Brahmaa Muraari-stripuraanta-kaari, Bhannu Shashi

Bhumisuto Budhashcha,

Gurushcha Shukhrah Shani Raahu Ketavah, Sarve

Grahaa Shaantikaara Bhavantu.

May Lord Brahma, Lord Krishna (Vishnu) and Lord Shiva as well as the Nav Grahas – Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Brihaspati, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu bestow peace.

There is a common misconception that ’Nav Graha’ refers to the nine planets of the solar system. This is untrue. The term actually refers to the deities which govern nine celestial bodies in the solar system. they are according to the order given above, the deities governing the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, the Ascending node of the moon, and the Descending node of the moon.

Just as entire bodies of water can be pulled across the earth by the moon physically, so too on a subtle spiritual level, the psyche of a human, his life, the environment and the course of events in the world can be affected by these nine celestial bodies. In the Hindu dharma, the ancient seers discovered the relationship between the position of these particular celestial bodies and the various elements of human life, and thus began in depth study. The result of these studies is ‘Jyotish’ – Indian Astrology. Not to be confused with the western ‘astrology’, the Jyotish scriptures are particular to every individual and explain many events in a person’s life. The information is all contained in the positioning of these celestial bodies over the place of birth and at that specific time of birth of the individual.

Some positions of the celestial bodies are malefic. Some are beneficial. There are rituals to remedy the effect of the malefic celestial bodies and there are rituals to propitiate the benign celestial bodies. This is why in Hinduism, it is considered important to seek blessings of the Nav Grahas before any endeavor whether it be a ritual, or an event in life. By worshipping the Nav Grahas, we are assured of the removal of the effects of malefic Grahas, and we are assured the blessings of the benevolent Grashas.