Dikshitar's Navagraha Krithis and their scientific significance- Diwakara Tanujam(SATURN)

                                            DiwAkara tanujaM 

                        rAgaM yadu kula kAmbhOji/ tALaM catuSra Ekam

Krithi:
divAkara tanujaM SanaiScaraM
dhIra-taraM santataM cintayE(a)ham

bhavAmbu nidhau nimagna janAnAM -
bhayankaraM ati-krUra phaladaM
(madhyama kAla sAhityam)
bhavAnISa kaTAksha pAtra bhUta -
bhaktimatAM atiSaya Subha phaladam

kAlAnjana kAnti yukta dEhaM
kAla sahOdaraM kAka vAhaM
nIlAMSuka pushpa mAlAvRtaM
nIla ratna bhUshaNAlaMkRtam
mAlinI vinuta guru guha muditaM
makara kumbha rASi nAthaM
tila taila miSritAnna dIpa priyaM
dayA sudhA sAgaraM nirbhayam
(madhyama kAla sAhityam)
kAla daNDa pari-pIDita jAnuM
kAmitArtha phalada kAma dhEnuM
kAla cakra bhEda citra bhAnuM
kalpitacchAyA dEvI sUnum

Translation

Divaakara tanujam- Son of Surya, 

Dheeratharam – Courageous, 

Shanaishcharam – One who is slow moving,

 Santhatham chintaye- Always meditate upon Shani.

 bhavAmbu nidhau nimagna janAnAM bhayankaraM ati-krUra phaladaM- Harbinger of bad effects to those who are immersed in worldy pleasures.

bhavAnISa kaTAksha pAtra bhUtabhaktimatAM atiSaya Subha phaladam-  Heralds positive influences to those who are devotees of Lord Shiva.

kAlAnjana kAnti yukta dEhaM- One who wears a black body, 

kAla sahOdaraM kAka vAhaM- One who is the brother of Yama and has a crow as his vehicle.

nIlAMSuka pushpa mAlAvRtaM- Who wears a blue coloured garland, 

mAlinI vinuta guru guha muditaM- One who is prayed by Malini and who brings delight to Guruguha, 

MakarakuMbha Raashinaatham- One who rules over Capricorn and Aquarius,

Tila taila miSritAnna dIpa priyaM- One who has a special liking for lam lit with sesame oil and rice cooked with Sesame seeds,

DayA sudhA sAgaraM nirbhayam-Ocean of compassion and bestows courage, 

KAla daNDa pari-pIDita jAnuM- Whose knee was disfigured by the staff of kaala, the God of death, 

kAmitArtha phalada kAma dhEnuM- One who yields all desires like Kamadhenu, 

kAla cakra bhEda citra bhAnuM- One who is like a fire capable of splitting the time wheel of life, 

kalpitacchAyA dEvI sUnum- One who is conceived as the son of Goddess of Chaayaa. Salutations O lord Shani!

Shanaischaram: Slow-moving planet.

Scientific significance: It is the slowest moving planet in our solar system. It takes about 2.5 years to traverse one zodiac sign and about 29 years to complete one rotation around the sun.

bhavAmbu nidhau nimagna janAnAM bhayankaraM ati-krUra phaladaM- Harbinger of bad effects to those who are immersed in worldy pleasures.

Scientific significance:

In the optical spectrum, Saturn is believed to emit wavelength in the 'Violet' band. Violet is said to have minimum wavelength and maximum frequency. The penetrating power of this colour being high, exposure to the Violet light is strictly not recommended.   In this Krithi, Sri Dikshitar had cleverly linked the Human Body(Head to toe) to the worldly pleasures. Hence, the exposure of the 6 chakras (except Sahasrara/Crown Chakra) to Violet light causes harmful effects, which even the latest science illustrates. So Shani is considered to bear malefic influences on the human body(means one who is immersed in materialistic world).

bhavAnISa kaTAksha pAtra bhUtabhaktimatAM atiSaya Subha phaladam-  Heralds positive influences to those who are devotees of Lord Shiva.

Scientific Significance:

Latest researches in Yoga and Therapy have proven that Violet light rules over the Sahasrara/Crown chakra of our body.  'Violet Flame Meditation' is a latest form of therapy, which induces philosophical/Spiritual thinking within us.Indeed it is also capable of elevating us from the 3D to the 5D world. Crown/Sahasrara chakra in our body helps us connect to the cosmic world. Sri Dikshitar, has clearly mentioned about this aspect of science, by saying, one who attempts to cross the barriers of the materialistic world, and tries to think on spiritual lines, would surely benefit from Shani graha. 

The ability to elevate us from the worldly pleasures to the cosmic/spiritual world, is possible only by Violet light.

neelamsuka pushpa Maalaavrutham: One who wears a Blue coloured garland

Scientific aspect:

Images from 'Cassini spacecraft' have shown that the Northern Hemisphere of Saturn is said to reflect Blue light. The reason might be because of the particles in Saturn's atmosphere, which reflects blue light.

In a nutshell, Sri Dikshitar has neatly personified Shani Graha keeping in view it's features and the influences of the light that is emitted from it.