Navadhanya

Navadhanya means nine grains/legumes. 

There is a grain/legume associated with each of the nine planets. 

They are Wheat, Paddy, Pigeon pea, Mung bean, Chickpea, Cowpea, Sesame seeds, Black gram, and Horse gram.

Navadhanya for Navagrahas

When Navagraha Puja is performed, the nine planets are invoked onto kalasha or idol placed above its dhanya.

Navadhanyam is also used for giving danam and also for cooking naivedyam or homa dravya for the respective planet.

Navadhanya Names

1. Surya

Wheat

Sanskrit Name: गोधूमः

Botanical Name: Triticum aestivum

Other languages : গম, ઘઉં, गेहूं, ಗೋಧಿ, ഗോതമ്പ്, ଗହମ, ਕਣਕ, கோதுமை, గోధుమ

2. Chandra

Paddy

Sanskrit Name: व्रीहिः

Botanical Name: Oryza sativa (with husk)

Other languages : ধান, ડાંગર, धान, ಭತ್ತ, നെല്ല്, ଧାନ, ਝੋਨਾ, நெல், వరి

3. Kuja/Mangal/Angaraka

Pigeon pea

Sanskrit Name: आढकी

Botanical Name: Cajanus cajan

Other languages : অড়হর, તુવેર, अरहर, ತೊಗರಿ, തുവര, ਅਰਹਰ, तूर, కందులు

4. Budha

Mung bean

Sanskrit Name: मुद्गः

Botanical Name: Vigna radiata

Other languages: মুগ, મગ, मूँग, ಹೆಸರು ಕಾಳು, ചെറുപയർ, मूग, ਮੂੰਗੀ, பாசிப் பயறு, పెసలు

5. Guru/Brihaspati

Chickpea, Bengal gram

Sanskrit Name: चणकः

Botanical Name: Cicer arietinum

Other languages: ছোলা, ચણા, चना, ಕಡಲೆ, കടല, ଚଣା, கொண்டைக் கடலை, శనగలు

6. Shukra

Cowpea

Sanskrit Name: बर्ब्बटः/राजमाषः

Botanical Name: Vigna unguiculata

Other languages: বিউলির ডাল, ચોળા, लोबिया, വൻപയർ, காராமணி, అలసంద

7. Shani

Sesame seeds

Sanskrit Name : तिलः

Botanical Name: Sesamum indicum

Other languages: তিল, તલ, तिल, ಎಳ್ಳು, എള്ള്, तीळ, எள், నువ్వులు

8. Rahu

Black gram

Sanskrit Name: माषः

Botanical Name: Vigna mungo

Other languages : মাষকলাই, અડદ, उड़द, ಉದ್ದು, ഉഴുന്ന്, उडीद, ବିରି, உளுந்து, మినుములు

9. Ketu

Horse gram

Sanskrit Name: कुलत्थः

Botanical Name: Macrotyloma uniflorum

Other languages : કળથી, कुलथी, ಹುರುಳಿ, മുതിര, कुळीथ, கொள்ளு, ఉలవలు

Akshauhini Sena

One Akshauhini means a group of-1,09,350 foot soldiers, 65,610 horses, 21,870 chariots, and 21,870 elephants.

What kind of praying method is mantra?

Mantra chanting is called Japa yoga or Mantra yoga. It involves repetitive chanting of mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya, or Om Namo Narayanaya with absolute concentration. The chanting can be aloud, as a whisper, or mental. Mantra is repeated a fixed number of times such as 108 or 1008 usually with the help of a japamala. The purpose of mantra chanting is to get the blessings of the devata whose mantra is chanted and ultimately become one with him/her.