Temple of Navagrahas
Navagrahas have special importance in Sanatan Dharma. According to astrology, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are nine planets, which affect many aspects of a person’s life, such as happiness-sorrow, health, job, marriage and financial condition. This is the reason why worship of Navagrahas is necessary in any ritual. However, one thing doubts many people that Shiva temples have Navagraha idols, but why Vaishnav temples do not have Navagraha idols?
Why are there no Navagraha idols in Vaishnav temples?
According to spiritual scholars, its origin lies in the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna, while describing his universal glory, says, “Among the planets I am the Sun.” This means that the concept of Lord Vishnu is that form of the Supreme Soul which is the source of all the planets. Since the form that provides power to the Navagrahas is of Lord Vishnu, it is a tradition that there is no need to establish separate Navagrahas in his temple.
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For this reason, idols of Navagraha are not found in many Vaishnav temples built in ancient times. There mainly priority was given to Lord Vishnu or his incarnations. Devotees believed that seeing Lord Vishnu was equivalent to worshiping the Navagrahas.
Navagraha idols are found only in Shiva temples.
The situation is somewhat different in Shiva temples. Shiva is also considered to be the lord of Navagrahas and the deity who pacifies the evils of the planets, hence the practice of installing Navagrahas in many Shiva temples and performing special pujas for pacifying the planets is widely practiced by the devotees.
However, with time there have been changes in the way temples were built. There was a time when only one main deity was worshiped in the temple. Vishnu was worshiped in Vaishnav temples and Shiva was worshiped in Shiva temples. Nowadays, for the convenience of the devotees, idols of Ganapati, Subramanya Swamy and Navagraha are installed in the same temple premises, hence it is natural that today idols of Navagraha can be seen in some Vaishnav temples.
Spiritual concept of Navagraha worship
Another spiritual concept behind the worship of Navagrahas is also very interesting. ‘Grah’ means that which affects our life. Religious leaders believe that worshiping the planets not only removes the evil effects of the planets but also develops restraint, patience and discipline in the mind. It is believed that this puja provides strength to courageously face the difficulties in life.
Also read: Why is conch shell not blown in front of Lord Jagannath? Know the centuries old tradition
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.
