Navagraha Temple Konark
A huge stone containing nine planetary gods is called as Navagraha slab. They are:
.
Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupitor, Sukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn) ,
Rahu (Ascending god),, and Ketu (Descending node).
However the cruel hands of time did not permit the slab to remain in its original position for long. Towards the end of the 19th century the Government of Bengal at the instance of the Bengal Asiatic Society, opening a Tram line upto the sea beach tried to take the Navagrah slab to Calucutta. But no sooner they took it hardly 200 feet all the sanctioned money was exhausted. Again after some years they tried to take it. To facilitate the removal the slab was longitudinally cut into two pieces. But its heaviness even after cutting and the sandy track all around saved it from being taken away. It was subsequently left at distance of about two furlongs from the temple site, where it was lying for more than sixty years. Very recently the Government of India arranged for its installation in a separated shed, close to the temple compound. Now the bigger part of the Navagraha slab lies in the south-eastern corner outside the compound.
On each and every Sankrati and Saturday many people gather at Konark to worship the Navagraha.
Navagraha Temple Konark
A huge stone containing nine planetary gods is called as Navagraha slab. They are:
.
Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupitor, Sukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn) ,
Rahu (Ascending god),, and Ketu (Descending node).
However the cruel hands of time did not permit the slab to remain in its original position for long. Towards the end of the 19th century the Government of Bengal at the instance of the Bengal Asiatic Society, opening a Tram line upto the sea beach tried to take the Navagrah slab to Calucutta. But no sooner they took it hardly 200 feet all the sanctioned money was exhausted. Again after some years they tried to take it. To facilitate the removal the slab was longitudinally cut into two pieces. But its heaviness even after cutting and the sandy track all around saved it from being taken away. It was subsequently left at distance of about two furlongs from the temple site, where it was lying for more than sixty years. Very recently the Government of India arranged for its installation in a separated shed, close to the temple compound. Now the bigger part of the Navagraha slab lies in the south-eastern corner outside the compound.
On each and every Sankrati and Saturday many people gather at Konark to worship the Navagraha.