Shani - The Fruit Giver

SHANI

Hello Everyone, I'm back with a new post after a long time, on someone who I recently started respecting a lot. No offence to anybody's beliefs and views. I've just brought out my opinions. You are welcome to agree or disagree. Please express your views so that I may learn too :)

Happy Reading,

Soups :)

India is a land of numerous Gods, Goddesses and cultures. A part of the culture of Indians is to follow rituals with utmost care, respect and complete devotion. But most rituals have some superstitions associated with them. Daily life in the earlier Yugas in India, involved households and people following certain superstitions with great fear.

Some Examples of Superstitions are:

1. "Shagun" or money given as gift needs tobe given with an extra rupee, Rs 21, Rs 501 for instance.

2.  Mothers apply Kohl or Kajal to ward off evil spirits from their children.

3. Getting hiccups is a sign that someone you know is thinking about you.

4. While sleeping, legs must never face the south. Else it'll bring bad luck. (There is actually a more scientific reason behind that)

5. One must bathe after a funeral or seeing a dead body to avoid negative energy and trouble from the spirit of the dead. (This too has a scientific reason behind it. One usually bathes after a funeral to protect himself or herself from the micro-organism growth from the decaying body that might cause physical harm to the living body).

6. One must not sleep under a Peepul tree at night, especially the night of Amavasya or no moon. Else a ghost or a spirit would enter and possess one's body.

7. A person is believed to be possessed if the Vermillion, Sindhur or Kumkum on his or her forehead changes colour from Red to Black overnight.

8. Twitching of eyes is another superstition. For women if her right or left eye twitches, it is a bad or a good respectively. It is the reverse for men.

9. Cawing of a crow near someone's house is a sign of a someone coming home.

And there are many more. These superstitions are followed only because of fear of something bad happening. But one of the greatest fears of any very Superstitious Hindu is the fear of getting exposed to the Vakra Drishti of Lord Shani, which is famously known as Saadhe Saati (साढे साती)

Before getting into technicalities, let's know more about Lord Shani

INTRODUCING SHANI DEV:

Though Lord Shani is not new to a Hindu, I will still give a background of the god, to whatever extent I know. 

Lord Shani is well known in the Solar System as Saturn, the planet with the ring. Shani Trayodashi is his favourite day. The best time to please Shani Dev is the night of Amavasya that falls on a saturday, while pleasing him is very difficult. One need to be extremely sincere, good and devoted to him and also continuously follow Dharma and be helpful. Unlike his brother Yama, Shani gives the fruits of the work done by people, during their life on earth (Yama helps beings attain fruits of their Karmas after death).

Lord Shani, better known as Shanaishchara, is an important god of the Navagrahas or the group of 9 planets that influence our horoscopes. He is responsible for giving fruits for the Karmas done by people, which is why he is also known by the name, Karma Phala Daata (कर्म फल दाता). As some legends go, Lord Shani was created by Lord Shiva to maintain the balance in the world, be bringing people into the right path, by giving them the fruits of their actions in their lives on the earth. Going to his parentage, he was born as the first son of Surya, the Sun God and Chhayaa. Surya was married initially to Devi Saranyu, also known as Devi Samgnya, the daughter of Twasta, who was born of the divine Architect of the gosds, Vishwakarma. Samgnya was unhappy because she couldn't bear her husband's heat. She feared her husband's brightness and couldn't see him in the eye. She had just given birth to her twins, Yama, the God of Death (The Ruler of the dead to be more precise) and Yami, the River Goddess (Also known as River Yamuna), after her first child, Vaivaswata Manu. With her father's permission and help, she created a clone from her shadow, and named her Chhayaa. Chhayaa was asked to take her place as Surya's wife and the mother of the twins. And Samgnya escapes the World of Surya. Chhayaa accepted the deal and brought up Samgnya's children with love and care. But since Surya didn't know that she was Chhayaa and not Samgnya, he had 3 more children from her, Shani, daughter Tapati (Goddess of River Tapati) and Savarni Manu. Surya never accepted Shani as his son, for Shani cast an eclipse on Surya when the he insulted Shani's poor complexion and bad looks. The truth about Samgnya and Chhayaa came out to Surya when Yama and Yami were ill treated by Chhayaa and Yama was cursed by her for kicking her stomach. Surya realized that a true mother would never curse her child. So he goes in search of Samgnya and finds out from her father that she was somewhere in the Himalayas in the form of a mare. Surya transformed himself into a horse, finds the mare and mates with it. From this union, to Surya and Samgnya are born the famous twin doctors in Hindu Puranas, The Ashwin Kumars. Chhayaa is forgiven and is allowed to stay as Surya's wife, with her children.

As per some sources, it is believed that when Surya asked Chhaayaa to abandon Shani for his poor complexion, despite being a Suryaputra, Yama and Yami were already in their teens and they took care of Shani in secracy. Which was why Shani was believed to be very close to his elder twin half siblings and always listened to them. 

Another version of the story is that Samgnya asks for a promisr from Chhayaa that the latter would never try and take her place and ever come close to Surya and goes to perform austerities and penance to gain powers to bear her husband's brightness. But Chhayaa is forced to break her promise and she gives birth to Shani. Samgnya is upset when she returns and destroys Chhayaa. Shani comes to know of this and in anger kicks Samgnya's stomach. She in turn is infuriated and curses Shani, to have the leg with which he kicked her broken completely. Surya realises the truth then and brings back Shani's leg, but doesn't outdo his wife's curse. He names Shani as Shanaishchara. Grammatically speaking, Shanaishchara means someone who moves slowly. Seeing it in terms of Sanskrit Grammar, the word is defined as

शनैः शनैः चरति इति  शनैश्चरः 

 शनैः – Slowly.            

चरति – Walks or Moves

Usually dressed in black, he is a dark and handsome god, riding a Raven. He is married to 2 goddesses, Devi Mandha and Devi Jyeshta. He is said to have 2 sons, Maandhi and Kuligan. It is believed that he got his Vakra Drishti because of Devi Jyeshta. She had once gone to Shani, when he was meditating. When he didn’t respond to her, as he was lost in meditating, she got angry and cursed him that whoever he would see would be destroyed. But later after he apologises to her, she forgave him, regretted cursing him and tries to modify the curse, to make it affect a person as per whatever he or she does (as per Karma) with the blessings of Lord Shiva.

There are many more stories. But as of now, let’s stick to these.

MYTHOLOGICAL FACTS ON SHANI DEV:

1. The most famous story known about Shani in Indian Mythology is that of Shani and Hanuman: Hanuman freed Shani and the other Navagrahas from the chains of Ravana, and Shani being extremely grateful, offered Hanuman a boon that he would be kind to those devotees who worship Hanuman.

2. Another story is that of how Shani was one reason of why Ganesha’s head was severed. The mostly known story is the Lord Shiva in anger cut of Ganesha’s head. But in this legend, The gods were invited by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to see the newborn Ganesha. Shani also goes there but refuses to see Ganesha, revealing his wife’s curse. But Parvati forces him to see and Shani with great reluctance and fear looks at Ganesha from the corner of his eye. Ganesha’s head gets separated form his body. And that’s how his head gets replaced with that of an elephant.

3. Another story is that of the King Harishchandra whose fate was decided by Shani. Shani punished Harishchandra for every wrong move of his and blessed him for each of his righteous acts.

TEMPLES DEDICATED TO LORD SHANI:

There are few very well known temples dedicated to Lord Shani in India

1. Shani Shingnaapur: Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra.

This is a story that I saw in Wikipedia.

When the Shepherd touched the stone with a pointed rod, the stone started bleeding. The shepherds were astounded. Soon the whole village gathered around to watch the miracle. That night, Lord Shanishwara appeared in the dream of the most devoted and pious of the shepherds. He told the shepherd that he is "Shanishwara". He also told that the unique looking black stone is his Swayambhu form. The shepherd prayed and asked the lord whether he should construct a temple for him. To this, Lord Shani Mahatma said there is no need for a roof as the whole sky is his roof and he preferred to be under open sky. He asked the shepherd to do daily pooja and 'Tailabhisheka' (Oil Abhishekam) every Saturday without fail. He also promised the whole hamlet will have no fear of dacoits or burglars or thieves. According to a 400 year old tradition, women are restricted from entering the inner sanctum, probably due to some scientific reasons as explained by some people. And after the puja is done to Shani Dev, nobody looks back at the idol, to avoid the ill effects of Shani Dev's Vakra Drishti. 

2. Shani Dham Temple: Delhi

Shani Dham temple loacted on Chhatarpur Road in Delhi is a major attraction for the devotees. The temple has a natural rock idol of Shani Dev as primary deity and hosts the World's tallest statue of Lord Shani.

3. Shani Temple: Titwala, Pune

4. Shani Devaalayam: Deonar, Maharashtra

5. Madanapalli Mandeshwara Swamy Temple: Andhra Pradesh (Madanapalli, East Godavari District)

6. Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple: Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu

The temple is counted as one of the Navagraha Temples for Shani Dev in India.
7. Bannanje Shri Shani Kshetra: Udupi, Karnataka
The temple complex has a 23 feet tall statue of Lord Shani.
8. Kuchanoor Shaneeshwara Bhagawan Temple: Tamil Nadu

9. Yerdanur Shani Temple: Telengana.

Temple premises has one of largest (20 feet) statue of Shani Dev at Yerdanur. 
10. In the Ramanathaswami temple  of Thirunaraiyur, Kumabakonam, Tamil Nadu, we find a special place for Shani, with his two wives and his two sons, another deity, Bhairava and Kind Dasharatha who was a devotee Lord Shani. King Dasharatha knew the ill astological effects of Shani entering the Rohini Nakshatra - Rishabha Rashi period and during that time, he sincerely worshipped Shani with utmost devotion. Shani, pleased with the King's devotion, never entred Rohini Nakshatra - Rishabha Rashi period during Dasharatha's reign. Dasharatha in praise of Shani composed the Dasharatha Shani Stotram to reduce the effects of the Saadhe Saati. 

SAADHE SAATI OF SHANI DEV’S VAKRA DRISHTI:
Saadhe Saati means a period of  7 ½ years. That is the effect of Vakra Drishti of Lord Shani will be in a person’s life for 7 ½ years. This is a much-feared aspect of life for the Hindus. The period of Saadhe Saati starts when Saturn enters the zodiac sign immediately before the zodiac sign of the Moon at the time of the birth of the individual. That is, if the Moon Sign (Ayamsha) at the time of birth of the native was Taurus, then the Saadhe Saati will begin when Saturn enters the sign Aries. The Saadhe Saati will continue while the Saturn transits over this sign and the next two signs, i.e., the birth sign and the sign after it.                 (Taken from Wikipedia)
There are 3 signs totally where the Saturn takes 2 ½  years to transit from one sign to another, which makes it a total of 7 ½ years. It is believed by Vedic Astrologers that Saadhe Saati is a phase filled with trouble and pain. But there are some other schools of astrology that believe that this period may not be so torturous as assumed, though some challenges will be there. If a human follows his duties, responsibilities and righteously lives life, during this period, it is a belief that Saadhe Saati will not affect him or her in any way. The Moon Signs Leo and Aquarius have maximum and no ill impacts of Saadhe Saati respectively.

WAYS TO WORSHIP LORD SHANI:
1. Preferable to worship on a Saturday. (This is why it is called Shani Vaasara, Shani Vaara or Sani Kizhamai)
2. Best time to start worship: Shani Pradosha Day or Shani Vaara Shukla Paksha
3. Best time to Chant Mantras: Sunrise or Shani Hora (A special hour dedicated to Lord Shani as per astrological calculations).
4. Number of times to chant Mantras: 1, 3, 9, 27 or 108
5. Tools of Worship:
     a. Picture or Yantra of Shani
     b. Blue Sapphire (People can chant in front of this in the absence of a picture or yantra)
     c. Naivedyam: Yellu Saadam (Rice cooked with Sesame Seeds and Ghee)
     d. Flowers: Butterfly pea with blue petals.
     e. A japamaala made of Sphatika
6. Face the East or West while worshipping.
7. One can chant matras like the Dasharatha Shani Mantra, Shani Gayatri Manntra, Shani Moola Mantra, Shani Kavacham etc.
8. One must do acts of Charity to please Lord Shani, such as helping a needy student, feeding crows and stray dogs, refraining from insulting Transgenders, etc.

WHY SHANI DEV IS FEARED:
People think that Shani Dev is evil and merciless and doesn't spare anyone. His Saadhe Saati is the worst thing anybody can ask for. The fact that Shani Dev is cruel is true only in the case of people who don't follow rules and who don't follow Dharma. For people who are sincere and always helping, Shani Dev showers his blessings upon them. And for a pure soule, the Vakra Drishti of Lord Shani has absolutely no effects.
Personally, I don't see any to fear Shani Dev. His job is just to pull us back into the track of Dharma, which is the same thing done by any parent or teacher. I too had a wrong perception of Shani Dev, but thanks to my crazy habit of watching mostly Mythological and Historical Serials, and specially watching this serial called "KARMA PHAL DAATA - SHANI" that airs on Colours TV, my views have changed and I'm grateful for that :)

May we all do the right things always and let's stop fearing Shani.

श्री शनैश्चराय नमः

नीलाञ्जन समाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम् 

छाया मार्तण्ड सम्भूतं तं नमामि शनैश्चरम्॥

I bow down to Lord Shani, who is dark in complexion, the Son of Surya, he elder brother of Yama, Born to Chhayaa and who moves very slowly.