🌟 Navagraha Archana – A Ritual for Harmony, Balance & Removal of Planetary Afflictions

Navagraha Archana is a sacred ritual dedicated to the nine planets (Navagrahas) in Hindu astrology: Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budh (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (Ascending Lunar Node), and Ketu (Descending Lunar Node). These celestial bodies influence various aspects of our life, and worshiping them together brings balance, removes malefic effects, and ensures harmony in life.

The Navagrahas are considered powerful cosmic forces that affect everything from our career and health to relationships and spiritual growth. Through this Archana, devotees seek blessings for prosperity, health, success, and peace, while mitigating the harmful effects of planetary doshas like Shani Sade Sati, Rahu-Ketu dosha, and other astrological afflictions.

🔸 Significance of Navagraha Archana:

This Archana is highly recommended during the Navagraha Shanti period when the planets are unfavorable or when a person is undergoing planetary transitions like Shani Dasha or Rahu-Ketu Dasha. It is also performed to invite divine protection, mental peace, and a stable life.

🔱 Ritual Highlights:

✨ Purification and Setup: The devotee wears clean attire, usually white or red, and sets up an altar with pictures or idols of the nine planets. The altar is decorated with flowers, fruits, kumkum, and turmeric.

✨ Ganapathi Pooja: To begin the ritual, Lord Ganesha is worshipped for the removal of obstacles and the successful completion of the pooja.

✨ Kalasha Sthapana & Invocation: A Kalasha (sacred pot) is filled with water, rice, and coins, symbolizing prosperity and the divine presence of the planets. The Navagrahas are invoked using powerful mantras.

✨ Offering of Items:

  • Each planet is offered specific items, such as:
    • Surya (Sun) – Red flowers, jaggery, and wheat
    • Chandra (Moon) – White flowers, rice, and milk
    • Mangal (Mars) – Red flowers, sesame seeds, and lentils
    • Budh (Mercury) – Green flowers, honey, and green gram
    • Guru (Jupiter) – Yellow flowers, turmeric, and gram dal
    • Shukra (Venus) – White flowers, coconut, and curd
    • Shani (Saturn) – Black sesame, iron, and mustard oil
    • Rahu – Mixed offerings of flowers and sesame
    • Ketu – Mixed offerings of flowers, black sesame, and copper coins

✨ Chanting of Sacred Mantras & Archana:

  • Navagraha Stotra – A powerful hymn of praises for the nine planets
  • Beej Mantras for each planet are chanted with the offering of flowers or akshata (turmeric rice).

✨ Aarti & Prasadam: The ritual concludes with an Aarti, invoking the blessings of all nine planets, followed by the offering of prasadam.

💫 Spiritual Benefits of Navagraha Archana:

✅ Reduces the malefic effects of planetary afflictions
✅ Promotes prosperity, health, wealth, and success
✅ Enhances mental peace and spiritual progress
✅ Removes obstacles caused by Rahu and Ketu
✅ Restores balance and harmony in the personal and professional life

🗓️ Best Days to Perform:

  • Saturdays (for Shani), Tuesdays (for Mangal), and Thursdays (for Guru)
  • During Ekadashi, Amavasya, or Navaratri
  • Chandra (Moon) day and Rahu-Ketu transits are also auspicious