Navagraha Temple in Guwahati - Assam
The Navagraha Temple of the nine planets is situated atop a hill named Chitrasaala in east Guwahati. Housed in a red beehive shaped dome, this is an ancient seat of astrology and astronomy clubbed together. The central 'Shiva-Linga' is encircled by nine others representing the nine planets of the solar system. Also known as the 'Abode of Surya', this temple of the nine celestial bodies, symbolized as Lingas are each covered with a colored garment, with the center symbolizing as the sun. The nine planetary gods namely, Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Sukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu enshrined in this temple represent the ancient wisdom of a cultural past.
Sun worship in Assam, as in other parts of the Indian sub-continent, dates back to the ancient times in the 10th century. Located at a distance of 3 kilometers from the Guwahati Railway Station, the original structure of this Navagraha Temple was first built by the ruler Rajeshwar Singh in the late 18th century. Subsequently destroyed by an earthquake, it was later renovated during recent times in the late 1923. According to the 'Kalika Purana', Brahma created 'Pragjyotishpura', as this eastern city of astrology, equal to the city of Indra, the king of Gods. Navagraha Temple is well known and comfortably accessible within Guwahati by taxi, or auto-rickshaw, and city bus services. This is however, not to be confused with 'Surya Mandir', another temple near Guwahati on the 'Surya Pahar Hill'.
