86. PROPITIATION OF PLANETS CAUSING AFFLICTION

ग्रहाणां दोषशान्त्यर्थं तेषां पूजाविधिं वद ! ।
मानवानां हितार्थाय संक्षेपांत् कृपया मुने ! ॥ १ ॥

1 : Maitreya said O Sage ! Kindly briefly explain the propitiatory measures to alleviate the affliction of the planets for the benefit of the mankind.

ग्रहा सूर्यादयः पूर्वं मया प्रोक्ता द्विजोत्तम ! ।
जगत्यां सर्वजन्तूनां तदधीनं सुखाऽसुखम् ॥ २ ॥

तस्मात् सुशान्तिकामो वा श्रीकामो वा सुचेतसा ।
वृष्टायायुः पुष्टिकामो वा तेषां यज्ञं समाचरेत् ॥ ३ ॥

2-3: Maharishi Parasara replied - O Brahmin the great! Whatever characteristics and attributes of the planets like the Sun etc., I have since narrated, all griefs and happiness of the living beings are under the control of these planets. Therefore, for the attainments of placid peace, perpetual prosperity, immaculate and virtuous knowledge, adequate rainfalls, good longevity, sound health and righteous power, propritiatory measures and different Yagnas (यज्ञ) [sacrificial rites and an act of worship] of these planets be performed devotedly.

ताम्राच्च स्फटिकाद्रक्तचन्दनात् स्वर्णकादुभौ ।
रजतादयसः सीसात् कांस्यात् कार्याः क्रमाद् ग्रहाः ॥ ४ ॥

पूर्वोक्तैः स्वस्ववर्णैर्वा पटे लेख्या द्विजोत्तमैः ।
स्वस्वोक्तदिग्विभागेषु गन्धाद्यैर्मण्डनेषु वा ॥ ५ ॥

4-5 : The idol of the Sun be made out of copper, the Moon in Sphatika (a kind of stone), Mars in red sandal, Mercury and Jupiter in gold, Venus in silver, Saturn in iron, Rahu in lead and Ketu in brass. Alternatively, the features (figure) of the various planets are sketched on a silk cloth of the colours ascribed to them as stated earlier, with the paste of sandal (चंदन) and installed in the directions assigned to each planet as already explained.

पद्मासन: पद्महस्तः पद्मपत्रसमद्युतिः ।
सप्ताश्वरथसंस्थश्च द्विभुजश्च दिवाकरः ॥ ६ ॥

6 : The Sun God be perceived duly seated on a lotus, adorned with a lotus flower in one hand, with lotus like radiance, aboard in chariot drawn by seven horses and with two beautiful arms.

श्वेतः श्वेताम्बरो देवो दशाश्वः श्वेतभूषणः ।
गदाहस्तो द्विबाहश्च विधातव्यो विधुर्द्विज ! ॥ ७ ॥

7: Perceive the Moon duly attired in white clothes, riding on a chariot pulled by ten horses, bedecked with white ornaments, holding mace in one hand and giving blessings (वर) with the other.

रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरो शक्ति-शूल- गदाधरः ।
वरदस्तु चतुर्बाहुर्मंगलो मेषवाहनः ॥ ८ ॥

8 : Adorning rosary of red colour and red clothes; having four arms bedecked with Sword (शक्ति), axe (शूल) and mace (गया) in one hand in a blessing posture, riding on a quadruped lamb, be he perception of Mars.

पीतमाल्याम्बरहारः कर्णिकार समधुतिः ।
खड्ग - चर्म-गदा- पाणिः सिंहस्थो वरदो बुधः ॥ ९ ॥

9: Mercury be perceived duly attired in yellow coloured clothes possessing yellow rosary, having radiance alike Kanika (flowers of Kanera- कनेर), holding sword, shield, club and one hand in blessing posture mounted on a lion.

गुरु-शुक्रौ क्रमात् पीत- श्वेतवर्णी चतुर्भुजौ ।
दण्डिनौ वरदौ कार्यौ साक्षसूत्र-कमण्डलू ॥ १० ॥

10: Jupiter and Venus be perceived respectively, in yellow and white colour and both being four armed, holding staff (दण्ड), Akshasutra (अक्ष सुत्र), Kamandal (कमण्डल) and the fourth hand in a state of blessing posture.

इन्द्रनीलद्युतिः शूली वरदो गृध्रवाहनः ।
बाण - बाणासनधरो विज्ञेयोऽर्कसुतो द्विज ! ॥ ११ ॥

11 : O Brahmin! With the radiance of blue colour and the four arms are bedecked with Shoola (शूल), bow, arrow and one hand in a state of blessing posture, riding on a donkey, Saturn be perceived.

करालवदनः खड्गचर्मशूली वरप्रदः ।
सिंहस्थो नीलवर्णश्च राहुरेवं प्रकल्प्यते ॥ १२ ॥

12 : Rahu be perceived with a fierce face and four arms hold sword, shield, shoola (शूल) and fourth hand being in blessing posture duly mounted on a lion.

धूम्रा द्विबाहवः सर्वे गदिनो विकृताननाः ।
गृध्रासना नित्यं केतवः स्युर्वरप्रदा ॥ १३ ॥

13 : Ketu has been perceived in several forms in different scriptures (Here Ketu is being described in plurality to cover all these perceptions). All of them are of smoky colour with a pair of arms, one holding a club and another in a blessing posture and showing riding on a donkey having a steady speed.

सर्वे किरीटिनः कार्या ग्रहा लोकहितप्रदाः ।
स्वांगुलेनोच्छ्रिता विज्ञैः शतमष्टोत्तरं सदा ॥ १४ ॥

14 : All the idols are shown duly bedecked with crown and be of 108 Fingers (बल) tall (the learned persons should take the measurement from their middle finger).

यथावर्णं प्रदेयानि पुष्पाणि वसनानि च ।
गन्धो दीपो बलिश्चैव धूपो देयश्च गुग्गुलुः ॥ १५ ॥

यस्य ग्रहस्य यद्द्रव्यमन्नं यस्य च यत् प्रियम् ।
तच्च तस्मै प्रदातव्यं भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा ॥ १६ ॥

15-16: The planets should be worshipped with the flowers and clothes of the colours of the idol described in the preceding Shlokas and with fragrance, sticks, Deepa (दीप), giving oblations, Dhupa (धूप), Guggul (गुग्गल) etc. The metal of the idol of the planet and the foods dear to him (planet) as signified by the planet are donated in charity with full devoutness for the alleviation of the affliction.

'आकृष्णेन' इमं देवा, अग्निर्मूर्धा दिवः ककुत् ।
उद्बुध्यस्वेति मन्त्रांश्च जपेदथ 'बृहस्पते' ॥ १७ ॥

अन्नात् परिश्रुतश्चेति, शन्नो देवीरभीष्टये ।
‘कया नश्चित्र' इत्येवं केतु कृण्वन्निमांस्तथा ॥ १८ ॥

सप्त रुद्रा दिशो नन्दा नवचन्द्रा नृपास्तथा ।
त्रिपक्षा अष्टचन्द्राश्च सप्तचन्द्रास्तथैव च ॥ १९ ॥

इमा: संख्या: सहस्रघ्ना जपसंख्याः प्रकीर्तिताः ।
क्रमादर्कादिखेटानां प्रीत्यर्थं द्विजपुंगव ! ॥ २० ॥

17-20: Maharishi Parasara said, O Maitreyal The Mantra of Sun "आकृष्णेन रजसा....." for seven thousand times; the Moon's Mantra "इमं देवा असपत्नं....." eleven thousand times; the Mantras of Mars "अग्निर्मूर्धा दिवः..........." ten thousand times; Mercury's Mantra "उदबुध्यस्व......." nine thousand times; the Mantra of Jupiter "बृहस्पते अतिपदर्यो.." nineteen thousand times Venus Mantra "अन्नात् परिश्रुतो रसं....." sixteen thousand times; Saturn's Mantra "शन्नोरभीष्टय....." twenty three thousand times Rahu's Mantra "कया नश्चित आभुव....." eighteen thousand times and Ketu's Mantra "केतु कृष्णन्न केतवे....." seventeen thousand times should be recited to mitigate the ill effects of the planets.

अर्क: पलाश: खदिरस्त्वपामार्गस्तु पिप्पलः ।
उदुम्बर: शमी दुर्वा कुशाच समिधः क्रमात् ॥ २१ ॥

होतव्या मधु-सर्पिभ्यां दध्ना क्षीरेण वा युताः ।
एकैकस्य त्वष्ट शतमष्टाविंशतिरेव वा ॥ २२ ॥

21-22 : The type of wood pieces (समिधाएं) for the Havana (होम) for the planets like the Sun etc., respectively are Aak (आक), Palash (पलाश), Khaira (खैर), Chirchiri (चिरचिरी), Pipala (पीपल), Goolar (गूलर), Shami (शमी), Dooba (दूब) and Kusha (कुश) for the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. The Havana Samagri (सामग्री) duly mixed with honey, Ghee (घी), curd or milk be offered as oblations into the sacred fire and amidst chanting of the Mantras for 108 or 28 times, the Havana be performed.

गुडौदनं पायसं च हविष्यं क्षीरषाष्टिकम् ।
दध्योदनं हविश्चूर्णं मांसं चित्रान्नमेव च ॥ २३ ॥

दद्याद् ग्रहक्रमादेव विप्रेभ्यो भोजनं द्विज ! ।
शक्तितो वा यथालाभं देयं सत्कारपूर्वकम् ॥ २४ ॥

23-24 : Feasting the Brahmins with the foods like, rice cooked with Jaggery, rice cooked in milk, Havishya (हविष्य), paddy duly cooked in milk, curd rice, rice with Ghee (घी), rice baked with Sesame (तिल), meat rice and rice cooked with pulses (खिचडी) will propitiate the planets viz., the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu respectively.

धेनु: शंखस्तथाऽनड्वान् हेम वासो हयः क्रमात् ।
कृष्णा गौरायसं छाग एता रव्यादिदक्षिणाः ॥ २५ ॥

25 : To propitiate the planets like the Sun etc. milking cow, conch, bullock, gold, clothes, horse, black cow, iron and goat for the Sun etc., planets respectively be given in charity.

यस्य यश्च यदा दुःस्थः स तं यत्नेन पूजयेत् ।
एषां धात्रा वरो दत्तः "पूजिता: पूजयिष्यथ" ॥ २६ ॥

मानवानां ग्रहाधीना उञ्छ्रायाः पतनानि च ।
भावाऽभावौ च जगतां तस्मात् पूज्यतमा ग्रहाः ॥ २७ ॥

26-27: At the time when any planet is turning inauspicious for the native, the said planet be propitiated with proper worship and oblations because lord Brahma has given boon to these planets that who so ever would worship them, they (the planets) should do good to him. The growth and the down fall of the mankind, the existence and the destruction (प्रलय) of the world are solely dependent upon them. Therefore, the planets are the supreme amongst the divine Gods (पूज्यदेवों).