| Shani | |
|---|---|
| Member ofNavagraha | |
 Engraving by Poisson published in 1782 after a painting byPierre Sonnerat (1748-1814), showing Shani | |
| Other names | Shanishvara, Chhayasutha, Pingala, Kokan, Kakadhvaja, Konastha, Babhru, Raudra, Raudrantaka, Shanescharam, Sauri, Manda, Krishna, Pipplayshraya, Raviputram, Antak |
| Devanagari | शनि |
| Affiliation | Navagraha |
| Abode | Shaniloka |
| Planet | Saturn |
| Mantra | "Om Kakadhvajaya Vidmahe Khadga Hastaya Dhimahi Tanno Mandah Prachodayat"[1] and "Om Sham Shanaishchara Namah"[2] |
| Weapon | Sceptre,Trident,Axe |
| Tree | Jammi/Peepal/Shami/ Khejri or Ghaf tree. |
| Day | Saturday |
| Color | Blue,Black[3] |
| Number | Eight (8), 17 and 26 |
| Mount | Buffalo,Lion,Deer,Donkey,Horse,Dog (in animals)Crow andVulture (in birds) |
| Texts | Brahma Vaivarta Purana,Harivamsa |
| Gender | Male |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | |
| Siblings | Tapati,Savarni Manu,Yama,Yami,Ashvins,Shraddhadeva Manu,Revanta,Bhadra,Sugriva andKarna |
| Consort | Neela and Manda |
| Equivalents | |
| Etruscan | Satre |
| Greek | Cronus |
| Norse | Njörðr |
| Roman | Saturn |
Shani (Sanskrit:शनि,IAST:Śani), orShanaishchara (Sanskrit:शनैश्चर,IAST:Śanaiścara), is the divine personification of the planetSaturn inHinduism,[4] and is one of the nine heavenly objects (Navagraha) inHindu astrology.[5] Shani is also a male Hindu deity in thePuranas, whose iconography consists of a figure with a dark complexion carrying a sword or danda (sceptre) and sitting on abuffalo or some times on acrow.[5][6] He is the god ofkarma, justice,time and retribution, and delivers results depending upon one's thoughts, speech, and deeds. Shani is the controller of longevity, misery, sorrow, old age, discipline, restriction, responsibility, delays, ambition, leadership, authority, humility, integrity, and wisdom born of experience. He also signifies spiritual asceticism, penance, discipline, and conscientious work. He is associated with two consorts: Neela, the personification of the gemstonesapphire, and Manda, agandharva princess.[7][8]
Shani as a planet appears in various Hindu astronomical texts inSanskrit, such as the 5th-centuryAryabhatiya byAryabhatta, the 6th-centuryRomaka by Latadeva andPancha Siddhantika by Varahamihira, the 7th-centuryKhandakhadyaka by Brahmagupta and the 8th-centurySisyadhivrddida by Lalla, where it is referred to by several names such as Āra, Koṇa, and Kroḍa.[9][10][11][12] These texts present Shani as one of the planets and estimate the characteristics of the respective planetary motion.[9] Other texts such asSurya Siddhanta (dated to sometime between the 5th and 10th century) present their chapters on various planets as divine knowledge linked to deities.[9]
The manuscripts of these texts exist in slightly different versions, suggesting that the texts were open and revised over time. The versions disagree in their measurements of Shani's revolutions, apogee, epicycles, nodal longitudes, orbital inclination, and other parameters.[13] For example, bothKhandakhadyaka andSurya Siddhanta of Varaha state that Shani completes 146,564 revolutions on its own axis every 4,320,000 earth years, an Epicycle of Apsis as 60 degrees, and had an apogee (aphelia) of 240 degrees in 499 CE; while another manuscript ofSurya Siddhantha revises the revolutions to 146,568, the apogee to 236 degrees and 37 seconds and the Epicycle to about 49 degrees.[14]
The 1st-millennium-CE Hindu scholars had estimated the time it took for sidereal revolutions of each planet including Shani, from their astronomical studies, with slightly different results:[15]
| Source | Estimated time per sidereal revolution[15][16] |
| Surya Siddhanta | 10,765 days, 18 hours, 33 minutes, 13.6 seconds |
| Siddhanta Shiromani | 10,765 days, 19 hours, 33 minutes, 56.5 seconds |
| Ptolemy | 10,758 days, 17 hours, 48 minutes, 14.9 seconds |
| 20th-century calculations | 10,759 days, 5 hours, 16 minutes, 32.2 seconds |
Shani is depicted wearing blue or black robes, having a dark complexion and riding a vulture or on an iron chariot drawn by eight horses. He holds in his hands a bow, an arrow, an axe and a trident. He is canonically represented riding on a large crow or vulture which follows him wherever he goes.[17] Some Hindu texts also depict him riding other animals such as a horse, a snake or a buffalo, while Buddhist texts from Northeastern India and Nepal uniformly represent him mounted on a tortoise.[18]
Shani is believed to be an incarnation ofKrishna, on the authority ofBrahma Vaivarta Purana where Krishna says that he is "Shani among planets". He is also calledSaneeswar, meaning "Lord of Saturn", and is designated the task of granting the fruits of one's actions, thus becoming the most feared amongst Hindu astrological gods. He is often the most misunderstood deity in the Hindu Pantheon as he is said to cause persistent chaos in one's life, and is known to be milder if worshipped.[19][20]
Shani is the basis forShanivara – one of the seven days that make a week in the Hindu calendar.[6] This day corresponds to Saturday – after Saturn – in the Greco-Roman convention for naming the days of the week.[21][22]Shani is considered to be the most malefic planet that brings restrictions and misfortunes.[23]
Shani is part of theNavagraha in the Hindu zodiac system. It is considered malefic, associated with spiritual asceticism, penance, discipline and conscientious work. The role and importance of the Navagraha developed over time with various influences. Deifying planetary bodies and their astrological significance occurred as early as theVedic period and was recorded in theVedas. The earliest work of astrology recorded in India is theVedanga Jyotisha which began to be compiled in the 14th century BCE. It was possibly based on works from the Indus Valley Civilization as well as various foreign influences.
The Navagraha developed from early works of astrology over time. Saturn and variousclassical planets were referenced in theAtharvaveda around 1000 BCE. The Navagraha was furthered by additional contributions fromWestern Asia, includingZoroastrian andHellenistic influences. TheYavanajataka, or 'Science of theYavanas', was written by theIndo-Greek named "Yavanesvara" ("Lord of the Greeks") under the rule of theWestern Kshatrapa kingRudrakarman I. The Yavanajataka written in 120 CE is often attributed to standardizing Indian astrology. The Navagraha would further develop and culminate in theShaka era with theSaka or Scythian people. Additionally the contributions by the Saka people would be the basis of theIndian national calendar, which is also called the Saka calendar.
TheHindu calendar is aLunisolar calendar which records both lunar and solar cycles. Like the Navagraha, it was developed with the successive contributions of various works.
PlanetShani rules over both zodiac signs,Capricorn andAquarius, two of the twelve constellations in the zodiac system of Hindu astrology.[24] IfShani rules over one's zodiac sign, it is said that one must wear a ring with a stone made ofBlue Sapphire.[25]
Shani is a deity in medieval-era texts, who is considered inauspicious and is feared for delivering misfortune and loss to those who deserve it.[26] He is also capable of conferring boons and blessings to the worthy, depending upon their karma. In medieval Hindu literature, he is mainly referred to as the son ofSurya andChhaya, or in a few accounts as the son ofBalarama andRevati.[5][27] According to some Hindu texts, the "pipal" or fig tree is the abode of Shani (while other texts associate the same tree with Vasudeva).[28] He is also believed to be the greatest teacher who rewards righteous acts and punishes those who follow the path of evil,Adharma and betrayal.[29]Shanidev is a great devotee of LordShiva.[30]
In 2013, a 20-foot-tall statue of LordShani was established at Yerdanur in the mandal ofSangareddy,Medak district,Telangana, nearly 40 kilometers from Hyderabad city. It was carved from amonolith and weighs about nine tonnes.[citation needed]
Shani's mantra is depicted here in Sanskrit and English:[31]
Sanskrit: ॐ काकध्वजाय विद्महे खड्ग हस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो मंदः प्रचोदयात् ।
Transliteration: "Om kākadhvajāya vidmahe khaḍgahastāya dhīmahi tanno mandaḥ pracodayāt.''
Translation: Om, Let me meditate on him who has crow in his flag, Oh, He who has a sword in his hand, give me higher intellect, And let Saneeswara illuminate my mind.
Sanskrit: ॐ नीलांजन समाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम् छाया मार्तांड संभूतं त्वां नमामि शनीश्वरम् ।
Transliteration: "Om nīlāñjana samābhāsaṁ raviputraṁ yamāgrajam chāyā mārtāṇḍa saṁbhūtaṁ tvāṁ namāmi śanaiścharam"
Translation: O Lord, You are like the Blue Sapphire and You admire the BlueSapphire, You are the son of LordSurya, and Brother of LordYama. You are the son of LordSurya and GoddessChhaya, I bow to you Lord of PlanetSaturn.
On Saturdays, it is believed that one should worship Lord Shani to keep oneself away from evil and to reduce the hardships of life as he blesses those who willingly and voluntarily donate to the poor without seeking anything in return.[32][33]
Shani puja is usually done to keep one safe from Lord Shani's malefic effects.[34][35]
Shani temples are found in more populated areas of India, such as Shani Dham inChar Dham, Vrindavan ,Maharashtra,Madhya Pradesh,Haryana,Puducherry/Pondicherry,Tamil Nadu,Karnataka,West Bengal andAndhra Pradesh.Shani Shingnapur Dham in particular is a famous holy place associated with Shani. Shani Shinganapur or Shingnapur is a village in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated in Nevasa taluka inAhmednagar district, the village is known for its popular temple of Shani. Shingnapur is 35 km fromAhmednagar city.
More common than Shani temples are artwork related to the deity, which are found in all types of temples of various traditions within Hinduism, mostly connected toShaivism. The popularity of praying to Shani, especially on Saturdays, has increased gradually over the years.[36]
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