LORD SHANEESWARA BHAGWAN

Saturn or Shani/Sani, the very name inspires awe and makes people shudder. Literature and our customs have painted Lord Saturn in the most terrifying of colors and he is represented as the most malevolent planet, responsible for all the upheavals and disasters in our life.

Yet this is not entirely true. He is not Malevolent(giving bad results), as much as he is much maligned. He is a lot Benevolent and magnificently generous.

There are many special features associated with Planet Saturn- shani/Sani Bahgwan. Amongst all the nine planets, he is the one who is most prominent and attracts our attention towards him.

Lord Shani Dev/Lord Sani Dev

An old Tamil proverb says-“There is none who gives so much as Sani and none who ruins as much as Sani”. He is both an unparalleled benefactor as well as a grim destructer. This has been proved  time and again in the course of many centuries and bears eloquent testimony to his greatness. Hence it is quite natural that Lord Saturn has a separate and special temple dedicated to him in the holy place of Tirunallaru, in the Kumbakonam Dist of Tamilnadu.

Shani Bhagwan and Ravana:

There is an interesting story of Shani Bhagwan and Ravana. It was the time when Ravan’s wife Mandhodhari was pregnant and was about to deliver Indrajeet. The haughty Ravana with his indomitable anger had ordered all the nine planets and instructed them to occupy the particular houses as chose for the yet-to-be-born Indrajeet. Ravana wanted Indrajeet to be the ruler of all the whole world and have  long and illustrious life. Ravana had chosen each house of the zodiac for each planet to seat. The other planets fearing Ravanas wrath did as they were told, but Lord Shani/Sani bhagwan was not so meek and at the exact moment of Indrajeet’s birth, Lord Shani just extended his leg to the next sign of the zodiac(called as the Vakra or crookedness in astrological parlance). As a result, Indrajeet attained all the greatness destined to him early in his life, but died a sudden and early death due to Lord Shani’s mischief. This is the strength and character of this particular planet. he fears none and is inferior to none.

General Characteristics of Shani Bhagwan/Planet Saturn:

Sani has only one face, any idol that you will see, will have only one face and not like the other gods who in some forms are multi-headed. He has different names like Mandhan, Pinimukham, Savuri, Madumagan etc. He married Neela devi and had a son called Guligan. He has 4 hands. In the upper right and left, he sports a bow and arrow, The lower right  and is Varadahasta(boon-giving) and in the lower left hand he carries a sword or trident. He rides an iron chariot drawn by eight horse. So #8 is his favorite number. In some holy books and illustrations he is shown to ride a crow and an eagle. He is blue in complexion and he is also fond of this color including black. He has the strength of  a male and the softness of a female and he is hence referred to as a eunuch planet. His favorite gem stone is blue Sapphire, or Zircon blue, favorite grain is Sesame and flower is water lily or Karunguvallai.

He rules over the forests, hills and some scholars believe over the burial grounds too. He rules over the sign of Capricorn- Makara Rasi and Aquarius or Kumbha Rasi.

His effects on different houses of the Zodiac are as follows;(remember this is as per vedic Hindu system, so here the 1st house means the Lagna or Ascendant and the 2nd house means the next house from the Lagna).

First House(1st House): The native is assured of a long and illustrious life. He will succeed in all his enterprises and will be strict in speech and economical in life. He has the good habit of doing any work only after a detailed study.

Second House(2nd House):The native is argumentative. He also marries early in his life and in some cases also twice. He will lead an irregular life, and does not have too much of an education. He is prone to addiction to drinks and liquor. But if Guru or Brihaspati or Jupiter aspects the second place in his Janma patri, the native will be gifted with eloquent speech.

Third House(3rd House): The native is friendly towards his subordinates. He is an atheist, but enjoys a luxurious life. He is short tempered. In his lifetime, he will be benefited by his siblings- brothers and sisters.

Fourth House(4th House): It is quite likely that the native will be in printing business and Lord Sani in the 4th house from the Lagna signifies trouble to the mother of the native. the native is likely to suffer stomach troubles. He will not think deeply before undertaking any work. He may have a wavering mind.

Fifth House (5th House): Saturn in this house signifies in auspiciousness to the father of the native. It is not favorable to the natives son and daughter too. He will also sport frequent quarrels with the government and he is likely to have a confused mine.

Sixth House(6th House): Saturn in this house makes the person famous in some field or the other. He will suffer from nervous weakness and lack of energy. He will have mental trouble because of frequent borrowing.

Seventh House(7th House): The native will have wife-related problems, he will also have contacts with many women. He will be interested in traveling and may marry twice.

Eight House(8th House): The person will have a long life and will have to put up with much suffering in his life. He is likely to encounter failure in his work or enterprise.

Ninth House(9th House): Saturn in this house indicates risk to ones father. The person will meet with frequent accidents. He will also suffer from poverty in his early youth.

Tenth House(10th House): The native will be of religious bent of mind and will perform religious acts judiciously. He will be connected to the iron industry. He will undertake frequent tours.

Eleventh House(11th House): Saturn in this house indicates high intelligence. The person concerned will  be a man of wisdom. He will have a long life. He will earn profit through vehicles. He will acquire wealth and luxuries and reach a top position in his life.

Twelfth House(12th House): Saturn in this house indicates ability. The person will be polite. He puts up with every problem. But he will not be in the pink of health. He is a spend thrift and hence he will suffer from poverty.

Though all the predictions are general in nature, they are also dependent on the Mahadasha, dasa bhukti and other sub-dasha at the particular time.

Is Sani is exalted in ones horoscope, then the person will accomplish every work in the best manner. he will have a long life and tremendous will power. If he enters the steel and iron trade, he will be particularly successful.

If sani is weak or debilitated in a natal chart,then the native will be impolite in speech. He will not have a good code of conduct in his personal life and he will criticize scriptures and tradition.

Sade Sati and its effects:

Generally the Sade Sati occurs in our life once in every 22 years. In a verse- Sage Puliappan gives a list of the ill effects  which are caused by the 7 1/2 years Sani domination . They are diseases of the head, cholera, smallpox, theft or loss of money and jewels, seizure of land, separation from family, exit from home-town and acquiring a bad name from all around. Even thought he 7.5 years Sani afflicts all people. He causes maximum trouble to those born under Scorpio(Vrischika), Simha(Leo), Cancer(Kataka) rasi natives.

The period of 7 1/2 is divided into 3 parts of 2 1/2 years. The first round of 2 1/2 is called as Mangu or Decadence Sani, the second round of 2 1/2 years is called as Pongu or Prosperity Sani and the third round of 2 1/2 years is known as Marana or Death Sani.

Mangu Sani is the period of innumerable evil and bad effects. Pongu Sani ushers in prosperity and Marana Sani period though does not indicate death directly, unless the Maraka Dasa, or the other planetary positions also indicate the same, but it indicates the fear of death and illness.

Some problems are deterioration of financial condition, loss of job, unnecessary travels and strains, problems in ones profession, shortage of funds, mental worries, aversion, depression etc.  There will be wasteful expenditure, unnecessary law suite, if you lend money, it will not come back and if you loan money, you will not be able to return it. Family relations will be strained. Couples will have disagreements, sometimes bitter. Medical expenses will increase. Bodily weakness, dullness, disgrace and theft will occur.

During the third phase however, the ill-effects lessen and there will be help from friends, success in court cases, help from friends and increase in income. Any chronic disease that was troubling as of now ill lessen and the native will feel free and buoyant again.

Remedies and upays for Sade Sati and other effects of Saturn transit

Saturn is your purpose in life. It’s your life plan, the direction you take, the work you do. It’s your goal, your objective, the lessons you must learn along the way. It is patience, honesty, trust, objectivity, and common sense. It’s the structure of your life, the foundations upon which you build and how you build your life. 

In Indian astrology, Saturn is considered to be a malefic amongst the malefic but its last effect is happy.  A prayer to this Devata, especially on Saturdays, is said to mitigate the hardships one will have to face during these periods. Sanischara bestows all benefits to the devotees who pray sincerely to him.

Saturn is a karaka, or indicator, of longevity, misery, sorrow, old age and death, discipline, restriction, responsibility, delays, ambition, leadership and authority, humility, integrity, wisdom born of experience. Saturn also indicates asceticism, denial, non-attachment, spirituality, hard work, organization, reality and time itself.

Saturn is a particularly beneficial planet for Taurus and Libra Ascendants. In Vedic myth Saturn is the son of the Sun, born to his shadow wife, Chaya. Saturn is lame because one of the Sun’s first wife Sanjana’s children became angered with him and struck him in the foot. Thus Saturn walks with a limp, which accounts why he is the slowest of the Grahas.

Sade Sati (7.5 year of Saturn transit in the 12th, 1st and 2nd house from the moon)

The graha SANISCHARA (Saturn), also known as Manda, is generally known to affect one adversely on occasions when he occupies certain positions in one’s horoscope like Sade Sati (7.5 years- saturn in the 12th, 1st and 2nd house from the moon),  Ashtama Shani (Saturn in 8th house from the moon), Ardha Ashtama Shani (Saturn in the 4th house from the moon) etc.

Planet Saturn is constantly teaching lessons. It causes delays so you may learn patience, it causes trouble so you may learn to be honest with yourself and others and to teach you to be objective. It balances Jupiter’s expansiveness with prudence, Jupiter’s luck with practicality, Jupiter’s enthusiasm with soberness and conservation – in short it is the opposite of Jupiter.

Where Jupiter is the optimist, Saturn is the pessimist. Saturn gives direction to the rest of the planets. They will all operate according to where Saturn is placed and how it’s aspected. Perhaps this is better understood by saying that your life revolves around your work or your objective.

Simple and sure-shot remedies and upayas for Sade Sati, to please Planet Saturn/Shanidev.

1. Light Gingely/Mustard or Nalla Yennai/til oil(sesame) lamps in temple before Shani Dev on Saturday.

Curd Rice

2. Distribute Curd Rice made at home to the poor and the devotees in Shani Mandir or temple on Saturdays

3. Take some Black Til (Sesame), Black Udad Dal- Saboot (whole) in a container, put some til oil in it and pour it over the metal figurine of Shanidev which is normally placed in the temple to collect oil daan from people. Do this especially on a Saturday.

Lamp of Black til and udad Dal

4. Tie some black Til in a coarse black cloth and burn it in Til (sesame) oil in a diya (earthern lamp) on a Saturday in a Shani Dev Temple.

5. Donate Chappals (leather), blankets and black blouse pieces to the poor on a Saturday.

Do Charity for Shani Dev

6. Feed lepers and the handicapped on a Saturday.

7. Do not buy any metal or oil on  a Saturday

8. Read the Shani Stuti after lighting a Til oil lamp under a Pipal tree on Saturdays. Below here is the Shani Stuti.

Konastha pingalobabhruh|
Krishnoroudraantakoyamah||
Souri, shanaischaro mandah|
Pippaladishu sansthitah||

9. Saturday is the most appropriate day for  worshipping Lord Shani. Those who have an afflicted Saturn in their horoscope should wear Blue Sapphire and light a sesame lamp to Shani dev on Saturday. Favorable influence of Lord Shani will result in success in all work, endevours, peace or mind, prosperity and zest for life.

Chanting of this mantra also helps during Shani Panoti, Mahadasha and Sade Sati. 

Surya Putro DeerghaDeho, Vishalakshaha Shivapriyaha |

Mandachaara Prasannathma peedam harthu mein Shanih ||

Meaning: Please Steal away all my troubles, Oh Saturn, who has long body and is the son of Sun, He has broad eyes and he is a devotee of Shiva. he moves slowly and is always cheerful.

10. Hanumanji or Anjeneyar Swami is a powerful tool against Shanidev. Any practice to keep Hanumanji happy will keep the bad effects of Sade sati at bay. Read the Hanuman Chalisa to please Hanumanji who is a powerful god protecting you from Shanidev.

Read here to know the true meaning of Hanuman Chalisa.

11. Do Tail Pooja for Anjeneyar Swami/Hanumanji to please him to protect you against the ill-effects of the Shani Mahadasha or Sade Sati.

12. Another effective method of pleasing Shani dev is reading theDashrath Krit Shani Stotram. Legend goes that when King Dashrath was affected by Shanidev, he read out praise phrases to Shani dev who was happy and granted his wishes. Read the Dashrath Krit Shani stotra on a Saturday.

horse shoe ring

13. Feed crows (the vahan or vehicle of Lord Shanidev) with cooked rice every day.
14. Wear one of the following gems only after consulting, energizing and following all rituals: Blue Sapphire – On Saturn Finger duly energized 
Iron Ring – On Saturn Finger
Black Zircon – On Saturn Finger
Kathela (for the not so rich people)

15. Offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Lord Saturn was a devotee of Lord Shiva. If possible visit Shiva Temple on Monday and offer Bel patra.

16. Take a black piece of cloth and tie 12 almonds and keep in iron pot. Now place this iron pot in the darkest corner of your house, where the least sunlight reaches. 
17. Take 8 pieces of black cloth, in each cloth add black sesame, black udad daal, 1 rupee coin and tie the cloth. Now place each these bundles in 8 iron vessel. Buy 8 steel lamp and adorn it with Kumkum and Chandan, either between 6 – 7 in the morning or 6 – 7 in the evening. Light the lamp and recite 108 times (neelanjana.. ) and donate it along with the other items to 8 poor and needy people on a Saturday.
18. Do not be rude to your maids, servants, vendors, hawkers, cleaners, low grade workers. Pay their dues in time and win the love of Saturn.