Written by the Vandanam editorial team, with inputs from our panel of verified Vedic pandits. Last updated September 2026.
Navgraha Puja is the worship of the nine planetary deities — Surya, Chandra, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu. Families perform it to calm a difficult planetary period shown in the horoscope, before a big undertaking, or as part of a larger ceremony. This guide covers the benefits, when it helps, what the ritual involves, and how it differs from an individual graha shanti.
Benefits families seek from Navgraha Puja
- Relief during a hard dasha or antardasha — especially Shani, Rahu, Ketu or Mangal periods.
- Reducing the effect of doshas — Shani sade sati and dhaiya, Kaal Sarp, Mangal (Manglik) dosha, Grahan dosha.
- Removing repeated obstacles in career, money, health or marriage when effort alone is not working.
- Steadying the mind — anxiety, sleeplessness and family friction linked to Chandra and Rahu.
- Support before a new start — a new job, business, house, vehicle or marriage.
Navgraha Puja is a devotional remedy performed alongside honest effort, medical care and, where relevant, an astrologer’s advice — not instead of them.
When Navgraha Puja is commonly advised
- An astrologer identifies a weak or afflicted planet in your kundli.
- You are entering or in the middle of a Shani sade sati or a Rahu/Ketu mahadasha.
- As part of Griha Pravesh, marriage, or a Rudrabhishek / Mahamrityunjaya anushthan.
- On the planet’s own weekday, an eclipse-adjacent day, or Amavasya (for pitra-linked afflictions).
What the ritual involves
- Sankalp and Ganesh-Gauri puja.
- Kalash sthapana and Punyahavachan (purification).
- Navgraha sthapana — the nine planets installed on a nine-square mandala, each with its own colour, grain, metal and direction.
- Shodashopachar puja of each graha with its bija mantra, and offering of the nine grains (navdhanya) and nine cloths.
- Navgraha havan — ahutis with the mantra of each planet, and the samidha wood associated with it.
- Aarti, dakshina and daan — donating the items linked to the troublesome planet (for example black til and iron for Shani).
A home Navgraha Puja with havan takes roughly 2 to 3 hours. An extended anushthan with fixed mantra counts for a specific planet takes longer.
Navgraha Puja vs single graha shanti
A Navgraha Puja honours all nine planets together and is a good general remedy. A single graha shanti (for example only Shani shanti or Mangal shanti) focuses the mantras, japa count and daan on one planet an astrologer has flagged. Many families do the full Navgraha Puja and add extra japa for the one planet that matters most.
Simple planet-wise remedies your pandit may suggest
- Surya — offer water to the sun at dawn; donate wheat and jaggery.
- Chandra — Monday fast; donate rice and milk.
- Mangal — Hanuman Chalisa; donate masoor dal.
- Budh — feed green fodder to cows; donate green moong.
- Guru — Thursday puja of Vishnu/Brihaspati; donate chana dal and turmeric.
- Shukra — donate white items, curd and rice.
- Shani — Saturday lamp of mustard oil; donate black til, iron, black cloth.
- Rahu / Ketu — donate sesame, blankets; feed dogs (Ketu) and serve the needy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my horoscope for Navgraha Puja?
Not compulsory for a general Navgraha Puja, but if an astrologer has flagged a specific planet, share that so the pandit can add focused japa and daan.
How often should it be done?
Once for a specific difficult period is common; some families repeat it yearly or on the afflicted planet’s transit.
Can Navgraha Puja be done at home?
Yes. The pandit brings the navdhanya, nine cloths, mandala materials and havan samagri and performs it at your home.
Is it the same as Navratri puja?
No. Navratri is nine nights of Goddess Durga worship; Navgraha Puja is worship of the nine planets. They are unrelated, though both can be booked in the same season.
Book a pandit for Navgraha Puja
Vandanam arranges verified Vedic pandits for Navgraha Puja at home across Delhi NCR, with the full mandala setup, navdhanya and havan samagri included. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 87964 76233, or see the Navgraha Puja page. For planetary peace in the home, also see Griha Shanti Puja.