Navigating The Nava Graha

HOW MUCH POWER DO THE NINE PLANETS HOLD OVER OUR LIVES? CAN THEY REALLY MAKE OR BREAK OUR DESTINY AS IS PROCLAIMED? A VISIT TO THE TEMPLES THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THEM MIGHT HOLD SOME ANSWERS

- Devanshi Mody

Ever listened to Holst’s The Planets? The celebrated music dramatically captures planetary belligerence. “How can planets affect us and how would visiting temples enshrining planetary deities mitigate their machinations against our ambitions?” sceptics sneer. Planetary impact on our lives is palpable, surely. Yet the benefits of circumnavigating the navagraha temples swirled around Kumbakonam mystified me. I have long derided internationally-dispersed South Indians who descend annually to appease nine planetary deities. Now, I find myself fortuitously inclined to investigate the practice. Or is it fortuitously?

When I first arrived in Chennai from Paris, seven years ago, I was directed to award-winning tour operator Parveen Holidays meant to best showcase Tamil Nadu. I met Afzal, the owner, who recommended the navagraha circuit. “I am NOT on pilgrimage!” I recall establishing vehemently; temples of historic and/or architectural grandeur alone were of interest to me.

Last month, I chanced upon Krishna. He expatiated on temples. He asked me over to Parveen Holidays, of which he had recently become Asst. General Manager. Krishna has researched temples for 15 years. I decided to listen with more humility than accorded seven years ago. Only, he suggests the Great Chola Temples, Meenakshi and Chidambaram and I regard him disdainfully. Seen those. Now, the navagraha temples entice me. The irony of my reversed stance staggers. Krishna declares our present meeting no fluke, my new fascination for the navagraha temples not aleatory.