Navadhanya
Nine essential grains in Indian cuisine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Navdhānya or Navadhaniyam refers to nine important food grains in Indian cuisine:[1] wheat, paddy, pigeon pea, hyacinth bean, chickpea, mung bean, sesame, black gram and horse gram.[2][3] The term Navdhānya literally means "nine grains" in several Indian languages.
Hindu theology
In Hindu cosmology, Navadhānya are considered to represent the Navagraha (nine planets).[4] The grains represent the following nodes:[5]
| No. | Image | Name | Western equivalent | Day | Food grain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  |
Surya | Sun | Sunday | Wheat |
| 2. |  |
Chandra | Moon | Monday | Paddy |
| 3. |  |
Mangala | Mars | Tuesday | Chickpea |
| 4. |  |
Budha | Mercury | Wednesday | Mung bean |
| 5. |  |
Bṛhaspati | Jupiter | Thursday | Bengal gram |
| 6. |  |
Shukra | Venus | Friday | White bean |
| 7. |  |
Shani | Saturn | Saturday | Black sesame |
| 8. |  |
Rahu | Ascending node of the Moon | Black gram | |
| 9. |  |
Ketu | Descending node of the Moon | Horse gram |
Worship and rituals
It is customary for Hindus to use Navdanya during certain rituals and auspicious events.[6][7] Traditional Hindu initiation ceremonies such as Upanayana and Vidyāraṃbhaṃ involve the offering of navdhanya.[8] During festivals such as Saraswati Puja, a new scroll and writing equipment are placed on the navdhanya.[9]
In Mariamman worship in South India, the sprouts of these food grains, traditionally known as mullaipaari forms an important part of festivals and rituals.[10] The seeds are grown on temporary trays or pots and are either allowed to sprout in the temple or carried to the temples after sprouting. If the seeds sprout healthily, it is considered as a good sign and an indication of an upcoming good harvest.[11]