Post No. 12,190
Date uploaded in London – – 26 June , 2023
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
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Picture- Navagrahas in British Museum, London
I gave a brief description about Ganapathi Homam yesterday. Let us look at Nava Graha Homam today.
Hindus were more scientific than any other ancient community. They named the heavenly bodies Graha ( now wrongly translated in English as Planets). The real meaning of Graha is ‘heavenly bodies with Gravity’. Issac Newton did not discover gravity. Hindus discovered it and named them ‘Grahas’ thousands of years ago. We use that word today in Grahanam (eclipse), Pani Grahanam/holding hand= i.e. wedding etc. Real meaning is that which attracts, grips, holds, grabs.
English words Grab, Grip, Gravity are all derived from Sanskrit Graha. Hindus knew Guru/Jupiter is the largest planet and named it Guru= heavy.
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Now to the Nava Braha Homam
Next to Ganapathi Homam, Nava Graha Homam (havan) is the important one. All new ventures begin with Ganapathi Homam and Nava Graha Homam.
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What is the benefit?
Some people may have certain Grahas in weaker positions in their birth charts knowns as Jaataka or horoscope and they may cause evil effects; to avoid such evil influence of grahas we do this Havan . Those grahas in favourable places in the horoscope will be boosted and encouraged to give the performer more benefits. When one does it for the family, the whole family gets the benefits.
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What is it?
In this fire ceremony, Nine Planets (actually heavenly bodies) are worshiped. They use Nine different diagrams, nine colour cloths, nine different grains, nine different wooden sticks, Nine Prasads etc. Priests recite hymns praising Nine Grahas: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury , Venus, Jupiter, Saturn Rahu, and Ketu.
It will take more time than Ganapathi Homam. Both can be finished within three hours. Advance preparations will reduce this time.
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Navagrahas in Ashmoleon Museum, Oxford.
How do they do it?
The priests invoke Varuna/God of Water and Nine Grahas in the metal pot filled with water in which spices like cardamom and cloves are put. All the deities who control the nava/nine grahas are also invoked. Coconut with Mango leaves are placed on the mouth of the pot. It is placed on Banana leaves spread with rice. On top of banana leaves two measures of rice is spread then the Purna Kumbha (metal pot usually made up of silver or brass ) is placed. After finishing the mantra the holy water is sprinkled on everyone present there.
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Following are required for the Navagraha Homam
I am giving nine grahas and their favourite things below; the priest will put the grains and the sticks along with ghee.
So ghee (clarified butter is required along with the things mentioned below. Certain Hindu shops sell them as a pack; if one says ‘it is for Navagraha homa’, they will give the pack; Havan Samagri is sold on line too)
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Priest offer the wooden sticks reciting the mantras eight times.
In the following, please focus on FOUR things only: Grains, Colour cloths, particular wooden sticks/twigs and Prasad. Rest is only for information.
1.Sun
Vahana – horse chariot
Zodiac sign ruled by sun- simha/ leo
(Please note Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – Ruby/ Maanikkam
Grain – wheat
Samittu / wood stick – from arka (Calotropis gigantea)
Naivedya / prasad – sweet Pongal/rice
Cloth or blouse piece required – red cloth
Devata in charge of sun – Lord Shiva
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2.Moon
Diagram –square
Vahana – white horse
Zodiac sign ruled by moon – cancer/ kataka rasi
(Please note Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – pearl/ muthu
Grain – paddy
Samittu / wood stick – purasu(Palasa)Butea monosperma
Naivedya / prasad – paayasa/ sweet liquid with little ghee
Cloth or blouse piece required – white
Devata in charge of sun – Goddess Gauri
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3.Mars / Angaaraka
Diagram –triangle
Vahana – red goat
Zodiac sign ruled by moon – Aries and Scorpio
Mesha/Vrischika
(Please note Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – coral
Grain – toor dhal
Samittu / wood stick – rose wood/ karunkali in Tamil/ Simsapa
Naivedya / prasad – havis/ cooked rice
Cloth or blouse piece required – red
Devata in charge of sun – God Subrahmanya
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4.Mercury -Budha
Diagram –arrow
Vahana – lion
Zodiac sign ruled by moon – Gemini/ Virgo
Mithuna / kanya
(Please not Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – emerald / maragatha
Grain – pulses
Samittu / wood stick – naayuruvi (Achyranthes aspera) Mayura in Sanskrit
Naivedya / prasad – milk rice
Cloth or blouse piece required –yellow
Devata in charge of sun – God Vishnu
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5.Guru /Jupiter /Brihaspati
Vahana – yellow horse
Zodiac sign ruled by moon – Sagittarius /Pisces
Dhanus / Meena
(Please note Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – Topaz/ pushparaga
Grain – channadhal whole
Samittu / wood stick – peepal/ pipal sticks
Naivedya / prasad – curd rice/ yoghurt rice
Cloth or blouse piece required – golden colour
Devata in charge of sun – God Brahma
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6.Sukran / Venus
Diagram –five pointed star
Vahana – white horse
Zodiac sign ruled by moon – Taurus /Libra; Rishabha, Tulaa
(Please note Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – diamond
Grain – white country bean seeds
Samittu / wood stick – udumbaa/ aththi / ficus udumberata
Naivedya / prasad – rice mixed with ghee
Cloth or blouse piece required – white
Devata in charge of sun – God Indra
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7.Saturn / sani/ Sanai Charan
Diagram –bow and arrow
Vahana – crow
Zodiac sign ruled by moon – makara / kumbham
Capricorn / Aquarius
(Please note Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – Saphire / neelam
Grain – sesame seeds
Samittu / wood stick – vanni (Shami tree), Prosopis Cineraria,
Naivedya / prasad – rice mixed with sesame powder
Cloth or blouse piece required – blue
Devata in charge of sun – God Yama
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8. Rahu / shadows/ Chaayaa graha
Diagram –winnowing pan
Vahana – goat
Zodiac sign ruled by moon – Meenam / Pisces
(Please note Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – Gomedaka/hessonite garnet
Grain – black gram whole/ urad dhal
Samittu / wood stick – Arukam pul/ dhurva grass
Naivedya / prasad – rice mixed with urad dhal
Cloth or blouse piece required –gray/ smoky
Devata in charge of sun – God Mrtyu
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Ketu / shadows/ Chaayaa graha
Diagram –flag
Vahana – chitra kapotha/ pigeon
Zodiac sign ruled by moon – mesham / aries
(Please note Hindu zodiac signs are different from western)
Gem stone – vaidurya / cat’s eye gem
Grain – horse gram
Samittu / wood stick – dharba grass
Naivedya / prasad – chitrannam/ colour rices
Cloth or blouse piece required –multi colour
Devata in charge of sun – God Chitra gupta
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If nine different sticks are not available priests use Peepal/ Pipal (Ficus religiosa) sticks/ twigs
General list
Please make sure the following are available :
We need fire sticks (Samith), Ghee (clarified Butter) for burning the offered things.
Flowers, Coconuts, Fruits, Kunmum/vermillion powder, Chandan/sandal, Vibhuti/holy ash, Incense sticks, Lamps with oil and wick, plates, metal pots (Kumbha, Kalasa) ,fresh coconuts, mango leaves, Turmeric, Payasam/sweet liquid, Sugar candy, nuts and dry fruits , metal plates, Bell, rose water, saffron, cardamom, cloves are needed for all Pujas. South Indians add Betel leaves and Betel nuts (Paan/Supaari) , in the plate. Banana leaves if available.
Priests will ask for some rice, paddy and turmeric powder.
Turmeric powder is used to make Ganesh, just one inch high.
Most of the times priests bring the Havan Vessel (Homa Gundam). But it is better to keep Foil paper, some sand or bricks to use as base for the Havan Vessel. It will keep the floor safe.
In places where the Fire Alarm cannot be switched off, priest will do simple fire ceremony symbolically with Dharba grass. Priests always carry Dharba grass, Pavitram (ring made up of Dharba), Sacred thread etc
Better talk to the priest in advance about the preparations.
Dry fruits , nuts = almonds, cashew nuts, pistachio, sultanas .
No salted nuts; only fresh, not fried nuts
No onion or garlic or egg or non vegetarian.
At the of all good rituals Arti is taken for the family members.
Dakshina (fees for performing or officiating) must be discussed with the priest in advance.
Coins may be required to put in the metal pot (Purna Kumba) and Arti plate. It is a tradition to give some money for the two ladies who do the Arti.
Navagraha Diagrams and Chart are taken from Homa Vidanam book written by Anna, Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004
–subham—-
Tags – Nava graha Homa, Nine Planets worship, list of Puja things
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