THE NAVAGRAHA KIRTANAS OF DIKSHITAR
CONTRIBUTED BY
 ALAMELU RAMAKRISHNAN
 
ILLUSTRATED BY
S.RAJAM
 
The Navagrahas are nine important dieties of the Hindu religious tradition. They are Surya, Chandra, Angaraka, Budha, Guru, Sukra, Sani, Rahu and Ketu. They stand for nine planets, the English equivalents of the first seven being, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The last two, Rahu and Ketu are planet-like entities,  unique to the Hindu tradition. 

    The nine Navagraha dieties are to be be found in a small, special, square enclosure in every temple. No visit to a temple is complete without the devotee offering worship at this enclosure. And a copper plate with the Navagrahas inscribed on them, as illustrated above, is often to be found in 
the Puja room in Hindu households among the objects kept for worship.  For, the Navagrahas are believed to determine the course of our lives. 

    Ancient Indian seers had an extensive knowledge of Astronomy derived from observation, analysis and profound insight. They observed also that planetary movements and human affairs presented remarkable coincidences and concurrences within repetitive cyclic patterns that made them predictable. Thus they codified their composite knowledge of Astronomy and Astrology into a single science called Jyotisha. And this work became sufficiently significant to human affairs that it was invested with the status of a Vedanga, a limb of the Vedas. 

    The  Navagrahas have lived in lived in the minds of  millions in India over the millenia. They have been celebrated and worshipped in sloka and stotra, in sculpture and music. Muthuswamy Dikshitar, one of the great Trinity of Carnatic music, dedicated nine of his delectable compositions to the Navagrahas. These compositions are reproduced below the nine drawings  to emphasise the Indian view that  name and form, colour and sound, are but manifestations of the Divine. 

Links are given below to a brief rendering of each song by
Vijaya Ramkumar,
a Volunteer of Vidya Vrikshah.
 
 
SURYA - THE SUN
Raga: Saurashtram     Tala: Dhruvam
rag:H  s:aòraÄÕö     t:al:H    D:ÒØv:ö
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p:ll:ev:   
s:Üy:üm:Üt:ðü n:m:<st:Øt:ð s:ØndrCay:aeD:p:t:ð      
An:Øp:ll:ev:   
kay:ükarN:at:m:k j:g:t:Î)kaS: es:öhraSy:aeD:p:t:ð   
Aay:üev:n:Øt: t:ðj:sPÝt:ðü Aar<gy:aed Pl:dkit:ðü   

c:rN:ö   
s:ars:em:*: em:*: B:an:< s:h+ekrN: kN:üs:Ün:<   
#Ýrp:ap:hr káS:an:<  g:Ø,g:Øhm:<edt: sv:B:an:<   
s:Üerj:n:ðeRt: s:Øedn:m:N:ð s:<m:aed g:Òh eS:K:am:N:ð   
D:iraþ¡cc:t: km:üs:aex:N:ð edvy:t:r s:pt:aÃareT:n:ð   
B:art:iS: herhratm:n:ð B:Ø¡Vt: m:Ø¡Vt: ev:t:rN:atm:n:ð 

Oh  Lord of the Sun ! Consort of the beauteous Chaya ! Salutations to you !.   
  
  
  
Oh Iluminator of  this universe  bound by cause and effect, Lord of the Simha Tasi,  Effulgent and adored by the noble men, Bestower of  gifts like health !  
  
  
  
 

Oh Lord of the Sun! Friend of the lotus and splendour of light of a thousand rays; and the father of  Karna ! The  fire that destroys sin;  self-luminous, saluted by scholars; anf favourite of Guruguha; O Lord of the day; chief of  the  planets like the moon; worshipped by the brave; the witness of all activity; rider of  the divine chariot drawn by seven horses; soul of  the Saurashtra Mantra, of golden complexion; and  Who is identical with Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, Oh Bestower of  devotion and salvation !. 

 
 
 
CHANDRA - THE MOON
     Raga: Asaveri   Tala:  Matyam
 rag:H As:av:ðer  t:al:H   m:å(ö
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p:ll:ev:   
c:ndÓö B:j: m:an:s:  s:aD:ØÆdy: s:dáS:ö   

An:Øp:ll:ev:   
EndÓaed l:<k p:al:ðeRt: t:arðS:ö EndÙö \:<RS:kl:aD:rö en:S:akrö  E¡ndras:h<drö s:ØD:akrm:en:S:ö   
c:rN:ö   
S:¢r m:aòeL ev:B:Ü\:N:ö S:it:ekrN:ö c:t:ØB:Øüj:ö m:dn:C*:ö x:p:akrö   
v:ð¢XðS: n:y:n:ö ev:raNm:n:<j:n:n:ö ev:D:Øö kÙm:Ødem:*:ö ev:eD: g:Ø,g:Øhv:V*:ö S:-   
S:a¢ö g:i\p:et:S:ap:an:Øg:Òh p:a*:ö S:rcc:¡ndÓkaD:v:L )kaS: g:a*:ö   
k¢N: kñy:Ür har m:kÙXaedD:rö p:¢j:erp:Øö r<ehN:i e)y:krc:t:Ørö 

 
 
Oh mind!  Let us sing in praise of the Moon,  the very heart of the pious.   
  
  
 Who is worshipped by Indra and other rulers of the worlds;  the spouse of Tara;  who has sixteen Kalas (phases); the creator of night, the brother of Indira, the producer of the Nectar; let us constantly sing his praise.   

He who is the ornament of the Lord Siva's crest; possessed of cool rays; who has four arms and  Cupid for his parasol;  the creator of night;  the very eyes of Venkatesa;  born  of  the mind of  Virat, known as Vidhu; friend of the water lily; with the face of Brahma and Guruguha; with the  figure of  a hare; who receives both the curses and  blessings of Brhaspati; who has a white body shining like the rays of the autumn moon; who wears  a wristlet, armlet, garland and a crown; who is hostile to the lotus;  and who is the darling of Rohini. 

 
 
 
ANGARAKA - MARS
   Raga : Surati   Tala :Rupakam
 rag:H s:ØreX  t:al:H  -p:km:Î
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 p:ll:ev:   
A¤arkm:aÂy:amy:hö ev:n:t:aeÂt:j:n:m:ndarö m:ög:Lv:arö B:Üem:kÙm:arö v:arö v:arö   
An:Øp:ll:ev:   
S:à¤ark m:ð\: v:à¡Ák raSy:aeD:p:et:ö rVt:a¤ö rVt:amb:raedD:rö S:¡Vt:S:Ül:D:rö   
m:¤Lö kmb:Øg:Lö m:Wj:ØLt:r p:dy:Øg:Lö m:¤Lday:k m:ð\:t:Ør¤ö m:kr<:ؤö   
 

c:rN:ö   
dan:v:s:Ørs:ðev:t: m:nd¡sm:t:ev:l:es:t:v:V*:ö D:rN:i)dö B:Òat:àkarkö rVt:n:ð*:ö   
din:rx:kö p:Üej:t: v:ò½n:aT: x:ð*:ö edvy:aòG:aed g:Ø,g:Øh kXax:an:Øg:Òh p:a*:ö   
B:an:Øc:ndÓ g:Ø,em:*:ö B:as:m:an: s:ØkL*:ö j:an:ØsT: hst:ec:*:ö c:t:ØB:Øüj:m:et:ev:ec:*:ö 

 

I take refuge in Angaraka, who is like the divine Mandara tree to  his  humble devotees; who is the presiding deity of Tuesday, and the son of earth.   
   
Who is the Lord of  the cherished Mesha and Vrischika (the signs of the Zodiac, Aries &Scorpio); who has a reddish glow, wears a red dress and bears a sword and a trident; the auspicious one, with a beautiful neck, with lovely feet, the bestower of blessings , who rides on a goat, and whose highest apogee is the Makara Rasi  (Capricorn).   
   
  
He who is worshipped by gods and demons alike; has a beaming and smiling face;  bestower of wealth of lands and brotherhood,  possessed of red eyes, protector of the afflicted, worshipped in the temple of Vaidyanatha; favoured by the three groups of divine teachers such as Divyaugha, Siddhauga and Manavaugha in the Srichakra worship and Guruguha; who  is the friend of Surya  (Sun), Chandra (Moon) and Brhaspati (Jupiter); who shines with his good wife, his hands resting on his knees, possessed of four arms,and  extraordinary in many ways.

 
 
 
BUDHA - MERCURY
 
Raga : Natakuranji     Tala : Misra Jhampa
rag:H n:aXkÙer¡Wc:  t:al:H  em:Â J:öp:
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p:ll:ev:   
b:ØD:m:aÂy:aem: s:t:t:ö s:Ørev:n:Øt:ö c:ndÓt:aras:Øt:ö   
  

An:Øp:ll:ev:   
b:ØD:j:n:òv:ðüedt:ö B:Üs:Øròm:<üedt:ö   
m:D:Ørkev:t:a)dö m:hn:iy:s:mp:dö   
c:rN:ö    
kÙ¢Úm:s:m:½Øet:ö g:Ø,g:Øh m:Ødakáet:ö   
kÙj:v:òerN:ö m:eN:m:kÙXharkñy:Ür   
k¢N:aed D:rN:ö km:n:iy: t:r em:T:Øn:   
kny:aeD:p:ö p:Øst:k krö n:p:Øös:kö   
ek¢rj:n:m:eht:ö ek¡lb:\:aed reht:ö   
S:¢rB:Vt:eht:ö s:dan:nds:eht:ö 

 

Constantly do I seek shelter in Budha whom the celestials  worship, who is the son of  Chandra and Tara.  
  
  
  
Who is revered by the learned ones and brings joy to the Bhusuras; who is the bestower of the sweet art of poetry, the one of splendrous wealth.   
  

Who is bright saffron in colour, whose form gives delight to Guruguha; who  is the enemy of Kuja (Mars);  who wears a gem-studded crown, necklace, armlets and bracelets; who is the  Lord of the Zodiac signs  of  Mithuna  and Kanya (Gemini and Virgo); who carries a book in his hand; who is of the neuter gender;  who is honoured by all who wait in him; who  is devoid of all sins;  benefits the  devotees of Siva, and is ever joyous.   
 

 
 
 
GURU - JUPITER
  Raga : Athana    Tala :  Triputa
 rag:H  AYaN:a   t:al:H e*:p:ØX
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p:ll:ev:    
b:àhsp:t:ð t:arap:t:ð b:ÒÉj:at:ð n:m:<st:Øt:ð   
An:Øp:ll:ev:    
m:hab:l:ev:B:< g:i\p:t:ð m:Wj:ØD:n:aòm:iün:aeD:p:t:ð m:hðndÓa½Øp:aes:t:akát:ð m:aD:v:aedev:n:Øt: D:im:t:ð   
c:rN:ö   
s:Ørac:ay:üv:y:ü v:$D:r S:ØB:l:x:N:j:g::y:g:Ør< j:raedv:ej:üt:a#<D: kc:j:n:kaeÂt:j:n:klp:t:r<   
p:Øraer g:Ø,g:Øh s:mm:<ed p:Ø*:kark din:b:nD:< p:raed c:tv:aer v:akÏsv:-p:)kaS:k dy:aes:nD:<   
en:ram:y:ay: n:iet:kþ*:ð en:rökÙS:ay: ev:ÃB:þ*:ð en:rWj:n:ay: B:Øv:n:B:<V*:ðen:röS:ay: m:K:)da*:ð 
 
Oh Brhaspati! Lord of Tara! the one  born of Brahma, I salute you .   
  
Oh Omnipresent one! Lord of great strength, Lord of speech;  who rules the Zodic signs of  Dhanus and Meena (Capricorn and  Pisces); whose form is adored by Indra; who is  acclaimed for his great intellect by Vishnu and others.   
 Who is the great preceptor of the celestials, wielder of the thunder- bolt, Vajrayudha; of form auspicious; the preceeptor of the three worlds; who is free from old age and anger; the  father of Kaca; who is a  Kalpataru for those who come to him for refuge; who are the delight of  Lord Siva and Guruguha; who grants progeny; the friend of the hapless; the manifestation of the four levels of speech like Para and others; who is an ocean of compassion; devoid of all illness, the author of the Smrti; who cannot be restrained by anyone; who is the Lord of the universe, the blemish-less one who delights the worlds, the one who bestows the fruits of sacrifice.   
 
 
 
 
SUKRA - VENUS
     Raga :  Pharaju    Tala : Ata
  rag:H Prj:Ø   t:al:H   AX
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p:ll:ev:   
Âi S:Ø# B:g:v:nt:ö ec:nt:y:aem:  s:nt:t:ö s:kl:t:tv:W:ö   

An:Øp:ll:ev:   
hð S:Ø#B:g:v:n:Î m:aö AaS:Ø p:al:y: v:à\: t:Øl:aD:iS: dòty: eht:<p:dðS:   
kñS:v: kXax:òk n:ð*:ö ekriXD:rö D:v:Lg:a*:ö   

c:rN:ö   
ev:öS:et: v:ts:r<RÙ dS:a ev:B:ag:ö AÄv:g:üö kev:ö kL*:karkö rev: en:j:ür g:Ø,v:òerN:ö n:-   
v:aöS: h<r dÓð³aN:aed v:g:<ü:m:av:s:r s:m:y:ð v:#<cc: n:ic: sv:x:ð*: v:rkñndÓ m:Ül:e*:k<N:ð   
e*:öS:aöS: \:ÄÏy:öS: Oðrav:t:aöS: p:aerj:at:aöS: g:<p:ØraöS: raj:y:<g:karkö rajy:)dö g:Ø,g:Øh m:Ødm:Π

Constantly do I meditate on Lord Sukra (Venus), who has complete  knowledge of all truth.  
  
  
 

Oh Lord Sukra Bhagavan! protect me soon;  You who are the Lord of Rishaba and Tula, (the Zodiacal signs of Taurus and Libra); who gives good counsel to the Asuras (demons);  whose one eye was safeguarded by the grace of Kesava; who  wears a crown and whose body is white.   
  
Whose revolution in the heavens takes twenty years to complete; and who influences various constellations; who has eight Vargas-divisions; who is a poet;  the bestower of Kalatra, the spouse; who is hostile towards Sun and Jupiter while in Navamsa, Hora,  Drekkana, Vakra, Ucca, Nica, Svakshetra, Varakendra,and in  Mulatrikona; and who, while in the different aspects (Amsas), Trimsamsa,  Shastyamsa, Airavatamsa, Parijatamsa,and Gopuramsa, bestows  Raja Yoga - royalty and kingdom and joy. 

 

 

SANI - SATURN
Raga: Yadukula Kambhoji         Tala:  Ekam
rag:H  y:dÙkÙl: kamb:<ed        t:al:H  Okö
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p:ll:ev:   
edv:akrt:n:Øj:ö S:n:òsv:rö D:irt:rö s:nt:t:ö ec:nt:y:ðhö   
An:Øp:ll:ev:    
B:v:amb:Øen:D:aò en:m:gn:j:n:an:aö B:y:¢rö Aet:#ÝrPl:dö B:v:an:iS:kXax: p:a*:B:Üt:   
B:¡Vt:m:t:aö Aet:S:y:S:ØB: Pl:dö   
c:rN:ö   
kal:aWj:n: ka¡nt:y:ØVt:dðhö kal:s:h<drö kakv:ahö   
n:il:aöS:Økp:Ø\p:m:al:av:àt:ö n:il:rtn:B:Ü\:N:al:ökát:ö   
m:ael:n:i ev:n:Øt: g:Ø,g:Øh m:Øedt:ö m:kr kÙmB:raeS: n:aT:ö et:l:-   
t:òl:em:eÂt:aÀ dip:e)y:ö dy:as:ØD:as:ag:rö en:B:üy:ö   
kal:dNR p:erep:eRt: j:an:Øö kaem:t:aT:ü Pl:d kam:D:ðn:Øö   
kal:c:#B:ðd ec:t:rB:an:Øö k¡lp:t: Cay:adðv:i s:Øn:Øö 
Constantly do I  meditate upon the slow-moving Sani, the son of Sun (Surya),  the one of great courage.  
 

Who  causes fear in people immersed plunged in the ocean of worldly life; who  is the harbinger of the bad effects in one's life; who grants unique and auspicious rewards for devotees favoured by Paramasiva's benevolent glances.  
 
 Who with a body of dark lustre, like collyrium, is the brother of Yama, the god of death; who uses the crow as his vehicle; who wears a blue dress,  a garland of blue flowers, and ornaments embedded with blue sapphires; who delights Guruguha; who  is worshipped with the Malini Mantra; who  is the lord of the two Rasis Makara and Kumbha (Capricorn and Aquarius); who has special liking for the lamp lit with sesame oil (Tila Taila)  and for rice cooked with sesame seeds; who is an ocean of the nectar of compassion; who is fearless; whose knee was disfigured by the staff of Kala, the god of death; who is like Kamadhenu, granting all  desires; who is the fire capable of splitting the time-cycle of  life; and who was conceived as the son of the goddess Chaya. 

 
 
 
RAHU
Raga:  Rama manohari          Tala:  Adi
rag:H rm:am:n:<her           t:al:H  Aaed
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p:ll:ev:   
sm:ramy:hö s:darahØö s:Üy:üc:ndÓv:ixy:ö ev:kát:dðhö   

An:Øp:ll:ev:   
s:Øras:Ørö r<g:hrö s:p:aüedB:iet:hrö   
S:Üp:aüs:n: s:ØK:krö S:Ül:ay:ØD: D:rkrö   
 

c:rN:ö    
kraLv:dn:ö keYn:ö ky:an:aN:ü k,N:adÓaüp:a¤ö   
c:t:ØB:Øüj:ö K:°K:ðXaedD:rN:ö c:m:aüed n:il: v:s*:ö g:<m:ðdkaB:rN:ö   
S:en:S:Ø#em:*: g:Ø,g:Øh s:nt:<\:krN:ö 

Always do I meditate on Rahu, who remains within the watchful gaze of the Sun and the Moon; who is possessed of  a deformed body.  
 

Who bears a character of both a celestial and a demon; who cures diseases and removes the fear of snakes from the minds of devotees; who is comfortably seated on the Surpasana and bears a trident in his hand.  
 

Who has a frightful, fierce face and a harsh mind; who is pleased with those who chant the Kayanarna hymn; who wears armour, and sports a sword, and other weapons in his four hands; who wears blue silk and wears ornaments studded with the Gomedaka (cat's eye); who  is the friend of Sani-Saturn and Sukra-Venus and who gives Guruguha happiness.. 

 
 
 
KETU
rag:H  c:am:rö        t:al:H   -p:kö
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p:ll:ev:   
m:has:Ørö kñt:Øm:hö B:j:aem: Cay:ag:Òhv:rö   

An:Øp:ll:ev:    
m:haev:ec:*:m:kÙXD:rö m:¤Lv:s*:aedD:rö   
n:rp:iY¡sT:t:ö s:ØK:ö n:v:g:Òhy:Øt:ö s:K:ö   

c:rN:ö   
kñt:Øö káNv:n:Î m:¡n*:N:ö #<D:en:eD: j:òem:n:ö   
kÙl:ØtT:aed B:x:N:ö k<N:Dv:j:p:t:aekn:ö   
g:Ø,g:Øhc:am:rB:rN:ö g:ØN:d<\:ej:t:aB:rN:ö   
g:ÒhN:aed kay:ükarN:ö g:Òhap:s:vy:s:Wc:aerN:ö 

I offer my obeisance to the mighty  demon Ketu, the foremost of the Chayagraha, or  shadowy planets.  
 
Who is adorned with an extraordinary crown and auspicious silk garments; who  is comfortably seated on a human being and is positioned amidst the nine planets.  
  
 

Who is extolled in the Ketum Krnvan hymn; who  is born in the Jaimini clan;  who revels in anger; who enjoys offerings of horse gram (Kuluttha); who has a triangular flag; and bears the fly wisk (Chamara) belonging to Guruguha;  who is an ornament for those who have transcended the Guna Dosha, or the hold of  good and bad; who brings about the eclipse,  
and orbits around all the planets in reverse movement.  

 
 
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