The Navagraha Temple or the temple of the nine
celestial bodies is located in the south eastern part of Guwahati in Assam, on a hill by
name Citrasaala.
Sun
worship in Assam (as in other parts of India) goes back to ancient times.
Assam has been referred to as Pragjyotishapura. According to the Kalika Purana
of the 10th century CE, Bhrahma created Pragjyotishapura, as a city equal
to the city of Indra the King of the Gods. The word Prag refers to the Eastern region and
jyotisha refers to the word star-astrology. Pragjyotisha is also said to
mean, 'eastern city of astrology'. Also near Guwahati is the Surya Mandir on the Surya Pahar hill.
Enshrined in this temple are nine Shivalingams,
representing the nine Celestial bodies, each covered with a colored garment symbolic of
each of the celestial bodies. A similar shrine exists in the grand Nataraja temple complex
at Chidambaram in South India.
The Navagraha temple as it stands
today was built by the ruler Rajeswar Singh in late 18th century. An
earthquake destroyed the temple tower,and it was rebuilt later.
See also the Suryanaar
Temple in Temple dating back to the 11th -12th century CE Chola ruler
Kulottunga Cholan, with shrines to each of the nine celestial bodies.
