Surya Graha Shanti

Significance and when it is done

Surya Graha Shanti (सूर्य ग्रह शांति; Sanskrit: सूर्यग्रहशान्तिः) is a graha shanti and dosha puja offered to Surya. It is performed for a weak or afflicted Sun, with the purpose of supporting health, career and relations with the father. In jyotish, the Sun is read from the individual chart, so the decision to hold this puja is best taken after consulting a qualified jyotishi; this page describes the rite itself, not a personal reading.

Families usually arrange it when a jyotishi has advised a Sun-related remedy, or when they wish to make a formal offering to Surya as part of an ongoing observance. Because traditions differ, the exact occasion and timing are settled with the pandit and the family's own custom rather than fixed here.

Who performs it and who should attend

The puja is performed by a pandit. Family members attend and take part in the portions meant for them, such as sankalp, offerings and aarti. Where the Sun is connected with the father in a chart, elders of the family are commonly present, though this is a matter of family practice.

If the family cannot gather in one place, the puja can be done online: many pandits perform it by video call while a family member does the physical steps at home. In that case, one person should be ready to handle the samagri, the diya and the havan under the pandit's instructions.

Vidhi step by step (outline)

The following is an outline only. The full vidhi varies by region, sampradaya and the pandit's own paddhati, and the pandit will lead each step.

• Purification and sankalp: the family and the space are prepared, and the sankalp is taken in the names of those for whom the puja is done.
• Kalash sthapana and Ganesh pujan: the kalash is set up and the usual opening prayers are offered.
• Surya pujan: Surya is invoked and worshipped with roli, haldi, akshat, flowers and garland; Ganga jal and other offerings are used as per tradition.
• Japa: mantra japa for Surya, the count and mantra decided by the pandit.
• Havan: a havan is performed, with samidha, havan samagri and ahuti offered into the havan kund.
• Aarti and pranam: the family joins for aarti, and the puja closes with pranam.

Typical duration is about 2 hours, depending on the tradition and how much is included.

Preparing the samagri and the space

Samagri is usually arranged in advance, and the pandit will confirm the list for the family's tradition. The items commonly required are:

• Roli (kumkum), Haldi, Akshat (unbroken rice), Moli (sacred thread)
• Supari, Paan leaves, Coconut
• Ghee, Diya and cotton wicks, Camphor, Incense sticks
• Flowers and garland, Fruits, Sweets for naivedya, Ganga jal
• Kalash, Copper vessel, Red cloth
• Havan kund, Mango wood (samidha), Aak (madar) samidha, Havan samagri, Ghee for ahuti
• Til (sesame), Jau (barley), Wheat, Jaggery

Set aside a clean, quiet space for the mandap or puja area, with room for the havan kund and for the family to sit. Keep the samagri grouped and within reach so the pandit can move through the vidhi without long pauses. If the puja is online, place the camera so the pandit can see the puja area, and keep a phone or speaker close by.

Regional variations

Forms of Surya worship and graha shanti differ across India and in the diaspora. North and South Indian households may order the steps differently, and Smarta and Vaishnava families follow their own paddhatis. Amanta and purnimanta reckonings also affect how a family plans the occasion. Rather than choosing one, families normally follow the tradition of their own pandit and elders; where customs differ, the pandit's guidance settles the sequence.

After the puja: prasad, daan, dos and don'ts

After the aarti, prasad is distributed to those present, and daan is given as the family's tradition provides. The pandit will indicate what is to be offered and to whom. Families often keep the day simple, with the puja area left clean and the prasad shared rather than stored.

Practical points: confirm the samagri list and the space with the pandit beforehand; keep the havan area clear of children and loose clothing; and follow the pandit's instructions during the havan. Do not treat the puja as a substitute for medical, legal or financial advice. Fees for the pandit are set individually; dakshina figures and muhurat timings are shown separately on this page from data, and are not stated here. For anything concerning an individual chart, consult a qualified jyotishi.