Comprehensive Guide on Navagraha Worship in Hinduism
Worshiping the Navagraha (the nine celestial deities) holds great significance in Hinduism. Each planet, represented by a deity, is believed to influence various aspects of life such as health, wealth, relationships, and spirituality. Worshipping the Navagrahas can help balance these energies and alleviate negative effects in one's astrological chart.
This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for performing Navagraha Puja, with an emphasis on eco-friendly practices, simplicity, and devotion.
1. Preparation for Navagraha Puja
Cleanliness & Time for Worship
- Personal Cleanliness: Before starting the puja, take a bath and wear clean, fresh clothes. Avoid leather products as they are considered impure in most Hindu rituals.
- Space Preparation: Clean the area where the puja will be performed. It’s best to use natural cleaning products like water and cow dung, which are traditional and eco-friendly.
- Time for Puja: The best time to perform Navagraha Puja is either early in the morning (during Brahma Muhurta) or in the evening before sunset. Thursday, Saturday, and the days of solar/lunar eclipses are especially considered auspicious for Navagraha Puja.
Attire & Colors
Each Navagraha is associated with a specific color. Wearing clothes in the corresponding color can increase the impact of the puja:
- Surya (Sun): Red or Orange
- Chandra (Moon): White
- Mangal (Mars): Red
- Budha (Mercury): Green
- Guru (Jupiter): Yellow
- Shukra (Venus): White
- Shani (Saturn): Black or Dark Blue
- Rahu (North Node): Dark Blue or Grey
- Ketu (South Node): Multi-colored or Brown
Puja Items (Eco-friendly & Traditional)
- Brass or Copper idols or representations of Navagraha. Avoid using plastic idols.
- Natural flowers like jasmine, marigold, and hibiscus.
- Natural incense made of camphor or sandalwood.
- Coconut, bananas, jaggery, and fruits for offerings.
- Eco-friendly Diya (lamp) made of clay with ghee (clarified butter) or sesame oil.
- Fresh water in a copper vessel for Abhishekam (holy bath).
- Cow’s milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar for Panchamrit (a holy mixture).
- Leaves like Bilva, Tulsi, or Durva Grass (use local and seasonal eco-friendly varieties).
2. Simple Steps for Navagraha Puja
Invoke Ganesha: Start the puja by invoking Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Chant:
- "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah"
Navagraha Invocation: Place nine representations of the Navagraha deities in a circular arrangement, starting from the Sun (Surya) and going clockwise. You can use eco-friendly images or small brass/copper idols.
Kalash Puja (Water Vessel Worship):
- Fill a copper or brass Kalash with water, placing a coconut and mango leaves on top. This Kalash represents the Navagrahas and the entire universe.
Abhishekam (Holy Bath):
- Perform Abhishekam to the idols using Panchamrit (mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar), followed by water. This symbolizes purification.
Offering Flowers and Incense:
- Offer fresh, eco-friendly flowers to each Navagraha. Light incense and place it in front of the idols.
Mantras for Each Navagraha: Chant the specific mantra for each Navagraha. The simplest version of the mantras is:
- Surya: "Om Suryaya Namah"
- Chandra: "Om Chandraya Namah"
- Mangal: "Om Mangalaya Namah"
- Budha: "Om Budhaya Namah"
- Guru: "Om Gurave Namah"
- Shukra: "Om Shukraya Namah"
- Shani: "Om Shanicharaya Namah"
- Rahu: "Om Rahave Namah"
- Ketu: "Om Ketave Namah"
Offering of Fruits, Sweets, and Naivedya:
- Offer fruits like bananas, coconuts, and sweets (preferably homemade, eco-friendly, and natural). Traditional sweets such as Churma, Laddoos, and Kheer are ideal offerings.
Aarti:
- Perform Aarti with a clay Diya. Sing the Navagraha Aarti or a simple universal Aarti like "Om Jai Jagdish Hare."
Prayers:
- Recite the following prayer to invoke blessings: "Sarve Graha Shantirbhavantu" (May all the Grahas be at peace and shower their blessings upon us).
3. Concluding the Puja
Shanti Path (Peace Invocation): End the puja with a Shanti mantra:
- "Om Sarvesham Swastir Bhavatu, Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu." (May there be well-being and peace for everyone).
Offering the Prasad: Distribute the prasad (offering) to everyone present. Eco-friendly plates made from banana leaves or other natural materials should be used.
4. Importance & Benefits of Navagraha Worship
- Balancing Astrological Influences: Navagraha worship helps mitigate negative planetary effects (Doshas) in your astrological chart.
- Good Health & Prosperity: Regular puja leads to better health, prosperity, and mental peace.
- Spiritual Growth: Devotion to Navagrahas enhances spiritual growth, as you seek their blessings for guidance.
- Success & Harmony: Alleviates obstacles in career, relationships, and overall well-being.
5. Eco-Friendly Disposal of Puja Items
- Leftover Flowers & Leaves: Compost the leftover flowers, leaves, and other biodegradable items. You can also use them as manure in your garden.
- Water from Abhishekam: The water used for bathing the idols can be poured into plants or a sacred Tulsi (holy basil) plant.
- Remaining Oil & Ghee from Lamps: If leftover, the ghee or oil from the diya should be reused for future pujas or offered to a temple.
- Prasad Leftovers: Prasad that isn’t consumed can be fed to birds, animals, or disposed of in a sacred manner (such as offering it to trees).
Performing Navagraha Puja with devotion and using eco-friendly, traditional products ensures both spiritual and environmental balance. This not only aligns with Hindu dharmic values but also supports sustainability. By focusing on simplicity, purity, and reverence for nature, the Navagraha puja becomes a powerful spiritual practice that can uplift and guide your life in harmony with the cosmos.