OM SHAM SHANAISHCHARAYA NAMAH ||

About Shani Devta

Shani Dev on His Chariot

     A strange settlement

 ABOUT 75 km from Pune en route to Ahmednagar, enclosed in cane fields, is a small village called Shani Shignapur. So, what’s different about it? It is just   another Indian rural settlement, isn’t it? Ahem! I’m afraid not.Here, we have our country speeding all the way towards the millennium with its scientific and technological advancement being compared to the very best globally. And yet India and its people, tucked in some remote corners of its vast geographical expanse, have still got their roots deeply entrenched in Indian mythology one such place is a village where people for generations together, have lived life purely on the basis of security provided by an Indian myth. The strangeness of this settlement is borne out by the fact that no dwelling, kutcha or pucca has any doors or windows! Yes, actually, really, amazingly, all the houses are devoid of these two integral features of a house. So, do these houses

have only walls or holes, and what do they look like? Well, one just sees square open spaces where there would normally be a window and occasionally it is covered with some cloth. And the door? Just an open entrance of medium height at the front of the house.

It is believed that anyone who will make an attempt to steal in the village will become blind before he leaves the boundaries of the settlement. What is the reason for this belief? The presence of the Shani Dev who resides in the heart of the village in the form of a black stone pillar of about five-and-a-half feet jutting out from the surface of the earth at an angle. Several attempts were made to build a temple enclosing this holy shrine (pillar) but strangely no construction could ever be completed as each time an attempt was made a catastrophe would strike at the spot or the labour employed in the job would not survive. As a result the pillar remains uncovered and there is a temple just next to the shrine but obviously empty!

Shani Signapur draws masses from all over the country and the interiors of Maharashtra especially on Saturdays. Apparently, the planetary God (Shani) allows only its male devotees to perform the puja around its shrine. On a daily basis there is a policeman deputed to supervise the functioning of the shrine. Prior to fulfilling the obligatory rites, the male devotee is expected to cleanse himself by taking a ritualistic bath and then tying a saffron-coloured dhoti around his waist. He proceeds towards the holy sthamb carrying the puja basket which has in it besides a coconut, flowers, vermillian, incense sticks, a tiny packet of mustard oil, a dummy representation of Shani Dev made out of black cloth which is used as an auspicious symbol to ward off all evils. This normally is hung on the vehicle of the devotee or in the prayer room of his house. The contents of the basket are then offered at the shrine amidst chanting of the shani mantras by a priest. The oil is poured over the holy stone followed by the devotees’ silent prayers. The entire ceremony does not last more than two minutes. Meanwhile, what do the women dovotees do? It is a rare opportunity for them to become mute spectators to the whole affair. Since no woman young or old, is allowed within 10 to 15 feet of the periphery of the shrine, they simply satisfy themselves, once the puja is over, by applying a double-coloured (red and black) tilak on their horehead.

But, what about the authenticity regarding the whereabouts of this shrine? No one so far has been able to provide a reasonable explanation as to when and how this stone emerged. It is believed by one and all that it has been existing since the time of the creation of prithvi.

Moreover, what is of tremendous pride and significance to the locals is the fact that their blessed village has been chosen for housing the most powerful of planetary deities. Any harmless enquiry by a passing visitor regarding the history of the shrine is considered grossly blasphemous by the people of Shignapur.

However, as of now, the people of Shani Shignapur are living a harmoniously secure existence. All thanks to an age-old ‘brahmanical myth!

One more Lord Shanidev’s Temple In Nandgoan

Shani temple is just six km from Kosi (UP) on the Nandgaon-Barsana road

SATURDAY VRAT: * We worship The God Shani this day · Among the things offered to the Lord are Black Til (sesame oil), Black clothes, Oil, Urad

(black gram whole) · One should have meals only once in the evening after the puja is over · Food cooked should be without salt

Story related to this fast: 

Once there was an argument between the nine planets Sun (Sunday), Moon(Monday), Mars(Tuesday) ,Mercury (Wednesday), Jupiter(Thursday), Venus(Friday), Saturn(Saturday), Rahu and Ketu that who occupied the highest place amongst them.

    Lord Indra did not know how to answer this question so he asked them to approach King Vikramaditya on Earth .All of them approached the King with this query; he too     

     fell in a dilemma for it meant pleasing one God and antagonising others. He came up with a solution - he ordered that thrones of all three elements (gold,silver,bronze,   

     copper, glass, iron etc) be made and they be put in the order that gold is in front and iron throne is kept last.

Then he requested the Gods to occupy them. He said that the throne that is in front would occupy the highest place among them. Since iron was at the end and it was the throne occupied by Lord Shani, the Lord Shani understood that the King had chosen him to be the weakest.

This angered Lord Shani, he told the king that the sun sign stays for 1 month, moon stays for 2 ¼ days, Mars 1 ½ month, Jupiter 13 month, Mercury and Venus 1 month each, while Rahu and Ketu move in opposite directions and stay for 18 months on one Rashi ; while He stays for 30 months. He warned the King of adverse circumstances.

Time went by, then came the period of Sare Saathi ( a period of 7 ½ years) of King Vikramaditya . Lord Shani in disguise of a horse seller arrived at his palace and the King chose to buy a beautiful horse. No sooner did he sit on it' back, he ran far away into the forests and disappeared. The King wandered in the forests.

Finally he reached a town and sat outside a traders shop. The King had kept his name as Vika to hide his identity. The business was dull those days, but fortunately that day, the trader did a roaring business. Considering that this man had brought him luck, he took him to his house to feed him. Unfortunately, while he was in their house, an expensive necklace disappeared and he was arrested and brought to the King's court who ordered that all his four limbs be severed from the body. The King wandered aimlessly until an oil seller picked him up and carried him to his home where he earned his living by pulling a bullock cart with his teeth. After the Shani period of the King ended, he was one day singing aloud the Malhar raga.

The royal princess was so impressed on hearing this melodious song that she decided she would marry the singer alone and none else. Her parents tried to reason with her but she was adamant and went on a fast. Finally her parents had to get her married to Vika(the King Vikramaditya). That very night when the couple was sleeping in the palace, Lord Shani came in Vika's dreams and told him that his present state was because he had pronounced Lord Shani to be the weakest among the planets. King Vikramaditya begged mercy and the God pardoned him , he became normal and his limbs were restored.

The King told the Lord Shani that he has suffered a lot and pleaded with him that henceforth he should not give so much misery to anyone. Lord Shani agreed and proclaimed that whosoever listens and narrates his stories will be immune from all evils related to Shani sign. Those who will worship him daily and feed the ants with flour will have all their desires fulfilled. Meanwhile the trader whose necklace was lost came to know the facts and rushed to the King Vikramaditya and fell on his feet. He invited him for meals at his place.

While the King was having meals at his house a miracle occurred and the lost necklace reappeared. The trader was very pleased and he married off his daughter to the King . Thereafter after resting for sometime, King Vikramaditya returned to his native town Ujjain with both his wifes, a lot of dowry, valuables and maids, much to the delight of the local citizens whose happiness knew no bounds. Next day the King ordered that no one will ever undervalue the strength of Lord Shani because he was the Supreme among the planets.

As a ritual the King started to worship the Lord on Saturdays and kept vrat , offered oil, black Urad(Black gram whole dal), black clothes and copper.

Those who worship Lord Shani on Saturdays and observe vrat will have all their sorrows driven away and will lead a happy life. How to safeguard against the evils linked to Shani rashi? Those born with Shani signs should apply oil themselves and donate oil to Brahmans on Saturdays.

The worship includes first praying before an iron image of Shani kept in an iron utensil, then black flowers, 2 black clothes , kasar (prasadam), til(sesame seeds) and cooker rice are used for worshipping. A black blanket, sesame seeds oil and some donation is offered to a Brahman.

Thereafter recite the following verse: " Sha No Dewarmishtaya Aapo Bhavantu Pitaye Sha Yorbhi Stravantu namah."

In order to make himself immune to the evils related to Shani sign, one should perform this worship and observe vrat on each Saturday for 1 year.

On each Saturday one should also worship the Peepul tree, tie a cotton thread round it's bark seven times while chanting " Shani Devta Ki Jai". Worship the God using Dhoop, and sweets, wear an iron ring.

The Lord Hanuman is also worshipped on Saturdays because desciples of Lord Hanuman are never influenced by the Shani sign. The story is that Ravana had held Lord Shani and Mahakal captive and it was Lord Hanuman who freed them from his captivity during the burning of Lanka. Feeling obliged, Lord Shani had promised Hauman that he would not trouble those who worship Lord Hanuman

Shani Dosha

In Vedic astrology the planet Saturn is called Shanaiswara. In Sanskrit Shanaiswara comes from SANISCHARA, which  means,   "slow mover". From Shanaiswara we get the word "shun", which means to ignore, or lose awareness of  something. Thus,   Saturn represents a loss of awareness, or ignorance. This loss of awareness can also mean the  diminishing awareness of the   material world of manifestation.   Here Saturn indicates the ascetic, rich with inner spirituality, and lost to this material plane of existence. Saturn is a  malefic   graha. He rules over the two sidereal signs of Capricorn and Aquarius. He is exalted in Libra, and fallen in the  opposite sign of   Aries.   Saturn is a karaka, or indicator, of longevity, misery, sorrow, old age and death, discipline, restriction, responsibility, delays, ambition, leadership and authority, humility, integrity, wisdom born of experience. Saturn also indicates asceticism, denial, non-attachment, spirituality, hard work, organization, reality and time itself. Saturn's most powerful place in the chart is in the 7th House and the Kendra's, or Angles. He is a particularly beneficial planet for Taurus and Libra Ascendants. Saturn's nature is Vata, or Airy. His gem is Blue Sapphire and all black stones and his metal is Lead. Saturn's direction is west and his day is Saturday. He reaches full maturity at age 36. In Vedic myth Saturn is the son of the Sun, born to his shadow wife, Chaya. Saturn is lame because one of the Sun's first wife Sanjana's children became angered with him and struck him in the foot. Thus Saturn walks with a limp, which accounts why he is the slowest of the Grahas.       The graha SANISCHARA (Saturn), also known as Manda, is generally known to affect one adversely on occasions when he occupies certain positions in one's horoscope like Saade Sati (7 1/2 years) Ashtama Shanaiswara (Saturn in 8th house - 2 1/2 years) etc. He is the Lord of Makaram and Kumbam. He is the slowest moving planet taking 2 1/2 years in each Rasi, completing one cycle every 30 years. A prayer to this Devata, especially on Saturdays, is said to mitigate the hardships one will have to face during these periods. Sanischara bestows all benefits to the devotees who pray sincerely to him. Saneeswaran resides in each Rasi for a period of 2 1/2 years. When Saneeswaran resides in the 12th, 1st and 2nd house, it is 7 1/2 Naatu Sani ; when in the 4th house, it is Arthashtama Sani; when in the 8th house, it is Ashtama Sani. During these periods, he troubles the native. Problems from Govt., peers, wife, children, slowdown in business, loss of property, leprosy are caused by transit of Sani. In a person's life, 7 1/2 Naatu Sani aspects thrice, the first called Mangu Sani, the second called Pongu Sani and the third called Marana Sani. Saneeswaran is reputed to be both, a giver and destroyer. A person who prays to Saneeswaran will be blessed with not only riddance from the problems and worries faced, but a life that one desires. Shani Mantras: Chanting of the following mantra which has been taken from the 'Purana' pacifies the Saturn. NILANJANA SAMA BHASAM RAVIPUTRAM YAMA GRAJAM || CHHAAYA MARTANDA SAMBHOOTAM TAM NAMAMI SHANAISHCHARAM || Cryptic Mantra: OM PRAM PRIM PRAUM SAH SHANAISHCHARAYA NAMAH || General mantra: OM SHAM SHANAISHCHARAYA NAMAH || Any of the above given three mantras can be chanted for the pacification of Saturn. Total numbers of chantings = 23,000 times

 

Lord Sani and His effects on human beings

In our life every body fears about Sani Bhagavan. His effects are more and cause miseries in our daily life if not properly placed in the natal horoscope. However, he may be, he can not escape from the aspects of Lord Sani.

Makara and Kumba are his own houses. He is exhalted in Tula and deliberate in Mesha Rasi. The natives born in the stars Pushami, Anooradha, Uttarabhadra are being governed by Sani Their life starts from Sani Mahadasa.

In the natal horoscope, if Sani is placed in 4,6,8,12 houses, or the native is running with Sani Mahadasa or in Mesha Rasi causes more miseries and faces more difficulties beyond the native's control. For pleasing Sani, the native has to perform Japa (19000) and regular prayers to Sani on Saturdays.

SATURN   DASA DOSHAM

•  During this period the native is prone to gain finances and starts new ventures, which ultimately results in losses. On job front, the native has to face difficulties, change of places, divorces and court cases etc.,

•  In Sani Antar Dasa, Sani causes ill health, financial losses, mental disability etc.,

Let us examine the effect of Sani in natal chart

•  If a native born in Sani in Lagna, the native is very sensitive, more affectionate, frequent quarrels, postponement of works etc.,

•  If Sani is placed in 7 th house, he is prone to angry, sadistic pleasures, he will do immoral things etc.,

•  If Sani is associated with Chandra, there is a possibility of delay in marriage, instability etc, They will become great astrologers and possess tantric things.

The total period of Sani period at present is 7 ½ years. There are three effects 1. Elenati Sani, Astama Sani and Ardhastama Sani.

Elenati Sani period is 7 ½ years. During this period it causes more miserable life. Sani will be in a house for 2 ½ years. It is positioned in the first house of the native house for 2 ½ years and natives' house 2-½ years and the next house 2 ½ years. The total span of the period of Sani is 7 ½ years. It causes the native more and more negative effects.viz. Financial problems, dishonor, divorces etc.

Astama Sani consists of 2 ½ years. It is known as it Sani is placed in the 8 th house from the native Rasi. During this period, it may cause danger to life, friends will become foes, divorces etc.

Ardhastama Sani consists of 2 ½ years. If Sani is placed in the 4 th house from the native's house, it causes financial difficulties, problems in job front, clashes between betterhalfs etc.

II Shani DevJi  Ki Aarti II

Char Bhuja Tahi Chaje, Gada Hast Pyari  I Jai. I

Ravi Nandan Gaj Vandan, Yam Agraj Deva .

Kasht na so Nar patte, karte tab Sena I Jai. I

Tej Apar tumhara, Swami Sha nahi Jave .

Tum se Vimukh jagat mein, Sukh nahi Pave.

Namo Namah Ravinandan sab grah Sirtaja.

Banshidhar yash gave rakhiyo prabhu laja I Jai. I

It is always wise to take precaution then to cure When Saturn is transiting through the 12th, 1st, and 2nd house from the natal moon, this is termed Sade-sati. "Sade-sati" literally means 7 ½ years, which means that Saturn naturally takes 2 ½ years in its transit from one house to another house. This transit is considered particularly important in Vedic Astrology because this transit is supposed to indicate difficult results either to the native or the native's close relatives. When people are not properly informed about its malefic influences, they are likely to misunderstand the magnitude of the real experience.

Generally, Saturn brings increased hardship and suffering around the 30th year, around the 60th year, and then again around the 90th year if the native is still alive. This does not mean that Sade-sati is taking place on your 30th year. It can begin anytime before your 30th year, and then repeats itself every 30 years thereafter. With regard to the Sade-sati transit in particular, one can expect to experience it about two or three times within one's lifetime. In rare cases, a person may undergo up to 4 Sade-sati cycles in their lifetime. First cycle Sade-sati generally affects close relatives more than the native. The 2nd cycle influences the domestic front as well as the business front, and the 3rd cycle affects children, family, health, and physical suffering or may even indicate the death of the native. 4th cycle Sade-sati brings liberation from either the body or the soul or, possibly, both.

It should be noted that this dreaded influence does not necessarily conclude when Saturn exits the 2nd house from the natal moon. When Saturn passes through the 8th house from the natal moon, it is called Astham Sani (translated 8th Saturn). This 8th house transit is considered equally negative like the Sade-sati transit. As it is known, the 8th house is a malefic house and any malefic planet transiting this house either from the moon or from the rising sign, is bound to bring malefic results (unless the native is passing through a good dasha/Bhukti). The 8th house transit indicates worry, suffering, and misery for the native.

Similarly, when Saturn passes through the 4th house from the birth moon, it is supposed to give negative results. This position of Saturn is called Ardha Sade-sati (Half-Sade-sati). Some people consider the transit of Saturn from the 5th house of the natal moon as negative because it affects the quality of one's judgment. However, it is always important to keep in mind, when judging the effects of a particular transit, that planetary transits are always subordinate in influence to birth chart indications as well as to the influences of the currently operating Dasa and Bhukti cycles.

Sade-sati's notorious reputation derives from the fact that the Moon rules the mind and the emotions while Saturn rules suffering; therefore, an individual can expect an increase in emotional and mental duress during this transit.

We know that each sign of the zodiac relates to a particular part of the human body. The body part affected during Sade-sati is determined according to the relative strengths of the Rising sign and the Moon sign. Whichever influence is stronger indicates which body part will be most sensitive to disease or disorder during Saturn's transit.

Examples

If Aries (representing the head) is the ascendant or the Moon sign itself, then Saturn’s transit through the Moon sign indicates vulnerability for the head and troubles therein. Bad judgment can also be a result of this transit.

If the rising sign is Taurus (representing the throat), then swellings or afflictions to the throat are indicated.

Suppose the birth chart Moon is in Taurus and Saturn is in the 4th house from the natal moon. If Saturn then transits through this 4th house, which is in itself a very difficult transit, the native may suffer from chest pains, hardening of the arteries, etc. If Saturn transits through the 5th house, the native will primarily experience mental suffering due to the suffering of his children's health and his digestive system will become very sensitive possibly creating constipation, hemorrhoids, etc. Since Saturn acts as a functional benefic for Taurus these conditions may not bring permanent harm. Rather, the native will experience a period of temporary suffering.

If Libra is the ascendant, and the Moon is in Virgo, the Sade-sati years will bring financial stress, emotional issues with family, and disputes. However, since Saturn happens to be a yogakaraka, then the troubles would be over without too much suffering. Whenever Saturn becomes a benefic planet or yogakaraka, then the troubles can be overcome or minimized.

As we can make out, many considerations have to be taken into account when analyzing the influence of the Sade-sati as well as the transit of Saturn. In the final analysis, Sade-sati can be burdensome and frustrating, or it can uplift the native and bring success with responsibility. Overall, with persistent effort, Saturn's transit can raise the consciousness and make one more spiritual than before the Sade-sati began. Sade-sati's significance is its ability to transform a person's spiritual awareness. On the surface, the struggles are immense, but only as a purifying catalyst for further growth.

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