NINE PLANETS TEMPLE AT KONARK
NINE PLANETS TEMPLE AT KONARK
Navagraha
The nine grahas were placed over doorways of temples to ward off evil influences. At Konark the planets appear in their fully developed iconography. The Navagraha slab which was originally placed over the eastern doorway ofthe jagamohana is now kept in a separate shed erected by the Archaeological Department. The monolithic slab is divided into nine pillared pavilions, inside which the nine grahas have been carved. Beginning from the left the grahas are Surya, Soma, Mangala, Budha, Brahaspati, Sukra, Sani, Ranu and Ketu. Except Rahu and Ketu, the planets are seated in padmasana over the padmapitha. Surya, as graharaja, is depicted first, and he holds two lotus flowers in his two hands; his feet do not wear boots. Soma, Mangala, Budha, Brahaspati, Sukra and Sani, each carry a water pot in the left hand and aksamala in the right. Rahu is depicted as a ferocious half-bust figure with a grinning face and protruding eyes.
