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| Kolam (Mandala) the Sun
Navagraha kolams (mandalas) are sacred designs drawn to propitiate the planets and to invoke their blessings. These yantras for the the planets are said to originate from Soundarya Lahiri, a poem composed in praise of Devi by Sankara. Though yantras are typically etched on a copper plate, kolam is drawn in front of the home shrine using rice flour or can be drawn on paper or other materials also.
The image above is the mandala for the Sun. The line drawing is the mandala; I have added color and embellishments. Here are some significant astrological details regarding the Sun, the most important of nine planets:
The following are mostly common to both Western and Indian astrologies: (Italicized texts in parentheses are the Sanskrit equivalent of English words/names)
Sign: Leo (Simha)
Day of the week: Sunday (Ravivar)
Direction: East
Season: Summer (Grishma)
Nature: mildly malefic
Rulership of: Soul
Gender: Masculine
Father of: Saturn (planet)
Significator: 1st and the 10th house in the natal chart
Exalted: Aries 10 deg
Directional strength: 10th house
Natural friends: Jupiter, Mars and the Moon
Represents: Father, government, authority, places of worship
Represents (physical): Bones, heart, eyesight, head
Favorable in houses: 3, 6, 10 and 11 in the natal chart
The following pertains to Indian mythology and astrology only: Name in Sanskrit: Surya Lordship of nakshatras (lunar mansions): Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashada
Dasa length: 6 years
Aspects: the 7th house from itself
Yogas: budhaaditya , veshi, voshi and ubhayachari
Represents: Devotion to Shiva
Navagraha Kirtana: Surya murte namostuthe by Muthuswami Dikshithar Temples: The Sun Temple at Konarak, Orissa, India |
