Shani
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
 | It has been suggested that Shaneeswaran be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2008. |
| Shani | |
|---|---|
| Devanagari | शनि / शनैश्वर |
Shani (Sanskrit Śani शनि) is one of the Navagraha which are the nine primary celestial beings in Hindu astrology (that is, Vedic astrology). Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn. Shani is the Lord of Saturday; the word Shani also denotes the seventh day or Saturday in most Indian languages.
The origin of word Shani(शनि) comes from the following: Shanaye Kramati Sa: (शनये क्रमति सः) i.e. the one who moves slowly. Saturn takes about 30 years to revolve around the Sun, thus it moves slowly enough compared to other planets, thus the Sanskrit name शनि.
He is also known as Shanaiscarya (शनैश्वर) Shani Bhagavan, Shaneesvara, Saneesvara, Shaneesvaran, Shani Deva.
Shani is a Deva and son of Surya (the Hindu Sun God) and his wife Chhaya. It is said that when he opened his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an eclipse, which clearly denotes the impact of Shani on astrological charts (horoscope).
He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black ; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and variously mounted on a black vulture or a raven.[1]
This may be the reason why Shri Shani-Maharaj is feared by most. However, Shani is also not one who gets carried away by platitudes like the careless and/or insincere chanting of mantras or the performance of rituals without sincerity and/or faith. He forces people to be disciplined, and to understand that one needs to be humble, focussed, patient, and hardworking to achieve success. Since most Hindus fear Lord Shani, they prefer not to approach him alone directly; rather they turn to God, in His various Forms, for relief.
In Hindu mythology
The great story of Shani's life is described in Shri Shani Mahatmya ॥श्रीशनिमहात्म्य॥ written several centuries ago. The story of Shani Mahatmya depicts the importance of Shri Shani-deva and how devotion is required to please him and get his krupa (blessings) on you. The book starts with describing the importance of various planets and their strengths. These are told by the scholars serving king Vikramaditya's court from the city of Ujjain. The description of Shani comes as: He has a dark complexion, his face is beautiful,his caste is teli (Oil vendors) and he prays Kal-bhairav. After listening to the birth story of Shani, Vikramaditya laughed and ridiculed Shani for what he did. Shani-dev heard the remarks of Vikramaditya and cursed him. The rest of the story is how Vikramaditya faces difficulties and problems worse than the ones he could imagine. He loses his kingdom, he is charged with stealing, his both hands and legs are cut-off by King Chandrasen of Tamlinda town. He is helped by a teli of that town and this oil vendor brings him home. But Vikramaditya still prays Shani-dev without losing his temper or faith in Shani-dev, who eventually is satisfied with Vikramaditya's devotion and brings him back all the lost glory. In fact Shani-dev makes him even better and greater than what he was or had before. The last part of the book describes various experiences faced by various gods, demons and sages, including Brihaspati (the Guru of gods) and Shiva et al. The story essentially stresses values such as perseverance in difficult times, complete devotion (bhakti) and faith in the values one believes in or one follows and never to lose his/her confidence in life in spite of lot of difficulties. The Marathi version of this is possibly written by Shri Tatyaji Mahipati, however, nothing more is known about this
For a more detailed research on Shani one can read "Shani Upasana Kyon aur Kaisey" also available in English as "Effectuation of Shani Adoration". Both These books are available at Shanidham in New Delhi.
Shani and Hanuman
The worship of Lord Hanuman is a panacea for the harsh effects of the 'unfavourable' presence of Lord Shani. In the Ramayana, Lord Hanuman is said to have rescued Shani from the clutches of Ravana and in gratitude, Shani promised Hanuman that anyone who prayed to Him (Hanuman), especially on Saturdays, would be rescued from the "malefic" effects of Saturn, or at the very least, the effects would be softened.
Another version of the encounter between Lord Hanuman and Shani is that once Shani climbed on to Hanuman's shoulder, implying that Shani's influence was beginning on Lord Hanuman. At this, Hanuman assumed a large size, and Shani was caught painfully between Hanuman's shoulders and the ceiling of the room they were in. As the pain was unbearable, Shani requested Lord Hanuman to release him, promising in return, that if a person prayed to Lord Hanuman, he (Shani) would moderate the malefic effects of his influence on that person if not all together have no malefic influence on the person; following this, Lord Hanuman released Shani.
Ways to please Sri Shani-Maharaj
Also it is said that Shaneeswara Swamy is a very great devotee of Lord Shiva. As mentioned in the "Navagraha Pidahara Sthothram" of "Brahmanda Purana", anybody who chants the following sthothra is relieved from all the ill-effects of Shaneeshwara Swamy placed in bad houses.
- Suryaputhro Deerghadeho Vishaalaakshah Shivapriyah |
- Mandachaarah Prasannathmaa peedam harathu me Shanih ||
- सूर्य पुत्रो दीर्घ देहो विशालाक्षः शिवप्रियः।
- मन्दचारः प्रसन्नात्मा पीडां हरतु मे शनिः ॥
One who prays to Lord Vishnu is protected from Shani as he is said to be a great devotee of Vishnu. (It is interesting to note that Hanuman Himself was devoted to Lord Rama, an avatar of Vishnu).
It is also a wide spread belief that one who is an ardent devotee of Lord SriLakshmiNarasimha Swamy or Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) is also always protected by Sri Shani Maharaj.
Except for prayers to Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu you can also chant mantras for Shani to relieve the ill effects of Shani.
Mantra for Shani : Aum praang preeng proung sah Shanaye namah Neelaanjan samaabhaasam raviputram yamaagrajam, Chaayaa-maartandam-sambhootam, Tam namaami Shanaishcharam.
You can chant this mantra for at least 7 times a day, because Shani is the 7th planet counted starting from the Sun. However, if you are troubled by Shani it would be better to chant the above mantra for 108 times a day.
In astrology
According to Vedic astrology, Shani is one of the nine Navagraha or planets. Shani is considered to be the strongest malefic and a stern teacher who represents patience, effort, endeavour, and endurance; and who brings restrictions and misfortunes. However, a favourably-placed Shani on the horoscope of a person stands for a strong career, healthy life and everything positive for that person. In fact, a well-placed Shani in one's horoscope is something every astrology-believing Hindu hopes for, as no other 'graha' can bestow what a favourable Shani can. Shani placed "unfavourably", on the other hand, denotes troubles in all of the above. Saneesvara is much feared by those Hindus who believe in astrology, as the "malefic" effects of his being unfavourably placed can be quite severe. However, it is to be remembered that any pleasure or pain that befalls a person during Saneesvara's influence is not Saneesvara's arbitrary doing; rather, it is the result of the person's own karma, now being manifested in the "presence" of Saneesvara. Thus an "unfavourably-placed" Shani brings about the harsh results of one's bad karma, and vice-versa.
The planet Shani or Saturn revolves around the Sun in about 30 years, which means it passes through all the 12 rashis or moonsigns in 30 years. Thus Shani spends on an average about 30/12 = 2.5 years i.e. two and half years in each rashi or moonsign. This movement of Shani through the moonsigns has a lot of importance in the hindu astrology and horoscope predictions. The effect of Shani starts when it enters the previous rashi/moonsign to one's own birth rashi and stops when it leaves the rashi/moonsign after one's birth rashi. The total period of 7.5 years (2.5 x 3) is called Saadesaati or "Ezhara-shani", and the person faces lot of difficulties during this period of his life. It is believed that Shri Shani-maharaj makes sure that the person who faces difficulties and goes through this period comes out as a very wise person indeed very well aware of most of the dire experiences of life. This period teaches that person many things important in his life. This is another way to make that person humble and be respectful rather than otherwise.
Shani rules the signs Makara (Capricorn) and Kumbha (Aquarius), is exalted in Tula (Libra) and in his fall in Mesha (Aries). Mercury and Venus are considered friendly towards Shani or Saturn, while the Sun, Moon and Mars are enemies. Shani is the lord of three nakshatras or lunar mansions: Pushya, Anuradha and Uttara Bhadrapada.
Shani has the following associations: his color is black or dark blue, metal is iron and gemstone is Blue Sapphire. His element or tattva is air, direction is west (where the sun sets and darkness begins) and he rules all seasons. The traditional foods for Shani are sesame seeds or black gram, his flower is the violet and he is linked to all black animals and all trees that are considered useless and ugly.
Shrines for Lord Shani
In several parts of India, there are clusters of nine temples/shrines dedicated to the Navagrahas. One such cluster is located near the town Kumbakonam in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Lord Shani's shrine in this cluster is located at Tirunallar. It is a Temple dedicated to Lord Darbaranyesvara, a Form of Lord Shiva, in which Lord Shani is located in a niche in a wall. At this Temple, Lord Shani is considered to be of benevolent nature.
Another important Shrine for Lord Shani is in Shingnapur, in Maharashtra, India. The deity self emerged from the earth in form of stone block and was found by shepherds. When they touched stone with a pointed rod the stone began bleeding. The shepherds were astounded and one night one shepherd got a dream that the deity was Lord Shani. To this day, due to fear of Shani, houses within a 1 km radius of the Shani temple do not have locks. No thefts happen in this place. Some who have tried to steal have received punishment (sickness, mental harassment) from Shani.
Another Shani temple is ShaniDham, at Fatehpur Beri, about 6 km from Chhattarpur temple & 16 km from the Qutub Minar, at Mehrauli, South Delhi, India. It has got the tallest 21 feet high statue of Lord Shani in the world made of Astdhatu and a natural rock of Shani. Many devotees visit every Saturday to please Lord Shani. The main Poojan for Kaalsarp and Sadhesatti and Dhaiya are done here on Shani Amavasaya, the most auspicious day for pleasing Lord Shani.
There is a Shree Shaneeshwarar Temple at Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Another temple is at Kuchanoor, 20 km from Theni, near Madurai. The Lord is seen in swayambhu (self-appeared) form, the name of the town being derived from Kubjan, one of Shani's names (Kubjanoor). There is a Shree Shani Mandir next to Nageshwar pasharvanathji jain temple, at Ghatkopar west close to Sheryas cinema. There is a Shree Shani Mandir at Katemanevli, Kalyan (East), District Thane, Maharashtra, near Vitthalwadi ( Central Rly ) Railway Station. There is a Shree Shani Mandir on the Service Road at Khar East on Western Express Highway just about 500 mts before the Vakola Signal when travelling from Mumbai city to Suburbs. There is a Shree Shani Mandir 15 minutes walkable from National Park at Savarpada,Borivali (East).One Shani temple is in Jogeshwari (East) in Meghwadi when we reach Jogeshwari East catch auto for Meghwadi get down at Shivsena Shaka , Just to make people aware if they have problems they can avail a facility of hearing The story of Shani Mahatmya duration is 12 Am to 6 Am only on Saturday Evening
Shani in Jainism
Shani and Lord Munisuvarat (20th jain tirthankar)
One who prays to Lord Munisuvarat is protected from Shani as he is great devotee of Lord Munisuvarat Swami (20th jain tirthankar) as per Jainism & really one can trace from ancient times people worshiping Munisuvarat Swami whose symbol is Tortoise to get protected from ill effects of not properly placed shani in ones horoscope.
Usually Munisuvarat Swamis idol is always found made up of Black colour. Millions of devotees across the world have witnessed miracles of Munisuvarat swami who appeared approx. 10,000 years ago as 20th jain tirthankar.
At Kankali Tila in Mathura a deity of Muni-Suvrat Swami whose insignia is tortoise, was discovered. One of the nude statues in Mohan-Jodaro (Indus Valley ) has the tortoise insignia, which indicates that it must be of Muni-Suvrat Swami. In Vedic history there are descriptions of a Muni in the Puran, connected to the tortoise, which throws light on Muni Suvrat. In the Rigved (23, 27, 32) a sage with tortoise insignia has been mentioned which is none other than Tirthankar Muni-Suvrat Swami. It connection with the tortoise the Puran (40, 27, 41) writes that Vishnu appeared in the form of tortoise in Rishabh race ( First Tirthankar).
Shani Pilgrimages
- Lord Shani Temple, Gwalior Kokilavan, Vrindavan.
- Shree Shani Temple Beedh, Maharastra.
- Shree Shani Kshetra Nastanpur, Maharastra.
- Shree Shani Kshetra Model Tirth Nandur bar, Maharastra.
- Shree Shani Kshetra Rameshwar Tirth.
- Shree Shani Tirth Tirunalaru, Tamil Nadu.
- Shree Shani Mandir Tirth, Ujjain.
- Shree Shingnapur, Maharastra.
- Shree Shani Tirth Kshetra, Asola, Fatehpur Beri, Mehrauli, Delhi.
- Shree Sidh Shakti Peeth ShaniDham,
- Shree Shani Temple, Madivala, Bangalore
See also
References
- ^ Mythology of the Hindus By Charles Coleman p.134
External links
- शनि
- शनिधाम
- Shanidham
- A Conversation with Lord Saturn (a.k.a. Lord Shani or Lord Sani)
- Shani the Saturn (Gandharv Ashram)
- Shani Shinganapur
- Navagraha Peedahara Stotra
Hindu deities and texts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gods |  | |
| Goddesses | ||
| Other deities | ||
| Texts (list) | ||