Shani Dev
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Who is Shani Dev?
RICHA SHARMA | Shani: A friend or a foe? | SEP 25, 2013 | Speaking Tree
Shani: A friend or a foe?
Shani or Saturn is the most dreaded 'graha' in Hindu astrology. Astrologers believe that all the other planets fail to give any good results if Shani happens to cause obstruction. Shani’s ‘sade-sati’ is considered as terribly ill-fated. There are many legends, myths, fears and folklore associated with Shani. Let’s take a look…
Who is Shani Dev?
Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday. He is the son of Surya (sun) and his wife Chhaya (shadow), hence also known as Chayyaputra. He is the elder brother of Yama, the Hindu god of death, who in some scriptures corresponds to the deliverance of justice.
Surya's two sons Shani and Yama regarded as arbiters. Shani gives us the results of one's deeds through one's life through appropriate punishments and rewards; Yama grants the results of one's deeds after death. Shani is also known as Saura (son of sun-god), Kruradris or Kruralochana (the cruel-eyed), Mandu (dull and slow), Pangu (disabled), Saptarchi (seven-eyed) and Asita (dark).
Lord of bad luck?
According to a famous mythological story, when Shani opened his eyes as a baby for the first time, the sun went into an eclipse. This clearly denotes our belief in the impact of Shani on astrological charts. Stories about his evil influence are plentiful.
Lord of bad luck?
Hindus are under fear of evil from his planet - Saturn. In Vedic astrology, the planetary position at the time of birth determines the future of a person. So, Hindus accord immense importance to the planets, and Saturn or Shani is one such planet which they fear the most for ill-luck. Anyone born under his influence is believed to at risk.
Shani’s image
In the legends, Shani is represented as riding a chariot, carrying a bow and arrow and pulled by a vulture or crow. Shani is found wearing a blue cloth, blue flowers and sapphire. He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and mounted on a crow. He is lame and has a limp because his knee was injured when he fought as a child with Yama.
What is sade-sati (sârhé sati)?
When Saturn transits in the close proximity of the Moon in one's birth chart – ‘Shani ki dasha’ starts. The position of the Moon in the zodiac sign at birth is called the Rashi, - the Moon sign. Each zodiac sign constitutes 30 degrees arc, and hence the 12 zodiac signs completes the zodiac belt of 360 degrees in 12 months. When Shani enters the sign prior to where the Moon is at birth, it begins its reign of seven and half year over the subject of that nativity.
The Sade sati will continue while Saturn transits over this sign and the next two signs, i.e. the birth sign and the sign after it. Saturn spends around 2½ years in each sign. To cross these three signs it takes about 7½ years. Thus the name Sadesati which literally means seven and a half. The impact of Sadesati is supposed to be felt differently by people of different moon signs. It is said that people of Moon sign Aquarius do not have any ill effects from Sadesati, while people of Moon sign Leo feel the most impact.
Is it really troublesome?
According to one school of Vedic astrology this is a troublesome time for the person who is under sade-sati’s influence. There may be a lot of challenges in his life, and he may face accidents, sudden failures, money and health problems. However, there's another school of astrology that believes that though the sade-sati period is challenging, it is not as damaging as many astrologers claim, and that many people actually achieve a lot of success during the period of Sadesati. Sadesati is development of the brain it’s a learning curve.
Actually, Shani is a teacher
According to writer Kapiel Raaj, Sade Sati is wrongly known as a period of hardship in your horoscope, trails & tribulations. Saturn is a teacher like Jupiter, but Saturn is a bit harsher than Jupiter. Saturn loves to show you reality of your life and present to you in 'Now', whereas Jupiter gives optimism about the future. Saturn is not a villain, Saturn is actually the planet you want in your life. Too much time do we spent in day dreaming and fantasizing about the future or thinking about the past. Saturn wants you to live in now, he wants you to face your current surroundings.
Myth Bender
As per the principles of Astrology, Saturn (Shani) is considered as a negative planet. This is a wrong belief – Saturn, the disciplinarian, is not a negative planet – but it is a slow planet that augurs success only through discipline, hard work and struggle. Whether Saturn will bless or curse a person depends upon that person’s deeds. In other words, it can be said that the Saturn plays the role of a teacher or a judge in our lives.
Shani facts
Shani's (Saturn) most powerful place in the chart is in the 7th house. He is a particularly beneficial planet for Taurus and Libra ascendants. Shani's nature is Vata, or Airy. His gem is blue sapphire and all black stones and his metal is lead. Shani's direction is West and his day is Saturday. He reaches full maturity at the age of 36.
Shani and struggle
Saturn symbolises struggle. Under its influence, one is said to face some of the toughest challenges or changes in life, and it all depends upon the individual’s inner strength, as to how well he/ she handles those challenges. On the brighter side, though, the person emerging on the other side of these challenges is often more insightful and spiritual, mature and seasoned to take anything in life with aplomb.
Good effects of Shani
It is said that a powerfully placed Saturn makes the native calm, resolute, composed, attentive, cautious, clever, skilful, organised and an excellent executor. It inspires the native to be spiritually inclined. Saturn is also the planet related to mysterious and deep, profound or even occult-related matters.
Legendary stories about Shanidev
Of various stories in the Hindu mythology about how Lord Ganesha got elephant's head, one is attributed to Shani. When Parvati, gave birth to Ganesha, she asked Shani to see and bless the child. Shani kept his head down and sought forgiveness from seeing the child, pleading that his gaze is inauspicious. Parvati, being the great Shiva’s wife took no notice of this and asked him to bless the newborn. As soon as Shani lifted his head and looked at the child, the newborn's head got blown.
Dasaratha, king of Ayodhya, challenged Lord Shani to a duel as he prepared to cross his empire bringing drought and poverty. Lord Shani respected Dasaratha's virtues and replied to him that "I can't skip my duties but I'm pleased with your courage. Great sage Rishyashringa can help you. Wherever Rishyashringa lives, that country will have no drought and dryness." Dasaratha, after receiving the blessings from Lord Shani, wisely arranged for his daughter to marry Rishyashringa so that he is always present in Ayodhya.
Ravana controlled all the nine planets and put them face downward on the nine steps that led to his throne. Each morning, he would step on their backs to ascend his throne, causing insult and anguish to them. One day Narada came to Ravana, and upon seeing the state of the nine planets asked Shani, how can he bear this insult? Shani replied that because he is laying face downward he is helpless, if only he can cast his gaze on Ravana, matters would change.
After showing Narada his magnificent palace, Ravana asked for his opinion. Narada replied that Ravana should place the nine planets with their face upwards so that when Ravana stepped over their chests, he could see discomfort on their faces. As soon as this was done, Shani's gaze fell on Ravana and his reason abandoned him. Within a few months he kidnapped Sita that led to Lord Rama's invasion of his kingdom. As we all know, Ravana and his entire family was killed in this war.
Shanidev did not even spare King Harish Chandra from his fatal affects. Though Harish Chandra was a great king and of his own descendants. King Harish Chandra had sold out himself and his wife to Maharishi Vishvamitra in order to pay him off the honorarium. Shanidev (in the grab of a snake cobra) had bitten his son, Rohit. During the SadheSatti period of the transiting Shani in three signs, i.e. before, over and after the moon sign.
As per an ancient story, since childhood Lord Shani was a keen devotee of Lord Krishna. One day, his wife came to him but Shanidev was so absorbed in the deep thoughts of his deity that he didn’t even care to glance at his wife. His wife got upset and cursed him, “You won’t be able to look at some one in future. Whoever you look at, would be ruined." When she overcame her rage, she repented a lot, but the curse could not be get undone.
The story goes to the time when Lord Krishna was born in Nandgaon. Hearing the news of the birth many saints and gods visited Nandgaon to see Lord Krishna, one among them being Shanidev but Yashoda stopped him saying that her son would be frightened. Shanidev was highly disappointed and went to the nearby forest and prayed. Touched by his prayer Lord Krishna manifested himself and granted him the boon that anyone who came to his temple to pray would immediately be freed from all worries and afflictions.
Sun (Surya) is the father of Shani and the guru of lord Hanuman. After the completion of course, as gurudakshina, Surya asked Hanuman to bring his rebellious Shani back to him. When Hanuman reached Shanilok, Shani sat on his head. Immediately, Hanuman increased his size because of which Shani got pressed between Hanuman and the ceiling. When the pain was unbearable, he requested Hanuman to release him. After that Shani and Lord Hanuman went to Surya.
Once Shani told Shiva that I want to come and stay with you. Shiva jumped into the river Gangaa and remained there in Samaadhi for seven-and-a-half years, till Shani dasha passed. After that time, Shiva came out of the river and smilingly asked Shani "What could you do to me?" Shani said, "Although you rule Tri-Lok (the Three Worlds), but from my fear you had to run and remain in Samaadhi in Gangaa River for 7 and 1/2 years. Is that not enough to you?”
How to impress Shanidev?
Shani is also known as Krura-lochana, - 'the evil-eyed one'. Ancient Indian myth and folklore is replete with stories depicting the negative influences of this planet on the subject of his attention. Here’s a list of most common remedies people use to get rid of Shani’s bad effects…
To appease him, many pay obeisance every Saturday by lighting a lamp before the image of Shani and reading the ‘Shani Mahatmyaham’. He is pleased to accept lamps lit with sesame or mustard oil.
It is believed that abstinence from alcohol and non-vegetarian meals pleases Shani. Burying Surma in the ground will be beneficial for promotion in service and business. People also serve monkeys to ward-off the ill-effects. Offering sweet milk to the roots of a banyan tree is also believed to give good results.
Mix jaggery and sesame seeds and scatter the mixture in an area/ plot of land, preferably located outside the city or in an open area of land. You may also fill ant-holes with a mixture of flour and jaggery. Worship Dakshinamukhi (South-facing) Hanuman to appease Lord Saturn. Consecrate the idol of Lord Hanuman with oil and seven seeds of black beans.
Lord Hanuman is one of the remedies to impress Shani Dev. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Hanuman saved Shani from the clutches of Ravana in Ramayana. Lord Shani promised to reduce the malefic affects of Shani on individuals if they worship Lord Hanuman. This promise made by Shani bhagwan helps the devotees win his heart if they worship lord Hanuman.
Black is the colour of Shani Dev. Shani is depicted in dark colour. His idols are black in colour. Wear black or dark blue on Saturday.
Shani Dev loves mustard oil. On Saturdays, people go to peepal tree and pour mustard oil on the tree branch. Peepal tree is worshiped by Hindus because it is symbolic to Shani. It is believed that worshiping the tree before sunrise impresses Shani Dev.
How about good Karmas?
Shani-dosh pushes us towards doing the right thing, following the right path, respecting all mankind are some of the excellent ways of ensuring that we live our life right. Away from the world of beliefs, rituals, astrologers and fear… it takes care of our present by purifying the negativity and it also makes certain that our future is radiant.
