The rituals performed in order to please the divine powers, represented by the nine planets, are called ‘Graha shanthi homa’. The nine planets are: – 1. Sun, 2. Moon, 3. Mars, 4. Mercury, 5. Jupiter, 6. Venus, 7. Saturn, 8. Rahu and 9. Kethu. The tenth is Maandi , 11th is Lagna and 12th is Arooda in prashna jyothisha. There is no doubt that God has created the solar system with human beings on earth. Some are found living with more pleasures and happiness but some are facing great sufferings and sorrow. Astrology analyses cases and whenever found the cause for sufferings are the deficiencies in the blessings of angels denoted by these planets, Indian astrology sincerely upholds the performance of remedial rituals so as to please the nava grahas for provision of peace and happiness to the performers.
Rebirth or ‘Punarjanma’ truly says the results of our past deeds are causes for present happiness or sorrows. Planets are commissioned by God to distribute the work’s results at naturally justified time. The reason for previous sins may be ignorance which pushed or persuaded sinful actions. Now by means of astrological knowledge it is possible to please the planets. The various methods are Japa, Homa, Tarpana, Daana and Dwija Bhojana. The individual rituals or possible combinations and maximum performances result in nullifying old sins and increase ones virtues leading towards happy life.
Indian style of life is well planned. The family head is always vigilant with respect to the life proceedings of the members of his family. A normal educated man seeks job and earns money. His parents and relatives, being the well-wishers, discuss with him to have a marriage and start family life. Next is the care of the children, by maintaining a home. Now, a bridge is formed. This bridge is a specialty of the Indian way of life. On one side is the old parents and the other side is the children. The youth time (past) activities are nothing but frequent movements on this bridge, i.e., old age to childhood or vice versa. The various layers of the deck slab of this life bridge with their material contents are very much scientifically built based on Indian astrology. That is why any traditional Indian living anywhere in this universe is able to protect peace, achieve progress and become exemplary to any other foreigners. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Dibrugarh to Jaipur, one could come across two common items – 1. The holy Thulsi herb and 2. Holy cow. Most of the families nowadays are residing in flats in the cities. But a true Indian, when visiting a rural home, happens to see these two items, the holy thulsi and cows. He feels the villages and rural areas are more comfortable for life than congested cities. This is because, an instinct of natural way of life arises which was laid out by Indian ancestors, such that the earth, representing a home with cows, is a planet and moon, representing a Thulsi katte, is a satellite.
In any given moment of time, a man does some kind of work which is done during the day or night. Here, time is called ‘Karana’ and the work is called ‘karya’. The Thulsi herb is mapped to ‘moon’, a satellite, and a home with cows is mapped to ‘earth’ or ‘Lagna’. In Indian astrology the position of the rising rashi or house, in the east horizon upto 30 degree inclinations with respect to the stars as background, is referred as ‘Lagna’. In other words Lagna is a measure of the status of happiness of a family highlighted by a cow. Also Thulsi shows the happiness or sufferings of the family head. One Sanskrit verse reads as follows:
नक्शत्राद् हरते पापम्, वाराद् आयुश्य वर्धनम् तिथेश्च श्रियमाप्नोति करणात् कार्य सिद्धिम् च योगाद् रोग विनाशनम्
It translates to, knowledge of stars removes sins, that of each day names (day of the week) increase longevity, i.e., life span, by observing thithi one gains wealth, performing works according to karana , one achieves the goal successfully and carrying out the tasks of medication according to yoga eradicates ill health. These five co-ordinates of time are called as ‘panchanga’ and all Indian almanacs explain them in the respective regional languages, the Government of India publishes the almanac in English every year and Government authorized translated edition is also available in Sanskrit.
To remove sins, Manu smrithi suggests Chandrayana vratham , which means fasting for 15 days. To gain wealth and happiness, Yajnavalkya smrithi advises to conduct Navagraha pooja along with Navarathri Devi pooja. In shruthi (vedas), Navagraha sooktha is available which is almost similar in both Rigveda and Yajurveda. In Atharva veda, praising continuously, means conducting japa is the suggested method. Sun is called as Mithra in Vedas. Oblation or homa is done to please planets.
Dasha times and bhukthi kalas are studied by astrologers after receiving a horoscope. People approach an astrologer, when they frequently face unpleasant situations causing severe grievances. By performing suitable sandhi shanthi homas, life becomes more comfortable. There is a saying ‘only the wearer knows where and how the shoe pinches’. Similarly, the performer experiences the benefits of Navagraha homas’. The usual Sandhi shanthi is to be done prior to three months of Shukrarka sandhi, Kuja Rahu sandhi or Rahu Brihaspathi sandhi. Shani shanthi homas are also conducted in order to reduce future bad happenings. A sincere astrologer properly guides.
Vyasa has written Navagraha stotram. Reciting navagraha stotra japa once in a day keeps life prosperous, steady and free of evil events. Donation is the Danam. Nine planets are satisfied by donating the nine types of dhanya seeds. During oblations, nine types of fire wood sticks, samithu are used. The list of most essential commodities required for the homam is given below:-
Samidha (selected firewood of small pieces and 1 feet sticks or logs), Homa kunda
Ghee of cow, sand, bricks (as per requirements), Darbha grass, plantain trunks
Hand fan (made of plastic or aracanut leaves), for donation & oblation, Navadhanya( nine grains) as follows:
- Wheat for sun or Surya.
- Rice for soma or Chandra.
- Moong dal or / toordal / chick pea for mars.
- Green gram for mercury.
- Bengal gram/rajma for Jupiter.
- White beans for venus or Shukra.
- Sesame seeds for Saturn or Shani.
- Black gram for Rahu and
- Horse gram or urad dal for Ketu.
Panchagavya(five items) with darbha grass, panchapathras with spoons.
Thulasi leaves, flowers, sandal wood paste, kumkuma & bhasma and tamarind powder.
Colour powder used for homa, say white.
Coconuts and rice
Oil for holy lamp
Panchamritha(five items) which is nothing but an inclusive in panchagavya, added items are sugar, honey and tender coconut or lemon fruits. Garika grass is used for Ganapathi mandalam.
By appointing an astrologer, the graha shanthi homa can be performed by minimizing financial expenses to a bare minimum. The blessing powers of planets lie in manthras of Rigveda or Yajurveda but not in the amount of monetary status of the devotee.
Hence there are alternate methods, also as temporary measures. Tarpana is one. Navagraha tarpana is easy but it is to be performed with prayers. For tarpana, only pure water is sufficient and it should be done with same manthras as that of navagraha suktha.
Dana means donation. When a man suffers due to curses of any type, Dana is prescribed as remedy. It may be of various types also. Curses are caused by ignorance or unavoidable circumstances. Generally, it is described as ‘shapa’ in astrology. Bala shapa, sthree shapa, go shapa, bhoo shapa, naga shapa, brahma shapa, guru shapa, and so a few could be found out by astrological methods.
Donation or dana of cloths, saree to ladies, kaavi (saffron coloured clothes) to yathi sanyasis are certain remedies.
Dwija bhojana means providing vegetarian meals to the persons who are sincere devotees of vedas and knowing Sanskrit shruthi and deserving to bless others.
Dwija bhojana is to be done by honouring at least two persons and maximum twelve which is called dwadasharchana. If brahma shapa is seen, then first pada pooja is to be conducted and there after distribution of clothes is to be performed. In case a young gentleman or a lady in their youth could not get a suitable match due to previous sins, it is recommended to conduct dampathi pooja. A suitable couple is to be honoured in this case, and after the dampathi pooja, Kanika samarpana (offerings) is to be done to get their blessings. Kanika may be small silver items to please them, like gifts.
The first verse of Rigveda reads as:-
ॐ अग्निमीले पुरोहितम् यज्नस्य देवमृत्विजम् होतारम् रत्न धातमम्
Ratna means gem stone. The role of nine gem stones in human life in India is as old as Rigveda. Rings with gem stones of suitable colours is certainly astrological remedies, used from vedic times.
Esteemed readers are free to call and may consult for gaining more details to lead peaceful & happy life. Readers may also share their thoughts on comments below.
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