Cosmic Journeys: Navagraha – Dec 2024

Monday - the Temple of the Moon (Chandra):
Thingaloor, Tamil Nadu, India

Thingaloor is 10 kilometers from Thanjavur and 36 kilometers from Kumbakonam, on the road to Tiruvaiyaru. From Main Road Thirupayhanam (where you get off the bus), it is about 2 kilometers. You will find the modest temple of Chandra, the Moon, at the eastern end of the village.

• Symbol: Waxing Moon
• Mantra: OHM SOMAYA NAMAHA, chanted 18 x 108 times to clear the emotional mind
• Day of the Week: Monday
• Morning Ritual: Bath
• Clothing: White, light green, or pale blue
• Flowers: Jasmine, gardenia, lotus, lily, Solomon’s seal
• Precious Stones: Pearl, moonstone, crystal
• Yoga: Bhakti Yoga
• Grain: White rice
• Animals: White horses
• Metal: Lead (some choose silver)
• Gods: The Mother Goddess: Maha Devi, Maha Shakti, Tara, Jwan Yin, Isis, Virgin Mary

Monday - Chandra - Moon - Cancer

The story goes that Shiva saved the Moon from the dragon-head Rahu. Therefore, the Moon now protects Shiva, and Shiva wears a crescent Moon in his hair.

Sleep early, as you will be up well before sunrise to travel to the temple of Chandra, the Moon. It is beneficial to fast for a day or follow a particularly hydrating diet. Wear white clothes today, as it is the color of the Moon. If you want to offer something, you can bring fresh milk, white flowers, and wear a crystal necklace.

Ponder and meditate on your soul: What do you need for peace of mind? What are your basic needs for safety, food, sleep, and nutrition? Can you take a break to purify your mindset and focus on its well-being?

As you drive through the sunrise over the fertile river landscape of the Cauvery Delta, you may realize that you don’t need as much as you thought. I vividly remember the first time I got off the bus in Thirupayhanam and found my way through the rice fields to Thingalur. Accompanied by graceful cranes, I reached a tiny village with a cool lotus lake called Chandra Theertam (Moon Lake). Surrounded by coconut palms, children washing buffaloes, and an elephant cooling himself, the scene felt timeless. It is said, “If you bathe and make offerings here, you are protected from moon sickness and other diseases.”

A little further along the simple, beautiful road, you will find a modest temple in the shade of a large banyan tree. You may refresh yourself with a drink from a fresh coconut and take time to adapt to the peaceful atmosphere of the Moon. At the entrance, you can buy offerings or amulets: a rock crystal in the shape of a lingam, a bag full of white jasmine, a small bottle or a bucket of milk, and a loosely woven white cloth.

The sheltered inner space of the temple breathes a protective, timeless energy. In silence, you walk barefoot on the warm stones, moving counterclockwise a few rounds to meet all the saints and curiosities, eventually arriving at the altar of the Moon. Sit down and be patient—nobody here will be in a hurry. Even the ritual is not strict on the clock. When the curtains open in front of the idol, the Moon is bathed. If you are lucky, you will see the large crystal Lingam being flushed with milk, sandalwood, water, and honey. Afterward, as the curtains open again, it is embalmed with perfumed oils, adorned with flower offerings, and dressed by the mantra-chanting Brahmins.

Indian astrologers guide people on pilgrimages for various moon-related ailments or concerns: anxious minds, prayers for fertility, or nourishment for breast milk. We all experience transits on the natal Moon that might need attention, and this temple provides the correct “Psycho-sphere” or “Genius Loci” for healing. In the temple, you will also find the Holy Mother Periya Nayaki Amman, who, with her graceful presence, drives away all sorrow and worry from the heart.

In the meantime, village women sweep the floor, and priests drift into quiet reflection. Do not worry! Their dreaming is part of the ritual and their peace of mind. The people here are not accustomed to visitors, and to enter the Hindu temple, you should at least be an astrologer and show respect for the protocols. It is not about observing but participating and reflecting on your inner Moon and its challenges. Everyone has their own meditation, and so will you. But you don’t need to take a posture or close your eyes—just reflect on yourself in the idol, as millions have done before you over centuries.

Were you born during a full Moon, a new Moon, or under a waxing or waning Moon? Which planets connect to the Moon in your horoscope through aspects, transits, and progressions? The Moon’s phases mirror the emotional states within us: sometimes bright, sometimes completely hidden. Have you ever consciously noticed that every month, the full Moon appears in a different constellation? The endless variations in the Sun-Moon relationship echo the complexities of relationships—between men and women, your heart and your soul.

You are not asked to reveal your thoughts. Just breathe, opening a sacred space to ease your mind and its emotions, together, in the natural silence of the rice paddies.

Ritual

Give food like rice, bananas, or alms to the sadhus in front of the temple. Walk three times to the left while humming a melody that comforts you, with white flowers in the cup of your hands stretched out in front of you, and then offer them to the moon.

On Monday, during a new or full moon, go clean-washed in white clothes, barefoot, with your offerings to the space where you want to honor and purify the ‘psychosphere’ and principle of the Moon—the mind. This can be at the temple in Thingaloor, at your altar at home, in the garden of your mother's house, at the cradle of your child, in the private space of your bedroom or altar, or in the kitchen. The Moon rules everything that has to do with care, motherhood, fertility, nurturing, menstruation, personal feelings, emotional relationships, and family life. Let your tears flow, yawn until you relax, provide comforting food, and perfume your rooms.

A larger ritual can involve, after finishing your duties, taking a mineral bath and washing an object such as a crystal egg, a pearl, or a moon symbol representing you. Clean it with water, milk, and honey, then wash it again. Dress your altar with flowers and offerings while ringing a bell, striking a triangle, or playing a beautiful piece of music.

This will ‘restart’ or ‘reset’ the mind.

You may also invite someone for a comforting meal or donate clothing, food, or support to people who have no roof over their heads.

It is not recommended to wear black, blue, or red on this day.

Cleanliness is Godliness. If the ritual goes well, it opens your inner eye.

Water - Parvatti

Type: Kapha / Phlegmatic

Attitude: Feeling, nurturing, connecting, healing

Sense: Taste, manifests through the tongue

Taste: Sweet and Salt

Color: Blue

Season: Winter

Direction: North

Zodiac signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces

Deities: Vishnu, Neptune, Ganga, Parvati

Chakra: Svadhishthana Chakra

Yoga Practice drink water

Breathing techniques like the Adham Pranayam (diaphragmatic breath), Dirgha Shwasam Pranayam (3-part abdominal breath) and Sama Vritti Pranayama (equal breath)

Appu Sthalam (Temple of Water)
Srirangam, Cauvary River
Tamil Nadu, India

In Tiruchirapalli stands one of the Panchabhoota Sthalams, or the 'Five Elements' temples—the famous Arulmigu Jambukeswarar Temple. This is an important Shiva temple connected to the element of water. The first foundations of the temple were laid as far back as 18,000 years ago. It stands on an island in the holy Cauvery River, the lifeline of the ancient fertile river delta and the Dravidian civilization of Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil god Jambukeswara is depicted here sitting under a tree that grows over a narrow stream. During the rainy season, he is often flooded. In the sacred heart of the temple, there is an opening through which visitors can observe a subterranean river stream that flows, flushes, and washes the naturally formed Shiva lingam. This phenomenal sight attracts pilgrims from all over India, who come to catch a glimpse of this sacred wonder. The serene and reflective ambiance of the temple quickly brings visitors into a meditative state, acting as a cool mirror to the mind.

The walls surrounding the temple are 1.5 kilometers long, 7.5 meters high, and 60 centimeters thick. It is said that walking around the temple 12 times over 48 days can bless one with a healthy, prosperous, and fulfilling life.

Daily rituals are performed for the Mother Goddess by a priest who, dressed as a woman, walks with the temple elephant to Goddess Jambukeswarar, offering his prayers. The temple seems designed to the scale of this elephant, an embodiment of the God usually named Ganesha—the son of Shiva and Parvati, and the messenger of the gods. When visiting, it is customary to share your intentions with Ganesha, trusting him to remember them while you transcend personal concerns and explore the greater realms of space.

I personally recommend everyone to visit this temple—not only for the meditative connection to water that has been practiced there for thousands of years but also for its spectacular location. Situated on the island of Srirangam in the middle of the holy Cauvery River, it stands right next to the awe-inspiring Ranganathaswamy Temple, the largest temple city in the world. Pilgrims from across the globe visit these sacred sites.

In front of the temple, you’ll find a small but excellently equipped Ayurvedic shop. My personal apothecary is stocked with health-enhancing products I discovered there.

Water—so cool, silver, and clear; stable, liquid, and heavy; moist, cloudy, and soft. It dissolves everything and manifests as flowing streams, dew drops, sweat, sperm, tears, and the essence of life in every cell, womb, or ocean. It is one of the most vital elements of our solar system, from which we all originate. Gaze at its surface—a water mirror that reflects, freezes, heats, evaporates, and drifts through the sky only to rain back to earth. Water, with its seasonal movements of cold and warmth, and the interplay of sweet and salty currents, unites all forms of life.

Imagine life under water—a hidden realm, alien to us breathing creatures. Drink the water, and it cycles through you, only to flow onward. Water flows, connects, cleanses, softens, dilutes, and even erodes the hardest stones over time.

Ritual

At sunrise, drink a glass of water in which a crystal has rested all night. Find your own quiet spot—by a river, the sea, or a lake. Perhaps you can be naked, or simply let your feet touch the water. Walk with full attention, feeling each step and the currents dancing around your ankles. Then, with your hands, let them drift gently as if you were a water plant. Sprinkle drops of water in all directions—East, South, West, and North—and then again towards the Sun. Sprinkle a few drops on your own head as well.

Immerse your head in the water three times. If time allows, let your whole body float on the surface, arms and legs spread wide. If you’re under the moonlight, lie back and let the water carry you. Free of gravity, you can travel in spirit to the starry sky.

Offer something to float with the current, perhaps on a leaf or a homemade raft from a small plank of wood. Adorn it with white flowers, a candle, or a note, and watch it drift away until it dissolves or disappears with time.

Create your own ritual to connect with water. This can be in a bath, a sauna, in the snow, or under the rain. You can cleanse your crystals, or simply clean your kitchen and bathroom, wash your clothes, or polish your glassware. Let the old energy flow away, making space for a fresh wave of life.

To free your emotions, you might try smashing a coconut with a decisive strike.

The Sacred Kaveri River
Ritual Bath at Sunrise

The Kaveri River is revered as one of the seven holiest rivers in India. Originating in the Brahmagiri Hills of Karnataka, the Kaveri reaches its full flow at the spiritual hub of Srirangam. Among its sacred sites, Amma Mandapam Ghat holds a special significance. Thousands of devotees visiting Srirangam each year prioritize taking a purifying dip in the Kaveri’s waters.

At sunrise, countless rituals unfold in the open-air Ghat by the river. Sadhus, healers, astrologers, and priests perform ceremonies for anyone seeking spiritual solace. These include mourning rituals for loved ones, emotional cleansing from life’s challenges, blessings for weddings, and practices to alleviate distress. The Ghat is often compared to Varanasi (Benares) for its spiritual importance in southern India.

Before visiting Srirangam's temples, devotees traditionally wash and purify themselves in the Kaveri at sunrise. The Ghats are sacred spaces where shoes are left at the entrance, and everyone walks barefoot, enhancing the serene atmosphere for personal and communal rituals.

Kaveri Pushkara Ghat, Srirangam

Every 12 years, when Jupiter enters Libra, the Kaveri Pushkara festival is celebrated here. This festival rotates among India’s 12 holy rivers, making the Kaveri its host once every 144 years, a truly rare and grand occasion.

The Largest Temple City in the World

Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangam Island in the Kaveri River
Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India

A visit to Srirangam isn’t complete without exploring the magnificent Ranganathaswamy Temple, an active site of devotion since 100 BCE. While its vast history warrants a dedicated chapter, here are some highlights of its remarkable structure and layout:

Scale and Orientation: The temple spans 63 hectares, featuring 21 towers oriented to the North, East, South, and West.

Enclosures: It encompasses five enclosures, free from vehicles, commerce, and shoes, surrounded by two outer walls.

Architectural Grandeur: The temple includes 81 shrines, 21 towers, 39 pavilions, and several water tanks. Its towering walls symbolize different planetary realms.

The temple is not just a spiritual landmark but also a cultural and educational hub. For over 2,000 years, it has provided pilgrims with hospitality, charity, free food, and healing facilities, while supporting local development through donations and gifts.

In the movie Dramayama (www.dramayama.com), you can glimpse the annual chariot festival, Rathothsavam, celebrated during the full harvest moon in January–February. Thousands of Brahmins carry the deity around the temple in a grand procession.

Visitors can stay traditionally within the temple compounds in a Pilgrimage Palace.