Navagraha, Navan-graha, Navagrahā, Nava-graha: 13 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Navagraha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)Navagraha (नवग्रह) refers to the “nine planetary divinities”, images of which are found scattered within Hindu temples.—T. A. Gopinath Rao points out the specificities of each temple by saying that each temple is filled with numerous images of gods, goddesses, parivāra-devatas (gods related in a family), devas (attendants to the gods), śālagrāmās (cakra–an ammonite shell), bānaliṅgās (egg-shaped pebbles), yantras (mystic and magical diagrams engraved upon metallic plates), navagrahas (the nine planetary divinities), certain divine animals and birds, certain holy rivers, tanks, trees and sepulchers of saints.
The nine planets are:—
- Sūrya (Sun),
- Candra (Moon),
- Aṅgāraka (Mars),
- Budha (Mercury),
- Bṛhaspatī (Jupiter),
- Śukra (Venus),
- Śani or Śanaiścara (Saturn),
- Rāhu (dragon’s head),
- Ketu (dragon’s tail).
Few planets are discussed with respect to the hastas in Bharatanatyam and iconography.

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)Hands that indicate the Nine Planets (nava-graha):
- Sūrya,
- Candra,
- Aṅgārakha,
- Budha,
- Bṛhaspati,
- Śukra,
- Śanaiscara,
- Rahu,
- Ketu;

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Apam Napat: Indian MythologyIn Indian Astrology, the nine planets are :
- Surya the sun,
- Chandra the moon,
- Budha (Mercury),
- Shukra (Venus),
- Brihaspati (Jupiter) also known as Guru,
- Angaraka (Mars),
- Shani (Saturn),
- Rahu
- and Ketu.
Parvati, in her role as Shakti, is said to the overlord of these planets. According to the Puranas, the planets control all aspects of our lives. Even the Gods themselves are not exempt from their influence.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: The Jaina IconographyNavagraha (नवग्रह) refers to a group of deities representing the “nine planets”, commonly depicted in Jaina iconography.—The Jainas following the earlier Brahmanic tradition reduced the Planetary system to a group of iconic representations, which constitute an important class of gods known as Jyotiṣka-Devas. [...] In the discoveries of Jaina scriptures, we have had very little instance of meeting with the separate figures of their nine planets (navagraha).

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geogprahy
Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography (history)Navagraha (नवग्रह) refers to the “nine planets”.—From time immemorial people in India believed in the power of the planets [viz., navagraha] either for evil or for good. That belief is still current. The Hindus, Buddhists and Jainas alike shared in this belief, and in all these three religious systems the planets were deified and they were given a form, weapon and colour.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynavagraha (नवग्रह).—m (S) The nine planets; viz. the sun, moon, mercury, venus, mars, jupiter, saturn, rahu, ketu. 2 Revilingly or irrisively. A term for an association or band of persons; answering to Crew, pack, knot, gang.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishnavagraha (नवग्रह).—m The nine planets. A term for an association or band of persons; answering to Crew, pack, knot, gang.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNavagrahā (नवग्रहा).—m. (pl.) the nine planets. (the sun, the moon, 5 planets, rāhu and ketu; see under graha. -gva nine-fold, consisting of nine. -caṇḍikā f. the nine caṇḍikās (śailaputrī, brahmacāriṇī, candraghaṇṭā, kūṣmāṇḍā, skanda- mātā, kātyāyanī, mahāgaurī, kālarātri, siddhidā); Chaṇḍī Pāṭha.
Derivable forms: navagrahāḥ (नवग्रहाः).
Navagrahā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms navan and grahā (ग्रहा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNavagrahā (नवग्रहा).—m. plu.
(-hāḥ) The nine planets, or sun, moon, five planets, and the ascending and descending nodes. E. nava for navan, and graha a planet.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNavagraha (नवग्रह).—adj. lately caught, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 58, 2.
Navagraha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nava and graha (ग्रह).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Navagraha (नवग्रह):—[=nava-graha] [from nava] 1. nava-graha mfn. (for 2. See 4. nava) recently caught. Kad.
2) [=nava-graha] [from nava] 2. nava-graha m. [plural] the 9 planets (id est. sun, moon, 5 planets with Rāhu and Ketu), [Horace H. Wilson]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Navan, Nava, Graha.
Starts with (+29): Navagrahabalidanaprayoga, Navagrahabijamantra, Navagrahacakra, Navagrahacintamani, Navagrahadana, Navagrahadanacakradi, Navagrahadashalakshana, Navagrahadhidevatasthapana, Navagrahadhipatyahidevatasthapana, Navagrahadhyana, Navagrahadhyanaprakara, Navagrahadurgapuja, Navagrahaganita, Navagrahahoma, Navagrahajapa, Navagrahajapavidhi, Navagrahakarana, Navagrahakavaca, Navagrahamakha, Navagrahamakhashanti.
Ends with: Anavagraha, Vyanjanavagraha.
Full-text (+43): Rahu, Surya, Budha, Ketu, Candra, Shanaishcara, Shukra, Shani, Brihaspati, Navagrahamakha, Navagrahaprayoga, Navagrahaphala, Navagrahavidhana, Navagrahastava, Navagrahastotra, Navagrahaganita, Navagrahaprashna, Navagrahastuti, Navagrahadashalakshana, Navagrahayantroddharanakrama.
Relevant text
Search found 10 books and stories containing Navagraha, Navan-graha, Navagrahā, Nava-graha, Navan-grahā; (plurals include: Navagrahas, grahas, Navagrahās, grahās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Mirror of Gesture (abhinaya-darpana) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
Sushruta Samhita, Volume 6: Uttara-tantra (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
Chapter XXXVI - Treatment of an attack by Naigamesha < [Canto II - Kaumarabhritya-tantra (pediatrics, gynecology and pregnancy)]
Middle Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Kolar < [Chapter IV - Temples of Rajendra I’s Time]
Temples in Tirunedungalam < [Chapter II - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Sushruta Samhita, volume 1: Sutrasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)