Navagraha

About Navagraha

The Navagrahas are nine sky-deities worshipped as a single group: Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. The Vyasodgita paints each in one color — Surya red as hibiscus, Chandra white as curd, Shani black as collyrium, Ketu like a palasha bloom. In temples like Suryanar Kovil near Kumbakonam, the nine stand in a 3×3 grid with Surya at the center, each facing a different direction. The Ekasloki prayer asks each for one specific gift: health from the Sun, wisdom from Budha, eloquence from Shukra, strength of arms from Rahu.