aadityaaya somaaya maN^galaaya budhaaya cha | guru shukra shanibhyashcha raahaveketave namaH || Salutations to the navagrahaas, the Sun,

Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. brahmaamuraaristripuraa.ntakaarii bhaanushashii bhuumisuto budhashcha | gurushcha shukrashcha shani raahu ketavaH kurva.ntu sarve mama suprabhaatam.h ||

brahmaamuraaristripuraa.ntakaarii bhaanushashii bhuumisuto budhashcha | gurushcha shukrashcha shani raahu ketavaH kurva.ntu sarve mama suprabhaatam.h || Brahma, Murari, Shiva, Sun, Moon, Mangal , Budha, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu - may all of them make mine a good morning. aarokyam pradhathu noh dinakara chandroh yaso nirmalam bhoodim bhoomisudha sudham sudhanaya pragnam gurur gowravm kanya komala vaak vilasa madhulam mandho mudham saravadha ragur bhahoopala virodha samanam ketu kulasyonidham Let us pray to Lord Surya who bestows well-being and health Let us pray to Lord Chandra to bestow eminence and recognition Let us pray to Lord Kuja to bestow opulence and prosperity Let us pray to Lord Bhudhan to bless us with astuteness and wisdom Let us pray to Lord Guru for knowledge and good judgment Let us pray to Lord Shukra for graciousness and enhancement Let us pray to Lord Shanishwara for harmony and contentment Let us pray to Lord Rahu for vigour and valour Let us pray to Lord Ketu for progeny, kith and kin bhaasvaanme bhaasayettatvaM chandrashchhaalhaada krudbhaveit.| mangalo mangalaM dadyaat. budhashchha budhataaM disheit.|

gururme gurutaaM dadyaat. kavishchha kavitaaM disheit.| shanishcha shaM praapayatu ketuH ketuM jaye.arpayeit.| raahurme raahayedrogaM grahaaH santu karagrahaaH| navaM navaM mamaishvaryaM dvishantete navagrahaaH| shane dinamaNeH suuno hyanekaguNa sanmaNe| arishhTam hara me.abhiishhTaM kuru maa kuru sankaTaM| hareranugrahaarthaaya shatruuNaaM nigrahaayacha| vaadiraajayati proktaM grahastotraM sadaa paThet.|| Gist:Let Shri Surya enlighten me the knowledge of the supreme(Lord Vishnu), Chandra(Moon) shower happiness on me, Mangala(Mars) give auspiciousness, Budha(Mercury) shower wisdom, Guru the greatness, Shukra(Venus) shower scholarship, Shani(saturn) provide wellbeing, Ketu give victory, Rahu desrtoy ill health. Let all the planets be beneficial to me. Let my wealth(devotion, financial properties, knowledge, etc.,) increase day by day. O! Shani(Saturn) the son of Surya, who shines with several virtues, destroy my ill-fate, full-fill my wishes, and please do not put me in difficulties(in the troublesome Saturn period). One should recite this stotra composed by Shri Vadiraja Swamy regularly for the blessings of Shri Hari and the destruction of one's enemies(greed, jealousy, anger, false pride etc.,)

Navagrahas - Solar System In Hindu religion and mythology, the nine planets occupy an important role. The planet deities are referred to as the NAVAGRAHA and they have a significant impact on the lives of individual and therefore a Hindu adorns these planets as deities, so that they may bring peace and harmony in their life and to avert any mishap. NAVA means nine. GRAHA means planet. After the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Siva) the Navagrahas have the maximum importance in Hindu Rituals. They are considered to play a major role in deciding the destiny of man. All the nine grahams (planets) viz Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu (Snake's head) and Ketu (Snake's tail) give us pleasure and serenity and remove obstacles from our way. In astrology, great importance is placed on the positions of the various planets in the twelve constellations of the zodiac, the belt around the sky in which the movements of Sun, Moon and planets are confined. All astrology is totally based on the planetary movements and its effect on human beings. The planets influence the outcomes of historical events of entire nations and the Earth. Each planet has its own mode of circumambulation - clockwise or anti-clockwise. Each planet faces a different direction. In religious rites, beetle nuts represent the planets and the priest invites each planet to be present there and witness and bless the puja. Navagrahas the planet deities of which the first seven are Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn give names to the days of the week: Sunday to Saturday respectively. The other two Rahu (Ascending node) and Ketu (Descending node) are also fabled as planets, the former as a planet with a head and no body and the latter as a planet with a body and no head. In addition to the nine planets, twenty seven nakshatras (constellations) through which the moon passes and twelve signs of zodiac of the sun, regarded as deities, are consulted at births, marriages and on al occasions of family rejoicing, distress or calamity. Shanti (Peace) propitiation ceremony is held to appease any unfavorable constellations.

Navagraha - the nine planets could be complimentary or inimical to an individual. The navagraha could give harmony or misery to the individual as per its movements. One has to do Shanthis or Parikaras (propitiatory actions to counter the ill effects) for the particular planet (s) and its/their Lords (Gods); such direct appeals to the concerned planets and their Lords will give quick and timely results. The Navagraha Sthothram, given below, is so powerful, it appeals to all the planets and safeguards the reciter from any planetary ill effects. Surya or Sun is the most powerful living God - whom everyone can see, perceive and pray. Though he is visible, he also has been presented in a variety of forms. Lord of this planet is God Siva Chandra or Moon is a lovable God - Pleasing to the children as well as elders, universally appealing to everyone whatever may be the religion. Goddess Parvathi rules the planet. Angaraka or Mars is regarded as a God of martial character, red in every aspect. Even the Romans held him as their Guru. He is the Son of Earth and is ruled by Lord Subramanya. Budha or Mercury is considered as the greatest among the wise. This Devata bestows wisdom and wealth on his devotees. He is ruled by Lord Maha Vishnu. Brihaspati is the Guru (Jupiter). He results in a cure from ailments and helps one to ward off his/her sins and gives strength, valour, longevity, etc. He grants the boon of fatherhood to the childless, good education (Vidya). He is ruled by Lord Dakshinamurthy. Sukra or Venus is the bestower of long life, wealth, happiness, children, property and good education. He is ruled by Goddess Mahalakshmi. Saniswara or Saturn, is generally known to affect one adversely on occasions when he occupies certain positions in one's horoscope. A prayer to him, especially on Saturdays, is said to mitigate the hardships one will have to face during these periods. Saniswara is considered equally a bestower of all benefits to the devotees who pray sincerely to him. He is ruled by Lord Yama. Rahu is instrumental in strengthening one's power and converting even an enemy into a friend. He is ruled by Goddess Durga. Ketu brings prosperity to the devotee's family. He grants good health, wealth, cattle and all around prosperity. He is ruled by Lord Ganesha and Indra. Navagraha Shanthi or Parikaras In all important Siva temples of South India, the navagrahas (nine planets) are placed in a separate mandapa with a pediment of about three feet in height.Performing Navagraha Homam is very auspicious. Offerings like sesame seeds, rice or any of the "nine grains" that may be appropriate are also made. Lighting lamps with sesame oil or seeds on Saturdays is important to Sani. Thil rice and Paayasam are offered to Navagraha. The planets which are inimical to an individual will give bad results during their Main Dasas (periods) or Antharas (sub-periods) or during their transits (Gochara). The aspects of life which generally receive such bad effects will be (1) those for which they are Karakas (governed by the planets), (2) the aspects represented by the Bhavas which are owned by the planets, and (3) those represented by the Rasis (signs) which are resided in or aspected by them.

The planets also cause miseries or problems according to their Gochara (movements ) results. Depending on which specific aspects of life are affected, one has to do Shanthis or Parikaras (propitiatory actions to counter the ill effects) for the particular planet(s) and its/their Lords.(Gods); this way of direct appeal to the concerned planets and their Lords will give quick and timely results.