Navagraha Shanti Puja: The Nine Planets, When It Is Recommended & How It Is Performed

Navagraha Shanti Puja is a Vedic ritual to pacify the nine planetary deities (grahas) and seek their blessings. In Jyotish (Vedic astrology), the positions of the nine grahas in a person's birth chart are believed to influence health, relationships, career and peace of mind. When a chart shows afflictions — or when a difficult transit or dasha period begins — families perform Navagraha Shanti to reduce the challenges and strengthen the favourable planets.

The nine grahas

The Navagrahas are the Sun, the Moon, five visible planets, and Rahu and Ketu — the two lunar nodes, called chhaya grahas (shadow planets) because they have no physical body.

The nine samidhas — one sacred wood for each graha — are listed in the Yajnavalkya Smriti, one of the oldest sources for the Navagraha ritual.

When Navagraha Shanti is recommended

• Shani Sade Sati — the roughly seven-and-a-half-year period when Saturn transits the signs before, on and after your Moon sign.
• Shani Dhaiya (Ardhashtama / Ashtama) — the two-and-a-half-year periods when Saturn transits the fourth or eighth sign from your Moon.
• Mahadasha or antardasha of a malefic planet, such as a difficult Rahu, Ketu or Shani period.
• Planetary afflictions in the birth chart, as identified by an astrologer.
• Before major beginnings — a wedding, griha pravesh, a new business or a long journey. Navagraha worship is already part of most Vedic samskaras for this reason.
• Persistent obstacles in health, career or family life, alongside practical steps and professional advice.

Navagraha Shanti is a spiritual practice. It complements — never replaces — medical, legal or financial advice.

How Navagraha Shanti Puja is performed

1. Muhurat and sankalp. The pandit fixes a muhurat from your birth details, and the sankalp is taken in your name, gotra and nakshatra.
2. Ganesh puja and Kalash sthapana, to begin without obstacles.
3. Navagraha mandala. The nine grahas are invoked on a mandala, usually drawn with coloured grains on cloth. Surya is placed at the centre, with the other eight grahas around him in their traditional directions.
4. Vedic mantras. Each graha is invoked with its Vedic mantra — for Surya, Aa krishnena rajasa… — and worshipped with its colour of flowers and cloth.
5. Japa. The beej mantra or Vedic mantra of the main afflicting planet (often of all nine) is chanted a set number of times, which can take one or several days.
6. Havan. Offerings of ghee, samagri and each graha's samidha are made into the sacred fire, with mantras for each planet.
7. Navagraha Stotra. Many pandits recite the Navagraha Stotra attributed to Vyasa, beginning Japakusuma sankasham… for Surya.
8. Purnahuti, aarti and daan. The ritual closes with the final offering and aarti. Grains, cloth or other items associated with the grahas are donated.

Navagraha Puja vs. Navagraha Shanti

A Navagraha Puja of two to three hours includes the mandala, mantras and a short havan, and suits beginnings and general well-being. An extended Navagraha Shanti adds longer japa, a full havan for each planet and, if advised, gemstone energisation. It is recommended for serious afflictions, Sade Sati or Dhaiya. See our Navagraha Pooja and Navagraha & Shanti Pooja pages for what each includes.

Navagraha Shanti for families abroad

• Birth details. Have your date, time and place of birth ready — the pandit needs them for the muhurat and sankalp.
• Japa needs time. The full japa for nine planets runs into tens of thousands of recitations, which is why it is usually performed by a team of pandits. Many families abroad have it performed in India in their name and join the sankalp and purnahuti by video.
• Havan indoors. A full Navagraha havan produces a lot of smoke; abroad it is better done in a temple hall, a garden or by pandits in India.

Many families pair Navagraha Shanti with a Rudrabhishek, as Lord Shiva is worshipped as the master of all the grahas.