Śani (Sanskrit: शनि, Kannada: ಶನಿ Śani, Tamil: சனி, Caṉi), is one of the Navagraha or Jyotiṣa (the nine primary celestial beings in Hindu astrology). Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday. The word shani also denotes the seventh day or Saturday in most Indian languages. The word shani(शनि) comes from Śanayē Kramati Saḥ (शनये क्रमति सः), the one who moves slowly, becaus
e Saturn takes about 30 years to revolve around the Sun. Shani is a deva and son of Surya and his wife Chhaya, 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. Interestingly, Surya's two sons Shani and Yama judge. 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.[1]
It is said that when Shani 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. He is known as the greatest teacher and well wisher for the righteous as well the greatest punisher for those who follow the path of evil, betrayal, backstabbing and unjust revenge. He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and mounted on a crow, which is Shani's vāhana. As protector of property, Shani is able to repress the thieving tendencies of birds. Prayers, chants, rituals:
According to legend, Shani is a devotee of Lord Shiva. According to the "Navagraha Pidahara Sthothram" of "Brahmanda Purana", the following sthothra relieves the communicant from all the ill effects of Shani:
निलान्जन समाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम।
छायामार्तंड संभूतं तं नमामि शनैश्चरम॥
nilānjana samābhāsaṁ raviputraṁ yamāgrajama,
chāyāmārtaṁḍa saṁbhūtaṁ taṁ namāmi śanaiścarama. Complete Mantra (संपूर्ण शनी स्तोत्र):
ॐ निलान्जनम समाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम।
छायामार्तंड संभूतं तं नमामि शनैश्चरम॥
ॐ शनैश्वराय नमः॥
सूर्य पुत्रो दीर्घ देहो विशालाक्षः शिवप्रियः।
मन्दचारः प्रसन्नात्मा पीडां हरतु मे शनिः॥
कोणस्थ पिंगलो ब्रभू कृष्णो रौद्रो दंतको यमः।
सौरिः शनैश्वरो मन्दः पिप्पालोद्तः संस्तुतः॥
एतानि दशनामानी प्रातः रुत्थाय य पठेतः।
शनैश्वर कृता पिडा न कदाचित भविष्यती॥
auṁ nilānjanama samābhāsaṁ raviputraṁ yamāgrajama,
chāyāmārtaṁḍa saṁbhūtaṁ taṁ namāmi śanaiścarama. auṁ śanaiśvarāya namaḥ. sūrya putro dīrgha deho viśālākṣaḥ śivapriyaḥ,
mandacāraḥ prasannātmā pīḍāṁ haratu me śaniḥ. koṇastha piṁgalo brabhū kṛṣṇo raudro daṁtako yamaḥ,
sauriḥ śanaiśvaro mandaḥ pippālodtaḥ saṁstutaḥ. etāni daśanāmānī prātaḥ rutthāya ya paṭhetaḥ,
śanaiśvara kṛtā piḍā na kadācita bhaviṣyatī.
