People all over the world have believed in the influence of the planets on human life and history. Logically speaking, the creation of the planets precedes that of the living beings. Hence, some sort of cause and effect relation must subsist between these two. This seems to be the basis for this belief.
The Navagrahas or the nine planets are regarded by the Hindus as of the greatest astrological significance and are believed to influence the life of the individual as also the course of history.
As per traditional list, the nine planets are Ravi or Surya (Sun), Soma or Chandra (Moon), Mangala, Kuja or Angaraka (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brhaspati or Guru (Jupiter), Sukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu and Kethu. The seven days of the week have derived their names from the first seven planets. Rahu and Kethu are not planets but ascending and descending nodes of the moon. Sometimes Ketu is depicted as the personification of comets and meteors.
Sani, Rahu and Ketu are considered inauspicious, even positively maleficent, and responsible for childrens diseases. Hence they need to be propitiated.
The nine planets are invariably found in every Saiva temple in South India. In many North Indian temples they are depicted on the lintels of doors, to protect the temple and all those who enter it. They may also be housed in a separate Mandapa (a small pavilion) or at least a platform where the images of these nine Grahas are installed in such a way that no two of them will face each other. It is sometimes stated that the images of the planets are set up in the temples in the order in which they are zodiacal circle at the time of construction of the temple.
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All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac. This includes the planets: Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn, the Sun, the Moon, as well as positions in the sky, Rahu (north or ascending lunar node) and Ketu (south or descending lunar node).
According to some, Grahas are the "markers of influence" that point out the karmic influence on the behavior of living beings. They themselves are not causative elements but can be compared to traffic signs.
Soma or Candra has only a face and two hands but no body. He is shown holding white lotuses in his two hands. He rides on a two or three wheeled chariot drawn by ten horses. |
Mangala or Kuja has four hands, carrying the weapons mace and javelin in two, showing the Varada and Abhaya Mudras with the other two. He rides on a ram, |
Budha also has four hands, thre of them wielding the weapons sword, shield and mace. The last hand shows the Varadamudra. He rides on a lion or a chariot drawn by four horses. |
Brhaspati, being the Guru, is shown holding a book and a rosary in his two hands. His chariot is golden and is driven by eight horses. |
Rahu is usually described as having only a face and Ketu is depicted like a serpents tail. Iconographical works, however, describe them differently. |
Ketu has an ugly face and rides on a vulture. In his two arms he exhibits a mace and the Varadamudra or Abhayamudra. |