[INDOLOGY] Symbolic Forms of the Navagrahas

[jacob at fabularasa.dk]

Thanks everybody for these additional references. I am attaching pp. 
195-96 from Kropf's thesis on the navagrahas which shows that their 
symbolic forms have a very long history indeed. The texts referenced in 
the passage and table are Yājñavalkyasmṛti (YājS), Jaiminigṛhyasūtra 
(JaiGS), and Matsyapurāṇa (MaP).

Best regards,
Jacob

Lubomír Ondračka via INDOLOGY skrev den 2026-03-20 10:52:
> On 20/03/2026 09:40, Matthew Kapstein via INDOLOGY wrote:
>> Though not addressing Jacob's question about the symbolism, the 
>> classic work of Willy Hartner on the iconography of the planets, with 
>> particular reference to Rahu and Ketu, may be of interest:
>> Hartner, Willy. “The Pseudoplanetary Nodes of the Moon’s Orbit in 
>> Hindu and Islamic Iconographies.” /Ars Islamica/,, vol. V, pt. 2 
>> (1938), pp. 113-154.
>> The volume is available in the internet archive, but as the site is 
>> temporarily down, I cannot send the precise link.
>> 
>> Matthew
>> 
>> Matthew T. Kapstein
>> Professor emeritus
>> Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, PSL Research University, Paris
>> 
>> Associate
>> The University of Chicago Divinity School
>> 
>> Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
>> 
>> https://ephe.academia.edu/MatthewKapstein <https://ephe.academia.edu/ 
>> MatthewKapstein>
>> 
>> https://vajrabookshop.com/product/the-life-and-work-of-auleshi/ 
>> <https://vajrabookshop.com/product/the-life-and-work-of-auleshi/>
>> 
>> https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501716218/tibetan- 
>> manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-i/#bookTabs=1 <https:// 
>> www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501716218/tibetan-manuscripts-and- 
>> early-printed-books-volume-i/#bookTabs=1>
>> 
>> https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501771255/tibetan- 
>> manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-ii/#bookTabs=1 <https:// 
>> www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501771255/tibetan-manuscripts-and- 
>> early-printed-books-volume-ii/#bookTabs=1>
>> 
>> https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/60949 
>> <https://brill.com/edcollbook/ title/60949>
>> 
>> Sent with Proton Mail <https://proton.me/mail/home> secure email.
>> 
>> On Friday, March 20th, 2026 at 8:08 AM, Jean Michel DELIRE via 
>> INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info> wrote:
>>> Very interesting indeed, Jacob and Martin.
>>> If you find any reference (articles, books) on the subject, please 
>>> keep me informed.
>>> 
>>> Best regards,
>>> 
>>> Jean Michel Delire (University of Brussels)
>>> 
>>> Le mer. 18 mars 2026 à 23:28, jacob--- via INDOLOGY 
>>> <indology at list.indology.info <mailto:indology at list.indology.info>> a 
>>> écrit :
>>> 
>>>     Dear friends and colleagues,
>>> 
>>>     I am trying to understand the origin of the symbolic forms 
>>> (ākāra)
>>>     associated with the navagrahas, but have not had any luck so far. 
>>> The
>>>     standard forms, as far as I have been able to determine them, are 
>>> as
>>>     follows:
>>> 
>>>     Sun = circle (vṛtta)
>>>     Moon = crescent (ardhacandra)
>>>     Mars = triangle (trikoṇa)
>>>     Mercury = arrowhead (bāṇa)
>>>     Jupiter = rectangle (dīrghacaturaśra)
>>>     Venus = pentagon (pañcakoṇa)
>>>     Saturn = bow (dhanus)
>>>     Rāhu = winnowing basket (śūrpa)
>>>     Ketu = flag (dhvaja)
>>> 
>>>     I would be grateful for any pointers to primary sources or 
>>> articles
>>>     discussing these forms.
>>> 
>>>     Best regards,
>>>     Jacob
>>> 
>>>     _______________________________________________
>>>     INDOLOGY mailing list
>>>     INDOLOGY at list.indology.info <mailto:INDOLOGY at list.indology.info>
>>>     https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology <https://
>>>     list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology>
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> INDOLOGY mailing list
>> INDOLOGY at list.indology.info
>> https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> INDOLOGY mailing list
> INDOLOGY at list.indology.info
> https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Kropf_2005_Rituelle-Traditionen-der-Planetengottheiten-Navagraha-im-Kathmandutal_pp195-96.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 176588 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://list.indology.info/pipermail/indology/attachments/20260320/d9c10eae/attachment.pdf>