Navdurga, Navgrah and the Mothers of the Nine Grahas — a Nine-Day Navratri Jap Vidhan

Why worship the nine grahas along with the Navdurga during Navratri?

The speaker says that if, in the nine days of Navratri, the nine grahas along with the mothers of the nine grahas and the nine Durgas are all worshipped together, then a great many graha doshas and yogas present in the janma kundali — by which our life is affected — are pacified.

The speaker opens the subject directly. If in the nine days of Navratri the nine grahas, together with the mothers of the nine grahas and the nine Durgas, are worshipped all at once, he says, then a great many graha doshas and yogas standing in the janma kundali come to be pacified. Those doshas and yogas, he says, are the reason our life is affected.

Even the smallest particle is held to be a karaka of the nine grahas

Because in the whole world even the smallest particle is held to be a karaka of the presence of the nine grahas — that is, their influence falls upon it, and its good and bad fruit is displayed in life. So the nine grahas should not be neglected: alongside the seva-puja of one's ishta, puja-path connected with the nine grahas should also be done from time to time.

In all the world, the speaker says, even the smallest particle — the smallest pind or kan — is held to be a karaka of the presence of the nine grahas: that is, the influence of the nine grahas falls upon it. The good and the bad fruit of that influence is what gets displayed in life. For this reason, he says, the nine grahas should not be neglected. Along with the seva and puja of one's own Ishta Devata alone, puja-path connected with the nine grahas should also certainly be done from time to time.

Addressed to those who do not know their own janma kundali

The speaker addresses it particularly to those who do not know their own janma kundali. For them, he says, the pujan vidhan he is giving — meant only for the time of Navratri — will prove extremely necessary and useful: by doing this alone, in nine days whatever dosha exists in your life in subtle form will be pacified and the grace of the grahas obtained.

If you do not know which your janma kundali is — and it is possible, the speaker says, that you have no knowledge of your own janma kundali — then in such a situation the pujan vidhan he is giving today, which he is giving only for the time of Navratri, will prove extremely necessary and useful for you. By doing this alone, he says, in nine days the subtlety of the nine grahas is reached: whatever dosha there will be in your life is pacified, and their grace is obtained.

Worshipped separately, each graha carries its own vastra and its own long vidhi

Because if you go to do the seva-puja of the nine grahas separately, each one has its own vastra and its whole vidhi-vidhan is quite difficult and long. The vidhan the speaker is placing before listeners is only for nine days, is an extremely simple vidhan, and any sadhak or sadhika can do it.

As to how this vidhi-vidhan is to be done: if you go to perform the seva-puja of the nine grahas separately, the speaker says, then each has its separate vastra, and every vidhi-vidhan of it is fairly difficult and long. The vidhan he is placing before listeners is only for the sake of nine days. It is an extremely simple vidhan. Any sadhak or sadhika can do it, and it is on that basis that he is presenting the subject.

Which navgrah mantras may be japped, and does the yajnopavita matter?

The speaker says navgrah mantras exist in tantrokta, pauranik and Sabar forms, and choosing among them becomes extremely difficult: if you wear the yajnopavita, all the mantras are for you; if you do not wear the yajnopavita, you can jap the mantras connected with the beej mantras, without the pranava.

Of all the mantras connected with the nine grahas, the speaker says, there are tantrokta mantras, there are pauranik mantras, and there are Sabar Mantra forms as well. Making a selection among these mantras becomes extremely difficult, because if you wear the YajnopavitaThe sacred thread ceremony marking initiation into Vedic rites (Janeu) — if lapsed across generations, expiation (Prayashchitta) for each known generation is required before it can be resumed. then all the mantras will be for you. If you do not wear the yajnopavita, then you can jap those mantras that are connected with the beej mantras — without the Pranav.

Only beej-and-naam mantras, which any man or woman may jap

Only mantras that everyone can jap have been placed in the video: mantras made up of beej and naam. Whether you are a woman or a man, and whether or not you wear the yajnopavita, the speaker says all may jap these without any doubt or hesitation.

For this reason, the speaker says, all the mantras placed before listeners in this video are of the kind whose jap anyone at all can do. They are mantras furnished with beej and with naam. Their jap, he says, women and men, those who wear the YajnopavitaThe sacred thread ceremony marking initiation into Vedic rites (Janeu) — if lapsed across generations, expiation (Prayashchitta) for each known generation is required before it can be resumed. and those who do not, may all do without any shak or sanshay — without doubt or hesitation.

Does this sadhana require kalash sthapana and an akhand deep?

The speaker says the jap and pujan begin on the Pratipada tithi of Navratri after kalash sthapana, akhand deep prajwalan and so on. But if you do not do the akhand deep or kalash sthapana and only do puja-path, you can still certainly do this sadhana. Do it in the morning or the evening as suits your business or job.

As to how the jap and pujan are to be done: in Navratri, on the Pratipada tithi, after doing Kalash sthapana, Akhand Jyot prajwalan and so forth, the speaker says. If you do not do the akhand deep or the kalash sthapana, and only do puja-path, then too you can certainly do this sadhana. Morning or evening, according to your own convenience — as your business may be, or if you go to a job — take out time accordingly and do this sadhana.

Morning is best; guru and Ganapati pujan and the Bhagavati path come before the jap

It is most excellent, the speaker says, to do this sadhana in the morning. First the kalash sthapana and so on on the day of Pratipada, then guru-Ganapati pujan and the rest, then the path of Bhagavati that you do — and after that you are to do this jap. All the mantras have been put on one page on screen.

It is most excellent, the speaker says, that you do this sadhana in the time of morning. First of all the Kalash sthapana and so forth is done on the day of Pratipada; the guru and Ganapati pujan and the rest is done; the path of Bhagavati that you are to do, you have done — and after that you are to do this jap. For doing the jap, the mantra of each of the nine grahas, the mantra of their mothers, and along with them the mantra of Bhagavati, have all been put together on one page on your screen.

In the video description, and in a PDF, to be copied down

The speaker says he will put these mantras in the description of the video so listeners can look at them and write them down comfortably, or he will give a link to a PDF file to download, in which all the mantras will be collected together in one place.

He will also place these mantras in the description of the video, the speaker says, so that you may look at them and write them down comfortably. Or else he will give a link to a PDF file, from which you may download them; in it all the mantras will be compiled in one place.

Do the clothes have to be changed by colour on each day of Navratri?

No. Whether you wear red, yellow or white vastra in Navratri, the speaker says it is not necessary to change clothing according to the colour of each day. Although it is useful, it will work out very expensive, so wear the one vastra you wear on every day — there is no difficulty with colour.

In Navratri you may wear red vastra, wear yellow vastra, or wear white vastra, the speaker says. It is not necessary that you change the vastra according to the colour of each day. Although that is useful, it will fall very expensive for you. So whichever one vastra you wear, you will wear that same vastra on every day. That is to say, there is no difficulty from the side of colour.

Which mala should be used, and which malas are forbidden here?

If you wear the yajnopavita, put it on on the day of Pratipada; if you do not wear it, no matter. At minimum one rudraksha mala should be worn by the sadhak or sadhika. For the jap a panchmukhi or navmukhi rudraksha mala is most excellent — navmukhi especially. The speaker says no gemstone mala of any kind is to be used in this jap.

If you wear the YajnopavitaThe sacred thread ceremony marking initiation into Vedic rites (Janeu) — if lapsed across generations, expiation (Prayashchitta) for each known generation is required before it can be resumed., then on the day of Pratipada put the yajnopavita on; if you do not wear it, there is no matter, the speaker says. At the least, one RudrakshaA sacred seed strung into rosaries and worn during shiva worship. Mala should certainly be worn by the sadhak or sadhika. For doing the jap, if you have a panchmukhi rudraksha mala or a navmukhi rudraksha mala, that is extremely excellent. If it is navmukhi, you will be able to do the jap of the mantras connected with all nine grahas and nine Durgas easily. Do not use a mala of any ratnas — any gemstones — in this jap; keep particular attention on this point. Only and only a navmukhi or panchmukhi rudraksha mala will you use in this mantra jap.

Nine malas of Surya Narayan, one of Mata Aditi, one of Shailputri

On the Pratipada tithi in the morning, after the initial pujan, the puja of Surya Narayan is done that day. You jap nine malas of the mool mantra of Surya Bhagavan as given in the PDF file, one mala of the mantra of his mother, and one mala of the first Durga, Mata Shailputri — that is, nine malas of Surya Narayan, one mala of Mata Aditi and one mala of Bhagavati Shailputri.

In the time of morning on the Pratipada tithi, after doing your initial pujan and so on, the puja of Surya Narayan is to be done that day — the first day being the day of the Pratipada tithi, the speaker says. So first of all you will do the jap of the mantra of Surya Narayan, the mantra given in the PDF file: nine malas of the mool mantra of Surya Bhagavan. And of the mantra of his mother, one mala; and of the first Durga, Mata Shailputri, one mala. That is: nine malas of Surya Narayan japped, one mala of Mata Aditi japped, and then one mala of Bhagavati Shailputri japped.

Guru, Ganapati, the day's Durga, the graha, then the graha's mother — the last as a samput

If you also jap other mantras, first jap one mala of the guru mantra and one mala of the Ganapati mantra. Then one mala of the first Durga, Mata Shailputri; then, on Pratipada, nine malas of the Surya graha; then one mala of his mother Aditi. The speaker says the graha mantra thereby becomes samput-ed by Ma Durga and by the mother Aditi, so it gives sharper effect. The whole jap is then surrendered into the left hand of Bhagavati Jagadamba Durga.

Now attend to what the order of this jap will be, the speaker says. If you also jap other mantras and so on, then first of all do one mala of the jap of the guru mantra, and one mala of the jap of the Ganesha mantra. After that, do one mala of the jap of the mantra of the first Durga among the nine Durgas, Mata Shailputri. Then, of the nine grahas, the Surya graha, whose jap on the day of Pratipada is nine malas. Then do one mala of the jap of his mother Aditi. Do the jap in this manner. That is to say, the mantra of the nine grahas — the mantra of Surya Narayan — becomes Samput-ed by Ma Durga and by his mother Aditi, and by that the mantra becomes one that gives a sharp effect. After that, the entire jap is to be surrendered into the left hand of Bhagavati Jagadamba Durga — that is, into the left hand. With that, the work of the Pratipada tithi is completed.

Dwitiya with Chandra and Anusuya; Tritiya with Mangal and Bhumi Mata

On the Dwitiya tithi, after the initial pujan and the jap of the guru mantra and Ganapati mantra, you jap one mala of Bhagavati Brahmacharini, then nine malas of the mantra of the Chandra graha, then one mala of his mother Anusuya. On the Tritiya, after guru-Ganapati pujan, one mala of Mata Chandraghanta, nine malas of the Mangal graha mantra, and then one mala in the name of Mata Bhumi — that is, Prithvi Mata.

On the Dwitiya tithi, in exactly the same manner, after doing whatever initial pujan-path you wish to do, the speaker says, you do the jap of the guru mantra and the jap of the Ganapati mantra, and after that the jap of Bhagavati Brahmacharini. After doing one mala of the jap of Brahmacharini, you will do nine malas of the jap of the mantra of the Chandra graha, and then one mala of the jap of his mother Anusuya. In exactly this same way, on the day of the Tritiya tithi, after doing the guru-Ganapati pujan, one mala of the jap of Mata Chandraghanta, then nine malas of the jap of the mantra of the Mangal graha, and after that one mala of the jap in the name of Mata Bhumi — that is, Prithvi Mata. And the jap of each day is to be surrendered in this same manner. In this same sequence the jap of every day will go on.

Five ahutis each for guru and Ganapati, nine each for the Durgas, grahas and their mothers

When the nine days of jap are complete, a havan is done on the last day. The initial havan vidhi-vidhan has been given on the channel. Five ahutis each are to be given to guru and Ganapati; nine ahutis each from the separate mantras of the nine Durgas that have been japped; nine ahutis each from every one of the nine graha mantras; and nine ahutis each in the names of the mothers of the nine grahas.

When the nine days of jap of the nine days of Navratri are complete, the speaker says, then on the last day you will do a Havan. The initial vidhi-vidhan of the havan has been told on the channel. So to guru and Ganapati, all of them, five ahutis each are to be given. And from the separate mantras of the nine Durgas that have been japped — the mantra of Bhagavati Shailputri and so on — nine ahutis each are to be given from all of them. Of each mantra of the nine grahas, nine Ahuti each are to be given. And in the names of the mothers of the nine grahas as well, nine ahutis each are to be given. In this manner you will complete the pujan.

Havan and kanya pujan on Navami, parana on Dashami

On the last day, that is on the Navami tithi, you will do the havan and so on, and kanya pujan and so on; and after that, on the Dashami tithi, you will do parana. The speaker says that if in this Navratri you complete the seva of the Navdurga, the navgrah and the mothers of the navgrah, then however great a suffering or calamity may be in your life, Jagadamba will certainly remove it through the doing of this complete vidhan.

On the last day, that is on the day of Navami — on the Navami tithi — you will do the havan and so forth, and Kanya Pujan and so forth, the speaker says. And after that, on the Dashami tithi, you will do parana. In this manner, if in this Navratri you carry out the seva of the Navdurga, the navgrah and the mothers of the navgrah, then however great a suffering or calamity there may be in your life, Bhagavati Jagadamba will certainly remove it on account of the doing of this complete vidhan.

Sadashiva, Bhairav and Hanuman are worshipped alongside, not optionally

The speaker says that in all this pujan the worship of Bhagavan Sadashiva and of Bhairav and Hanuman ji is compulsory. Whether you light one lamp in their names, or do a path of the Hanuman Chalisa and so on, the Shiv Panchakshar Stotra, the Rudrashtak, or the names of Bhairav ji — this too must certainly be done. If you cannot do it in the morning, do it in the evening; do not leave these deities out.

In all these pujans, the speaker says, the puja of Bhagavan Sadashiva and of Bhairava and Hanuman ji is compulsory. Whether you light one lamp in their names, or do a path of the Hanuman Chalisa and so forth, or a path of the Shiv Panchakshar Stotra and the like, or a path of the Rudrashtakam, or a path of the names of Bhairav ji — this too all of you should certainly do. If you cannot do it in the morning, then do it in the time of the evening; but the pujan of these deities too is necessary. Do not leave any of these out.

Sufferings and calamities already on their way are held to be removed by it

If you perform the pujan in this manner, the speaker says, then however many sufferings and calamities may be coming into your life which are not being removed, by this samyak pujan — by this whole collective pujan — all of them will certainly be removed, and your work and your wish will be fulfilled.

If you perform the pujan in this manner, the speaker says, then whatever sufferings and calamities may be arriving in your life which are not being removed, by this samyak pujan — by this entire collective pujan — all of those will certainly be removed. All sufferings will certainly be removed, and your work and your manokamna will be fulfilled. He adds his hope that the nine grahas will become favourable towards all.

A ghee lamp beside Bhagavati Tulsi each day, so no rin dosha remains for the vidhi received

For freedom from rin dosha, the speaker asks that every day one ghee lamp certainly be lit beside Bhagavati Tulsi, so that no rin dosha remains between the listener and those from whom this vidhi-vidhan has been taken. Do only this much, he says, so that no rin dosha remains and the effect of this sadhana is obtained by you incontrovertibly.

For the sake of freedom from rin dosha, the speaker says, every day certainly light one ghee lamp beside Bhagavati Tulsi — so that between those from whom this vidhi-vidhan has been taken and ourselves no rin dosha remains. Just this much you should certainly do, he says, so that no rin dosha remains, and so that the effect of this sadhana is obtained by you in an incontrovertible manner.