Chapter 164 - The propitiatory rite for the Planets (navagraha-homa)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Puṣkara said:

1. One should commence the propitiatory rite for the planets [i.e., navagraha-homa] if one desires for prosperity or appeasement (of planets) or rains, long life, or nourishment or exorcising for malevolent purposes.

2-3. Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rāhu and Ketu (the ascending and descending nodes of Moon referred to as planets) are known to be planets. (The images of) these planets should be made of copper, crystal, red sandal, gold, silver, iron and lead respectively.

4-7. Otherwise (the images may be made) of gold and worshipped. Or their figures may be drawn in the circles drawn with fragrant materials. The dress and flowers should be offered matching their respective colours. Lines made of perfumes and guggulu as the incense should be offered. Caru^[33] should be offered to each god along with the sacred syllables (as follows) ā kṛṣṇena^[2] imaṃ devā^[4], agnirmūrddhā divaḥ kakut^[6] and udbudhyasva^[8] are said to be the syllables in order. Bṛhaspate atiyadaryaḥ^[10], annāt parisrutaḥ^[12], śaṃ no devī^[14], kāṇḍāt^[16] and ketum kṛṇvan^[18] are the (syllables).

8-9. The arka, khadira, apāmārga, pippala, udumbara, śamī, dūrvā and kuśa are the twigs in order. Each one of these should be offered to fire one hundred and eight times or twenty-eight times together with honey, clarified butter and curd.

10-12. Rice boiled with coarse sugar, rice boiled with milk -or water, cooked food, dish of liquid rice and milk, curd rice, ghee, small round cakes made of flour, flesh and rice mixed with coconut and other things should be offered to the planets in the respective order. A wiseman should feed the brahmins according to one’s capacity after having worshipped them as laid down according to one’s knowledge. Cow, conch, ox, gold, dress, horse, black cow, iron and goat are the things to be given as gifts in order.

13-14. One should worship a planet with great effort if that planet remains in a bad house at that time for that person. They were blessed by lord Brahmā (that they should be) worshipped (by the people). The rise and fall of the people are subject to the planets. They are the existence and the non-existence of the world. Hence the planets ought to be worshipped.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

An offering made to gods.

[2]:

An oblation of rice, barley and pulse boiled.

[3]:

ĀpŚ. S. 3-10-1d.

[4]:

Y.Dh. 1.299.

[5]:

ṚV. lú.9.4a.

[6]:

Y.Dh. 1.299.

[7]:

ĀpŚ. S. 7.9.10.

[8]:

 ĀPŚ. S. 5.28.11.

[9]:

ĀpŚ.S. 22.28.13.

[10]:

ĀPŚ. S. 3.13.1.

[11]:

ĀpŚ.S. 8.14.18.

[12]:

ĀPŚ. S. 17.21.7.

[13]:

cf. ā yantu naḥ V. Sam. 19.58 a.

[14]:

V. Saṃ. 19.75a.

[15]:

Y.Dh. 1.234.

[16]:

Y.Dh. 1.300. ṚV. 10.9.4a.

[17]:

Y.Dh. 1.237.

[18]:

ĀPŚ. S. 16.24.1.

[19]:

Y.Dh. 1.237. Āp.Ś. 2-6-1.

[20]:

ĀPŚ. S. 20.16.3. ṚV. 1.6.3a.

[21]:

Oṃ bhūrbhuvassuvaḥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ etc.

[22]:

Oṃ bhūḥ etc.

[23]:

ĀpŚ.S. 16-25-1. ṚV. 1-90-6a.

[24]:

MS. 1.6.1.45.

[25]:

MS. 11.9.2.

[26]:

See p. 457, vv 3-7.

[27]:

Y.Dh. 1.245.

[28]:

ṚV. 1.30.7b.

[29]:

The ceremony performed in memory of the manes, preliminary to any festive occasion such as marriage etc.

[30]:

The rite performed for one individual deceased not including other ancestors.

[31]:

ĀpS. S. 1.9.12 a; T. Dh. 1.253.

[32]:

See p. 453. fn. 7.

[33]:

The rite performed to merge the soul of the dead person with the ancestors.