Worship of the Navagraha — the nine planetary deities of Vedic astrology — alongside the Dosha Nivaran remedial rituals a family astrologer or priest may recommend, drawn from Avyani's Master Puja & Ritual Catalogue.
The Navagraha (नवग्रह) — nine celestial bodies of Vedic astrology, comprising the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu — are worshipped both routinely, for general balance and well-being, and specifically, when a family's astrologer or priest identifies a particular planetary affliction (dosha) in a horoscope. Avyani's Master Puja & Ritual Catalogue records twelve Navagraha rituals and twelve further Dosha Nivaran (remedial) rituals. These are documented here for reference; identifying whether a specific remedy applies to a person's horoscope is a matter for a qualified astrologer or priest, not something this guide determines.
General Navagraha Worship
Navagraha Puja offers comprehensive worship to all nine planetary deities together and is a common practice for general balance, often performed at the start of a new venture or during a period of transition. Graha Shanti Puja is a broader remedial worship for adverse planetary positions generally, while Navagraha Homam invokes all nine through fire for the same purpose on a larger scale.
Individual Planetary Remedies
Where a specific planet is identified as afflicted in a horoscope, a dedicated Graha Shanti ritual addresses it individually: for the Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangal — of particular relevance to Manglik matchmaking concerns), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Brihaspati), Venus (Shukra), Saturn (Shani — including the well-known Sade Sati period), Rahu, or Ketu.
Dosha Nivaran — Specific Remedial Rituals
Beyond individual planets, several named astrological conditions (doshas) have their own dedicated remedial rituals: Kaal Sarp Dosh, where all planets lie between Rahu and Ketu; Pitra Dosh, addressing unresolved ancestral matters; Manglik Dosh, considered before marriage where Mars placements are a concern; Nadi Dosha, considered in horoscope matching for marriage; and several others including Guru Chandal, Naga Dosha, Kemadruma Yoga, Grahan Dosha, Vish Dosha, Angarak Dosha and Putra Dosha, each addressing a specific configuration a family's astrologer may identify.
Navagraha and Dosha Rituals at a Glance
| Ritual | Occasion / Purpose | Typical Duration | Priest Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navagraha Puja | Astrological balance, overall wellbeing | 1.5-2 hours | Yes |
| Graha Shanti Puja | Pacification of malefic planetary influence | 2-3 hours | Yes |
| Navagraha Homam | Comprehensive planetary pacification | 2-4 hours | Yes |
| Surya Graha Shanti | Pacifying afflicted Sun (authority, health) | 1 hour | Yes |
| Chandra Graha Shanti | Pacifying afflicted Moon (mind, emotions) | 1 hour | Yes |
| Mangal Graha Shanti | Pacifying Mangal dosha, marital harmony | 1-1.5 hours | Yes |
| Budha Graha Shanti | Pacifying afflicted Mercury (intellect, communication) | 1 hour | Yes |
| Brihaspati Graha Shanti | Pacifying afflicted Jupiter (wisdom, fortune) | 1 hour | Yes |
| Shukra Graha Shanti | Pacifying afflicted Venus (relationships, comfort) | 1 hour | Yes |
| Shani Shanti Puja | Pacifying Saturn, relief from Sade Sati/Dhaiya | 1.5-2 hours | Yes |
| Rahu Graha Shanti | Pacifying Rahu (sudden upheaval, confusion) | 1-1.5 hours | Yes |
| Ketu Graha Shanti | Pacifying Ketu (detachment, obstacles) | 1-1.5 hours | Yes |
| Kaal Sarp Dosh Puja | Removal of Kaal Sarp Dosha effects | 3-4 hours | Yes |
| Pitra Dosh Puja | Removal of ancestral affliction effects | 2-3 hours | Yes |
| Guru Chandal Dosh Shanti | Removal of Guru-Rahu conjunction effects | 1-1.5 hours | Yes |
| Naga Dosha Puja | Removal of serpent-related affliction, fertility issues | 2-3 hours | Yes |
| Sarpa Samskara | Ancestral serpent-dosha pacification | 1 day | Yes |
| Kemadruma Yoga Shanti | Removal of Kemadruma Yoga afflictions | 1-1.5 hours | Yes |
| Manglik Dosh Nivaran Puja | Neutralising Manglik affliction before marriage | 2-3 hours | Yes |
| Grahan Dosha Shanti | Neutralising effects of birth during eclipse | 1-1.5 hours | Yes |
| Vish Dosha Nivaran Puja | Neutralising Vish Yoga afflictions | 1-1.5 hours | Yes |
| Angarak Dosha Nivaran Puja | Neutralising Sun-Mars conjunction affliction | 1-1.5 hours | Yes |
| Nadi Dosha Nivaran Puja | Neutralising Nadi dosha in marriage matching | 1-2 hours | Yes |
| Putra Dosha Nivaran Puja | Removal of obstacles to conception/progeny | 1.5-2 hours | Yes |
These rituals are typically led by a priest experienced in Jyotish (Vedic astrology) practice, working from a horoscope already reviewed by a qualified astrologer. Avyani's role, consistent with our Constitution, is to document these traditions faithfully — never to issue an astrological reading or tell a family which remedy they need.