Navagraha Chalisa
नवग्रह चालीसा
40-verse composite hymn invoking all nine planetary lords — Surya, Chandra, Mangal, Budha, Brihaspati (Guru), Shukra, Shani, Rahu, and Ketu. Each graha receives dedicated verses honouring its dignity, vahana, weapon, and the karmic dimension it governs in the human birth chart.
Significance
The Navagrahas are not malefic forces but cosmic accountants delivering the precise fruits of past karma. This chalisa is the most concise daily remedy for any unidentified planetary affliction — recommended when one cannot afford individual graha pujas or when multiple grahas are simultaneously weak. Recited at Navagraha shrines found in every South Indian temple.
When recited: During planetary transits, after kundli analysis revealing dosha, on respective weekdays of each graha, before Navagraha Shanti homa
Benefits
- Pacification of multiple planetary doshas in a single sitting
- Reduction of malefic effects during Sade Sati, Kantaka Shani, and Rahu-Ketu transits
- Balancing of the entire kundli without requiring nine separate pujas
- Protection from sudden misfortune, accidents, and karmic upheavals
- Cost-effective daily remedy for those unable to perform full Navagraha homa
- Harmony in health, wealth, relationships, and career across life domains
Opening verses
First 6 verses of the Navagraha Chalisa — the most-recited opening section.
श्री गणपति गुरु गौरी पद, प्रेम सहित धरि माथ।
चालीसा वन्दौं नवग्रह, होहु सकल सुख साथ॥
जय जय रवि शशि सोम बुधा। बृहस्पति शुक्र शनैश्चरा॥
राहु केतु सहित नवग्रह। दीन बन्धु दुख हरण सबग्रह॥
सूर्य सिंहासन स्वर्ण विराजे। मंगल भौम धरा सुत साजे॥
चन्द्र दूज के दर्शन प्यारे। बुध सौम्य सब विद्या के तारे॥
Meaning
Placing upon my head with deepest love the feet of Sri Ganapati, the Guru, and Gauri, I venerate this Chalisa of the Nine Grahas — may all happiness accompany me. Victory, victory to Ravi (Sun), Shashi (Moon), Soma, Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), and Shanaishchara (Saturn). Along with Rahu and Ketu — all nine grahas, friends of the destitute, dispellers of sorrow for every devotee. Surya is enthroned upon a golden seat; Mangala, the fiery son of the Earth, is splendidly adorned. Chandra of the second-day darshan is most beloved; gentle Budha is the star of all the sciences and learning. Devotees who recite this chalisa daily, especially on the weekday assigned to a troublesome graha, find the karmic accounts of nine planetary forces simultaneously softened, the malefic transits made bearable, and the auspicious yogas of their birth chart enhanced through the grace of the cosmic accountants of dharma.
For complete authoritative text
Refer to printed editions from these sources for the full 40-verse chalisa with traditional pronunciation guides: