Your e - Acharya on Indian Tradition

SATURN

The tardiest of all the planets is Saturn, who is also known as Shaneeshwara, Shanaischara, Manda, Konastha, Pingala and Souri. Different stories are narrated to trace his origin. To begin with, he is said to be the offspring of Surya and Sangya, the daughter of Vishwakarma. Yama, the God of death and the river Yamuna are believed to be his sibilings. Shani, Tapathi and Saavarni are the three children born to Surya and Sangya

Appearance: The blue coloured Saturn is robed in blue clothes with a gold crown shining in all brilliance. His vehicle is eagle. Saturn is married to Sati, chitraradha’s daughter. Sati, a devoted wife, once approaches Shani desiring a child. But Shani, meditating upon Vishnu pays no heed to his wife. Disappointed by Shani’s attitude, Sati revels a curse that those who look at him be doomed. Shani appealed to absolve him of this curse go in vain. Henceforth, it is prescribed that those who look at him with bent heads would not carry the curse.

Another prevalent story about Sani is to be found in the Raamaayana. According to astrology, if Sani destroys the vehicle of Rohini, the pieces that fall on earth cause stark famine. Knowing this, king Dasharatha approached Sani, with a request not to be on the destructive spree. Sani is pleased with the king’s pleading and assures that he would not cause destruction. King Dasharatha is immensely pleased and goes rhapsodic about Sani’s greatness. These attributes of Sani composed by Dasharatha are quite famous.

The presiding deity of Sani is Lord Brahma. The Pratyadhi deity is Yama. The iron chariot driven by eagle is Saturn’s vehicle.

According to solar school of thought, Sani was believed to have been born out of Vayu (one of the five elements). The orbit of Saturn is 8.871 lakh miles away from the sun.

Saturn in Astrology: Saturn was born in Saurashtra into Kashyapa gotra in the year Vibhava on Navami of Shukala Paksha in Pushya maasa. His star was Bharani and he was born on a Saturday. Facing west-ward, he adorns Dhanus, Trishul, Arrow and Varada mudra in his four hands. He presides over Makara and Kumbha rashis. In the planetary system, he is positioned behind the Sun in a bow like formation towards west. Tula lagna is the best place for Shani. In a native horoscope, if Saturn is positioned in 3, 6 and 11 zodiac signs, he gives good results. His tenure is 19 years and in each sign, he resides for 30 months.

Popular stories about Shani: Once upon a time there lived a brahmin by name Gunaratnakara in Satyavratha region. Once the brahmin’s deceased grand father appears in the dream and prophesies the region of Saturn for seven and half years. The brahmin wakes up from the dream and chants the Shani stotra penned by king Dasharatha. Saturn is appeared but he says he would at-least afflict him for three and a half hours. The brahmin makes it to a forest with food tied in a piece of cloth and sits for penance. Just then thieves break into the palace of king Vasupala of Lakshmipura kingdom and decamp with jewellery tied into a casket. They run into the forest and disappear. Meanwhile the security guards of the palace chase the thieves and come across the meditating brahmin. By his side they see the casket of jewellery. The brahmin is taken to the king and when he unties the casket, he only finds food in it. The brahmin understands it as the effect of Shani and explains the same to the king.

Another story runs on the lines of how the cosmic Lord Shiva falls a prey to Shani’s affliction. Saturn is challenged by Shiva and in order to escape the clutches of Shani, Lord Shiva seeks refuge in the form of a seed in a fruit. Saturn tells the Lord that it is his affliction which made Lord Shiva leave his abode in kailasa and take shelter in an ordinary fruit.

Saturn’s impact fails to work when he plans to trap Lord Venkateshwara. Thus it is believed that those who worship the Lord of seven hills especially on Saturdays will be absolved from the evil effects of Shani.

Temples of Shani

An ancient temple in Mandapalli near Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh is a famous temple of Shani. Another one is at Shinganapur near Shirdi. The third famous temple is at Tirunallar in Tamil Nadu. Worshipping Lord Venkateshwara at Tirupathi or at any of these temples will appease Shani.

Astronomy:

The diameter of Saturn is 7,25,000 miles and the temperature is 179 deg C. There is a circle of light encircling Saturn and it is the second biggest planet after Jupiter in the solar system. Saturn is positioned 2,01, 83,904 yojanas away from the earth. (one yojana is equal to eight miles).

Moola Mantram:

There are several books being used to worship Saturn. It is said that Shani japam should be done 19,000 times to win his favour. There are several beeja mantras to appease Shani.

HREEM SREEM GRAHA CHAKRA VARTHINE SHANAISCHARAAYA KLEEM IM SAHA SWAAHAA

General Mantra

OM SHAM SHANAISCHARAAYA NAMAHA

Puranic Mantra

OM PRAAM PREEM PROUM SAHA SHANAISCHARAAYA NAMAHA

In other books

OM KHRAAM KHREEM KHROUM SAHA SHANAYE NAMAHA

Tailabhishekam to Sani preferably on Saturndays or more so on Shani Trayodashi is very efficacious.

Material required

Piece of black cloth, Black gingelly seeds, Blue or black flowers, Garland, Til oil, Lamp, A mixture of gingelly and jaggery, Grains of rice, Turmeric, Kumkum, Coconut, Bananas, Incense sticks, Camphor, Betel leaves, Nuts, Idol of Shani and a piece of towel are required to perform Shani pooja and abhishekam.

Impact of Shani on human lives

The Saturn influences and shapes human attitudes. Longevity, frugality, patience, endurance, philosophical disposition, temperment, education, love for blue robes, foreign residence are all the gifts of Saturn. On the negative side, he rouses love for gambling, ill reputation, lack of systematic approach, procrastination and foolish behaviour. Cowardice and premature aging and a host of negative attitudes spring from Saturn.

To appease Shani, one has to give away blue coloured flowers, black gingelly seeds. Black slippers and umbrella. A blue coloured precious stone (Neela Mani) should be worn to pacify Saturn. Pushyami, Anuraadha and Uttaraabhaadra are the stars which are considered to be Shani nakshatras.

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