Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Times Life
Times Life
Deepak Rajeev

Why Lord Shiva Controls Navagrahas: Temples & Significance

Indian astrologers point out that the nine celestial bodies or Navagrahas exhibit great influence over an individual’s destiny and fortune. These important Navagrahas include Lunar Eclipse or Ketu, Solar Eclipse or Rahu, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and the Moon and the Sun. Astrological faith says that these planets are directly associated with particular temples and most of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees visit these nine Navagraha shrines in order to invite harmony and prosperity into their lives by reducing the effects of malefic planets. In this article, we will learn why Maha Dev is considered as the Lord of Navagrahas and understand the significance of worshipping the Lord for attaining freedom from negative planetary influences.

Lord Shiva, the Ultimate God of Navagrahas

Lord Shiva

A central reason for this belief is that Maha Dev is believed to possess the ultimate power over all cosmic energies and entities, including the planets that influences a human being’s destiny. Puranas signify that Lord Shiva transcends space and time and this supreme position makes the Lord the master and controller of all the Navagrahas. Moreover, astrologers consider Lord Shiva as the destroyer of Karmic imbalances in a devotee's life. It is a said that Maha Dev’s blessings are so powerful to the point that it can obliterate all kinds of troubles, obstacles and ailments that pricks the wellbeing of an individual.

Puranic Tale Related to Shiva and Navagrahas

Maha Dev

Shiva Purana hails Lord Shiva as the ultimate God of Navagrahas. A legend found in the text narrates that Maha Dev utilised His supreme power to humble the planetary gods who became arrogant and conceited due to the control that they possessed over human beings. Shiva instilled respect and humility in them. Since then, planetary gods also started worshipping Maha Dev, symbolising the majestic position that Lord Shiva holds among gods. Thus, if you are struggling with the influence of malefic planets worshipping the Lord can gift you solace. Make it a rule to chant Shiva mantras like the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra daily. Furthermore, we can engage in abhishekams or ritual baths so as to receive the blessings of Maha Dev.

Navagraha Temples

In India, out of the nine Navagraha temples, eight are dedicated to Lord Shiva. These are the powerful Navagraha Temples that we can visit to soften the negative effects of planets:

Surya (sun)- Suriyanar koil

Chandra (Moon)- Kailasanathar temple

Mangala (Mars)- Vaitheeswaran Koil

Buddha (Mercury)- Swetharanyeswarar Temple

Guru (Jupiter)- Apatsahayesvarar templ

Shukra (Venus)- Agneeswarar temple

Shani (Saturn)- Dharbaranyeswarar temple

Rahu- Naganathaswamy temple

Ketu- Naganathaswamy temple

Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Life Hacks, Trending, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. How do you know if Shiva is calling you?

    Signs that Lord Shiva is calling you include an intense urge to visit mountains or temples, sudden profound inner peace despite chaos and waking up during the Brahma Muhurta (2:30–4:00 AM).

  2. What are the signs that Lord Shiva is testing you?

    Signs that Lord Shiva is testing you often involve intense life challenges, such as unexpected obstacles, persistent failures and the breaking of old attachments.

  3. How do you know if you are blessed by Lord Shiva?

    Signs of Lord Shiva's blessings often manifest as profound inner peace, deep intuition and sudden emotional calmness, even amidst crises.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.