This yagya was for the Navagraha (9 planets) because of the intensity of combinations of Saturn, Mars, and Rahu/Ketu.
The day began with our priests chanting for several hours and continuing with a full series of pujas, one for each of the planets.
The pile of flowers being offered got quite high!
Then the homam (fire yagya) was performed at our own facility.
During the day, the priests went all over the place obtaining the most traditional ingredients and flower malas.
In the following photo you can see milk, rose water, various fruits, sandalwood, turmeric, coconut, dried fruits, dried leaves, fresh banana leaves, kumkum, vibhuti, ghee, sesame oil, etc. Its a lot of shopping!
Each planet has specific grains associated with it, as well as a color of cloth. During the homam, these items are offered into the yagya fire.
Once they reached the temple, the homam was repeated.
The effect of the fire offerings and the chanting of the mantras enlivens and purifies the temple atmosphere. The kalasha pot contain water which is also viewed as a container for the purity that is generated. So the priests take the water pots to the area of the temple where the navagraha murtis are located.
The abishekam portion of the yagya begins with pouring water, and then milk over the murtis.
Then various other offerings are made. In this photo, the murtis are sprinkled with vubhuti; sacred ash.
At the conclusion of the abishekam, each murti is dressed in a new cloth and decorated with sandalwood, and fresh flower malas. Ghee lamps are lit surrounding the murtis.
Since the navagraha puja is being performed this month in honor of Jupiter as he changes signs from Virgo to Libra, his decorations receive special attention.
Obviously yellow is his color!
