWING STATUES ARE FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON

I give below the relevant hymns with the translation (I have taken it from different sites just to save time)

Navagraha shlokam on each graha

Sun (Soorya/Ravi)

Japa Kusuma Samkaasham Kaashya-peyam Mahaa-dyutim

Tamorim Sarva-papaghnam Pranatosmin Divakaram

Sun (Soorya-Ravi) I pray to the Sun, the day-maker,

destroyer of all sins, the enemy of darkness, of great

brilliance, the descendent of Kaashyapa, the one who

shines like the japaa flower.

Moon (Chandra)

Dadhi-shankha Tushaarabham Ksheeror-daarnava sambhavam

Namami Shashinam Somam Shambhor-mukuta-bhooshanam

I pray to the Moon who shines coolly like curds or a

white shell, who arose from the ocean of milk, who has

a hare on him, Soma, who is the ornament of Shiva’s

hair.

Mars (Kuja -Ankarakan)

Dharani-garba-sampootam Vidyut-kaanti Sama-prabham

Kumaram Shakti-hastam tam Mangalam Pranamamyaham

(split as Pranamami aham)

I pray to Mars, born of Earth, who shines with the

same brilliance as lightning, the young man who

carries a spear.

Mercury (Budhan)

Priyangu-kalika-shyamam Roopenaa-pratimam-budham

Sowmyam-sowmya Gunopetam tam Budham Pranamamyaham

I pray to Mercury, dark like the bud of millet, of

unequalled beauty, gentle and agreeable.

Jupiter (Guru)

Devanam cha Rishinaam cha Gurum Kanchana Sannibham

Budhi-bhootam Trilokesham tam Namami Brihaspatim

I pray to Jupiter, the teacher of gods and rishis,

intellect incarnate, lord of the three worlds.

Venus (Sukran)

Hima-kunta-mrinaa-laabham Daityaanam-paramam Gurum

Sarva-shastra Pravaktaaram Bhargavam Pranamamyaham

I pray to Venus, the utimate preceptor of demons,

promulgator of all learning, he who shines like the

fiber of snow-white jasmine.

Saturn (Sani)

Neelanjana Samaabhasam Ravi-putram Yama-agrajam

Chchaya-martaanda Sambhootam tam Namami Shanaiswaram

I pray to Saturn, the slow moving, born of Shade and

Sun, the elder brother of Yama, the offspring of Sun,

he who has the appearance of black collyrium.

Rahu

Artha-kaayam Mahaa-veeryam Chandra-aditya Vimardanam

Simhika-garbha Sambootam tam Rahum Pranamamyaham

I pray to Rahu, having half a body, of great bravery,

the eclipser of the Moon and the Sun, born of

Simhikaa.

Kethu

Palaasha-pushpa-samkasham Taaraka-graha-mastakam

Raudram-raudratmakam Ghoram tam Ketum Pranamamyaham

I pray to Ketu, who has the appearance of Palaasha

flower, the head of stars and planets, fierce and

terrifying.

Iti Vyasa-mukhot-geetam Yah Padeth Su-samaahitaha

Diva-vaa-yadi-vaa-ratro Vigna-shantir-bhavishyati

Those who read the song sung by VyAsa, will be joyous,

sovereign and powerful, and will succeed in appeasing

obstacles, occurring by day or by night.

Nara-naari-nripaanam cha Bhavet Do:swapna-naashanam

Aishwarya-matulaam tesham Aarogyam Pushti-vardhanam

Bad dreams of men, women and kings alike will be

destroyed and they will be endowed with unparalleled

riches, good health and enhancing nourishment.

Graha-nakshatraja Peeda Taskaragni-samudbhavaha

Taa-sarvaa-prashamam-yaanti Vyaso-bhrute-na-samshayaha

All the pain, devastation caused by fire, planets and

stars will be of the past, so spoke VyAsa,

emphatically.

Iti Shree-Vyasa virachitam Navagraha stotram

sampoornam.

Thus ends the song of praise of the nine planets

composed by Vyasa.

Another short Hymn:

Om Namah Sooryaya Chandraya Mangalaya Budhaya Cha

Guru Shukra Shanibhyascha Raahave Ketave Namo Namaha

My Salutations to Soorya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars) and Budha

(Mercury). I also salute Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn) as well as

Rahu and Ketu.

Aarogyam praathuno Dhinakara:

Chandro yaso nirmalam

Boothim Boomi sutha: Sudham sutanaiya:

Pragnyam Gurur Gouravam

Kanyak komal Vak vilasamadulam

Mandho mudam sarvada

Raahur bhaahu balam,Virodha samanam

Kethus Kulasyonnidhim.