Introduction

Navagraha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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:—

1. Sūrya (Sun),
2. Candra (Moon),
3. Aṅgāraka (Mars),
4. Budha (Mercury),
5. Bṛhaspatī (Jupiter),
6. Śukra (Venus),
7. Śani or Śanaiścara (Saturn),
8. Rāhu (dragon’s head),
9. Ketu (dragon’s tail).

Few planets are discussed with respect to the hastas in Bharatanatyam and iconography.

context information

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):

1. Sūrya,
2. Candra,
3. Aṅgārakha,
4. Budha,
5. Bṛhaspati,
6. Śukra,
7. Śanaiscara,
8. Rahu,
9. Ketu;

context information

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 Mythology

In Indian Astrology, the nine planets are :

1. Surya the sun,
2. Chandra the moon,
3. Budha (Mercury),
4. Shukra (Venus),
5. Brihaspati (Jupiter) also known as Guru,
6. Angaraka (Mars),
7. Shani (Saturn),
8. Rahu
9. 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 Iconography

Navagraha (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).

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

navagraha (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-English

navagraha (नवग्रह).—m The nine planets. A term for an association or band of persons; answering to Crew, pack, knot, gang.

context information

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-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Navagrahā (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 Dictionary

Navagrahā (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.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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: Nava, Navan, Graha.

Starts with: Navagrahamakha, Navagrahamakhashanti, Navagrahashantipaddhati, Navagrahastuti.

Ends with: Anavagraha, Vyanjanavagraha.

Full-text (+3): Rahu, Surya, Budha, Candra, Ketu, Shanaishcara, Shukra, Brihaspati, Navagrahamakhashanti, Shani, Angarakha, Angaraka, Navarthatala, Mangala, Jyotishka, Grahas, Parvati, Parivaradevata, Graha, Banalinga.

Relevant text

Search found 8 books and stories containing Navagraha, Navan-grahā, Navan-graha, Navagrahā, Nava-graha; (plurals include: Navagrahas, grahās, grahas, Navagrahās). 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)

Chapter 18 - Hands denoting Nine Planets

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Nava-durgā Stotra

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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)]

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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]

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Sushruta Samhita, volume 1: Sutrasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)

Chapter III - Classification of Ayurveda

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Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4 (by Vihari-Lala Mitra)

Chapter VIII - Allegory of the spreading arbour of ignorance < [Book VI - Nirvana prakarana part 1 (nirvana prakarana)]

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