Navagraha

The Navagraha are the nine planetary deities of Hindu astronomy and astrology: Surya the sun, Chandra the moon, Mangala or Mars, Budha or Mercury, Brihaspati or Jupiter, Shukra or Venus, Shani or Saturn, and the shadow planets Rahu and Ketu. They are shown as a row of nine standing or seated figures with their own symbols. They are honoured in rites to ease the influence of planets. In Odisha, the finest example is the Navagraha slab of Konark, and Navagraha panels sit above the doorways of many old temples.

The word graha means one that seizes or influences. The nine grahas appear in the astronomical and astrological texts of India, such as the Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira, and Puranic stories give each a parentage and a deed. Surya is the son of Kashyapa and Aditi, Chandra arose from the ocean or...