Navagraha temple in Guwahati

• About Guwahati

Location: Chitracala hill, Guwahati, Assam.

Presiding Deity: Lord Shiva

Also Known As: Nabagraha Temple

Significance: Contains Nine Phallic Emblems of Lord Shiva.

Origin of the Temple:

Assam has been referred to as Pragjyotishapura. According to the Kalika Purana of the 10th century, Brahma created Pragjyotishapura, as a city equal to the city of Indra the King of the Gods. The word Prag refers to the Eastern region and jyotisha refers to the word star-astrology. Pragjyotisha is also said to mean, 'eastern city of astrology'

Nine Shivalingams are enshrined in this temple, each covered with a colored garment symbolic of each of the celestial bodies, representing the nine Celestial bodies. It is similar to the shrine that exists in the grand Nataraja temple complex at Chidambaram in South India.

Construction Of the Temple :



During the time of King Rajesvar Singh in 1752 AD, the present was constructed. The upper part i.e the peak (Sikhara) of the temple was once destroyed by an earthquake and afterwards was rebuilt with iron-sheet. The Garbhagriha,built of brick, however, exists. The votaries carry on regular worship over here even at present.

Connotation of Nine Planets:

The temple contains nine phallic emblems of Shiva covered with cloths of different colours sacred to the nine planetary gods, namely, Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Buddha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu.

The Navagrahas or the nine planets are thus represented in the Sashtras: -

1. Surya's great chariot has one wheel and is drawn by seven horses; he has a lotus in each hand, wears an armour and has a shield over his breast, has beautiful straight hair, and is surrounded by a halo of light.
2. Chandra is standing in white colour, clothed in white garment, surrounded by a halo and adorned with ornaments and garland of all sorts of flowers.
3. Mangala is signified in fire-like red colour, clothed in red garments, seated upon Simhasana, with three arms bearing 'Gada', 'Sula', 'Sakti' weapons and as one in an 'Abhaya' or 'Varada' pose.
4. Buddha is represented in yellow colour, clothed in yellow garment, with' three arms bearing 'Khadga', 'Khetaka', and 'Gada' and in Varada pose.
5. Brihaspati stand for yellow colour, clothed in golden yellow garments with three arms bearing 'Kamandalu', 'Aksamala', and 'Danda' and in Varada pose. Sometimes this planet is represented with two arms having a 'Pustaka' and an 'Aksamala'.
6. Shukra is represented in white colour, clothed in white garments, having four arms and bearing the same weapons as Brihaspati. Just like him it is sometimes represented with two hands bearing 'Nidhi' (treasure) and 'Pustaka'.
7. Shani is represented in black colour, clothed in black garments, small in stature and somewhat lame in one leg. He has two arms bearing a Danda and an 'Aksamala' and sometimes in Varada pose.
8. Rahu is represented on a 'Simhasana' or a silver chariot drawn by eight horses. According to some it possesses four arms, three of which bear 'Khadga', 'Khetaka', and 'Sula' and in Varada pose and sometimes he possesses two arms carrying a book.
9. Ketu is represented in dark colour having two arms in Abhaya pose holding a 'Gada', and sometimes on a chariot drawn by ten horses."