Navagraha Temple is situated at Guwahati in Assam. It is situated in the southeastern part of Guwahati atop the Chitrasala or Navagraha hill. The temple is also known as the abode of Surya. The Navagraha temple is dedicated to the nine celestial bodies which are called Navagraha in Hindu mythology.
History of Navagraha Temple
The Navagraha temple was built by Ahom ruler Rajeswar Singha, son of Rudra Singha in the late 18th century. During a devastating earthquake in Assam, the temple was partly destroyed. However, it was later rebuilt, a few centuries later. A tank was excavated to provide water to the devotees who come to pay homage to the Gods The tank, known as Silpukuri to date continues to supply water to the needy. The Garbhagriha, built of bricks, exists to this date.
Importance of Navagraha Temple
The Navagraha temple is an important religious spot of the Hindus. In the Hindu religion, the nine planets are considered gods and are worshipped by people. In the temple, there are nine shiva lingams. They represent the nine celestial bodies. These are covered with colored cloths representing the nine planets. There is a Shivalingam at the center which symbolizes the Sun.
The nine planets are Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budhan (Mercury), Vrihaspati (Jupiter), Sukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (North Lunar Node), and Ketu (South Lunar Node). These Navagrahas are arranged in a circular mode. The temple’s roof is shaped like a dome. It is constructed in the beehive style.
One of the very significant aspects of the temple is that it is the centre of astrological and astronomical research.
How to reach Navagraha temple
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