The navagraha is an important, much debated idea of Hindu philosophy. It refers to the nine (‘nava’) major heavenly bodies (‘graha’) of the immediate planetary system.
These are said to have a subtle yet profound influence on earthly life. As such, it is natural for those with faith and trust in their hearts to turn to the navagraha for their mercy and blessing.
Worship of the navagraha has evolved to comprise nine different deities, each of which is considered a personification of a graha, replete with divine attributes.
The work of art that you see on this page features nine bronze figurines mounted on discrete lotus-shaped plinths. They are all arranged in a uniform fashion on a panel of bronze whose edges are engraved with lotus petals.
Most of the deities are chaturbhujadhari or the one possessed of (‘dhari’) four (‘chatur’) arms (‘bhuja’), but for Lord Rahu, the snake-headed navagraha. The hands bear either weapons or the mudra of aashirvada (blessing). Each navagraha is accompanied by their divine mount or vahana standing on a thin strip of bronze attached to their respective plinths.
The iconographies of the respective navagrahas have been distinguished with great skill as well as textual precision. The embroidery on the dhoties around their legs, the finesse of the crowns on their heads and the adornments on their bodies. In its aesthetic flawlessness, such a sculpture would be a powerful addition to the home decor of any Hindu devotee.
The combined study of astrology and astronomy by ancient Indian scholars explained that how the movement of Navagraha (The Nine Planets) influenced the lives of humans. The Navagraha deities are Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu.
These deities are placed in a single square with Sun in the center and none of the deities face each other on a small pavilion (mandapa). Exotic India presents exquisitely poised and supple nine bronze deities crafted with care, precision, and perfection. Surya (Sun) is a prime deity and the most revered one standing in the middle of all the deities.
He is holding a lotus flower in both hands and the aureole around his crown makes him look powerful than the other deities. Then comes Chandra (Moon) placed onto Surya’s east. The lunar deity symbolizes the qualities of waxing and waning. His crown is distinct as it has a moon behind his crown.
Next is Budha (Mercury) stands in the south. He holds a wielding weapon in his right hand and his left hand is in Abhay Mudra that blesses whosoever comes in his grace. Guru (Jupiter) is placed in the west, the sage Brihaspati represents this graha. He’s one of the hands is holding a book while his other hand is in the gesture of blessing his devotees with immense wisdom.
Shukra is onto the North of Surya, the sage Shukracharya is associated with this graha. He is a mentor of asuras and has the power to revive anyone from the dead. He holds Kamandalu in his left hand while rosary in his right hand. Mangla is placed in the south-east of the Surya. The deity represents battlefield, war, weaponry, and strength. Here he is holding a lotus and mace (gada) in his hand.
Shani is located in his South-west direction. He is a powerful deity that has an immense influence on the destiny of humans. His vahan is vulture that is depicted behind the sculpture. Rahu is positioned in the north-west and Ketu is positioned towards the north-east.
Both these planets are considered shadow planets, they are the ones that are responsible for causing eclipses of the Sun and the Moon. Rahu has the face of the serpent while Ketu has the tail of the serpent. They both stand here with folded hands recognizing the divinity of the primary planets.
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