Salutation to Lord Ganesha

The Procedure for the Planetary Sacrifice as Stated in the Supplementary Texts

Now begins the procedure for the planetary sacrifice Graha-makha-prayoga: a ritual performed to appease or honor the nine celestial bodies in Hindu astrology according to the supplementary traditions. This rite is of three types, distinguished by their purpose: obligatory Nitya: rituals performed daily or at fixed cosmic intervals, occasional Naimittika: rituals performed for specific life events or milestones, and desire-based Kamya: rituals performed to achieve a specific goal or ward off a specific evil.

The obligatory rites are performed during the solstices, equinoxes, and eclipses. The occasional rites are performed during auspicious life-cycle ceremonies such as conception. The desire-based rites are performed for the removal of calamities or the acquisition of wealth.

In this matter, the original source-texts must be understood. One must perform the ritual only after knowing the "touch" likely referring to the planetary alignments or the physical contact with ritual implements and other specifics of the planets; otherwise, the rite is fruitless. Regarding this, the teacher Ashvalayana A famous ancient sage and author of ritual manuals (Sutras) says:

"One must know the form, color, weapons, station, the sacred circle, the mantras, the vehicles, the sacrificial wood, the fire-pit, the offerings, as well as the flowers, gems, and shapes. One must know the Gayatri a highly sacred Vedic meter and mantra, the root mantras, the name-mantras, the 'armor' Kavacha: protective mantras, and the mantras for the presiding and co-presiding deities Adhidevata and Pratyadhidevata: the secondary gods associated with each planet along with their 'touch' and other details. A wise man should know all these regarding the nine planetary carriers. He who is ignorant and merely relies on faith does not obtain the fruit of the rite. Such a man, despite his efforts, encounters great sorrow and the loss of his life-force."

Thus, the application of the Gayatri and the Planetary Gayatri will be described. The colors and other details, as well as the pavilion and fire-pit, are as follows: Shiva
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The desire-based rite should be performed according to one's own needs. Aside from the obligatory and occasional rites, all others should be done in a ceremonial pavilion Mandapa, as stated in the Matsya Purana One of the eighteen major Puranas (ancient encyclopedic scriptures), often cited for architectural and ritual dimensions. Regarding the fire-pit, the teacher Shivabhatta A ritual authority; the OCR 'pivabha' is likely a transcription error for 'Shivabha' also provides instructions.

The characteristics of the pavilion are described by Hemadri A 13th-century polymath and high official who wrote the Chaturvarga-chintamani, a massive compendium on ritual law and in the Matsya Purana:
A wise man should cause the pavilion to be built to the northeast of the house. It should be equal to a temple of Rudra (Shiva), square, and on leveled ground. It should be ten cubits A 'hasta' or cubit is the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger or perhaps sixteen cubits in size. The learned man should ensure it has four doors.

As for the fire-pit Kunda and the sacred circle Chakra: for the sacrifice to the nine planets, the fire-pit should be one cubit in size on all sides. It should be square, and its exterior should be purified and bright. The rims Mekhala: the tiered borders or steps around the fire-pit should be four fingers in width and four fingers in height. These should be constructed according to the measurements of one's own wealth meaning the scale of the ritual can be adjusted based on the patron's means.

The center should be raised like the back of a tortoise Kurma-prishtha and marked with lines on the sides. It should be equipped with an opening Yoni: the 'womb' or lip of the fire-pit from which the energy or fire is said to emerge that is shaped like the trunk of an elephant or a pipal leaf. There is an option to make it resemble an elephant or a pipal leaf. That opening yoni must be placed to the West.