As I humbly gathered from the sacred stories…
In my simple journey to understand the mysteries of life and the universe, I was drawn to the sacred text known as the Navagraha Purana. Through these divine stories, I came to learn about the origins of the nine powerful celestial beings the Navagrahas, who are believed to guide and influence every moment of our lives.
These are not just tales, but deep spiritual teachings passed down through generations. They speak of how each planet came into being, through the will of the Supreme Lord and the devotion of sages and divine beings. With a heart full of respect, I now attempt to share what I’ve understood from these stories in plain, sincere words hoping to honor the wisdom of the ancients and the grace of the Navagrahas themselves.
Surya (The Sun)
Surya was born to Aditi and Sage Kasyapa. Aditi was distressed by the division and hatred among her children and longed for a child who would be free from such negative traits. With her husband's blessings, she performed intense penance to Lord Vishnu. Pleased with her devotion and selfless wish, the Lord granted her a son who would shine with equal warmth on all beings.
At the Lord’s command, the radiant being known as Surya descended in spirit to Aditi and asked to be nurtured in her womb. In time, she became pregnant. On an auspicious morning, as the first light of dawn spread across the sky, Aditi gave birth to Surya. His presence brought light to all the worlds. During his naming ceremony, the gods Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva gave him twelve names, each representing a different form he would take in the twelve zodiac signs.
Chandra (The Moon)
Chandra was born from the penance of Sage Atri. The sage performed a powerful tapas, and his devotion attracted the attention of the Holy Trinity : Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Each of them blessed Atri, and from this divine union of blessings, Chandra was born.
He emerged from the energy of the gods, glowing with gentle radiance. Chandra's form was calm and luminous, and he came into the world carrying the influence of the mind and emotions. He was later placed in the sky, and his phases became a measure of time.
Kuja (Mars)
Kuja was born from a drop of sweat that fell from Lord Shiva’s third eye during a moment of great anger. That drop touched the Earth, and she absorbed it into her womb. From this, she gave birth to a red-hued child full of divine energy.
Because he was born from the Earth, he came to be known as Bhoomiputra. His birth was fiery and strong, and he later took the position of a planet with a commanding influence over strength and warfare.
Budha (Mercury)
Budha was born to Chandra and Tara. Tara was the wife of Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods. Due to a conflict, Tara was taken away by Chandra. From this union, Budha was born.
When questions arose about the child’s parentage, Tara admitted that Budha was Chandra’s son. Though his birth caused tension among the gods, Budha was accepted as a celestial being and later became the planet associated with intellect and communication.
Guru (Jupiter)
Guru, also known as Brihaspati, was born to Sage Angiras. He was born with deep knowledge and purity. From his very birth, he was marked by wisdom and was eventually made the teacher of the gods.
There are no detailed dramatic events associated with his birth in the Purana, but it is stated that his origin was from the pure tapas of Sage Angiras and that he was destined to play a great role among the devas as their spiritual guide.
Sukra (Venus)
Sukra was born to Sage Bhrigu. From birth, he was gifted with great spiritual strength and knowledge. He later became the teacher of the asuras (demons), guiding them in matters of dharma and spiritual practices.
Through deep meditation, he received powerful knowledge, including sacred mantras that even allowed him to bring the dead back to life. Though his detailed birth story is brief in the text, it is clear that he was born through divine means and was destined for great influence.
Shani (Saturn)
Shani was born to Surya and Chhaya, the shadow of Surya’s original wife, Sandhya. Sandhya, unable to bear Surya’s heat, created Chhaya as her substitute and left. Unaware of the change, Surya lived with Chhaya, and Shani was born.
At the moment of his birth, Shani cast his gaze on his father, which caused Surya’s brightness to dim. This led to fear and misunderstanding, but in time, Shani was recognised as Surya’s son. He later became known for his powerful and slow-moving influence over time and karma.
Rahu
Rahu came into existence during the churning of the ocean by the devas and asuras to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality. A demon named Svarbhanu disguised himself and sat among the gods to drink the nectar. When he was discovered by Surya and Chandra, Lord Vishnu severed his head with his divine discus.
However, since Svarbhanu had already consumed some nectar, his head remained immortal. That head became Rahu. He was granted a place among the Navagrahas and is known for causing eclipses by swallowing the sun and moon in cycles.
Ketu
Ketu is the lower half of the same demon Svarbhanu, whose head became Rahu. After Vishnu severed Svarbhanu’s body, the head became Rahu and the remaining body became Ketu.
Though he had no head, Ketu was granted celestial status and a place among the nine planets. He is considered a powerful force with spiritual influence and shares a karmic connection with Rahu.
From sacred penance and divine blessings, the Navagrahas took birth, not just as celestial bodies, but as the powerful forces guiding karma, time, and dharma in Jyotish Shastra.
Their origins are the heartbeat of Vedic astrology.