Ancient Tale of Lord Shani
Shani the very name one gets vigilant and scared for obvious lucid reasons that carries many myths and legends from years and holds significant importance in Hindu astrology. Lord Shani ruler of the planet Saturn and one of the most popular dieties in hindu mythology is depicted wearing blue or black robes and riding a chariot pulled by crow or vulture or on an iron chariot drawn by eight horses. He is said to get troubles and difficulties in ones life and there goes another interesting tale related to this with the well known word Sade Sati that holds many different perspectives.
Lord Shani is the basis of Shanivara (Saturday) and part of Navagraha in Hindu Zodiac system. He is also referred to as Saura, Pangu, Mandu, Kruradris, Asita and Saptarchi.
So here we have a legend that goes with why is Lord Shani been most popular and most dreaded deities in Hindu folklore and few of the other related interesting tales.
Birth of Shani
Shani is son of Lord Surya (Sun) and Chaya. Lord Surya was married to Sandhya and begot three children namely Vaivasvatah Manu, Yam (God of death) and Yamuna. Though Sandhya was a chaste and highly devout wife to sun god, she was finding it difficult to endure the pain from the harsh glare and heat from lord sun. Sandhya undergoing with this chaotic situation finally decided to undertake penance to gain the necessary powers to be out of this hence created her own replica which resembled her in all aspects and named her Chaya ( thats means shadow).
Sandhya asked Chaya to represent all the duties and and savor the privileges of a wife and asked her a promise of never revealing this secret out in any condition and in any help to reach her out immediately. Sandhya left to her parents house who adviced her to go back and she then decided to go to himalayas for penance and transformed herself to mare where as on the other side Chaya was performing the role of dutiful wife, Shani was born to chaya and surya and two other children named manu and tapti.
Chaya was too engrossed in penance of Lord Shiva when Shani was in her womb and immersed totally in prayers even didnot have food many a times. Since she did immense penance for so long under the glare and heat of sun the reason said to have Shani born with dark skin and a great devotee of lord Shiva. The dark skin of Shani despised Lord surya who could not take it and always doubted whether Shani was born to him and the reason why he didnot behave well to Shani. These behavior of Lord surya did not go well with Shani and hence angry at his fathers indifference Shani cursed his father who then turned into dark skin.
This made Shani upset and he went in search of peace to which he met Naradha who suggested him to pray Lord Krishna, from then Lord Shani got immersed in prayers of Lord Krishna. Lord Surya on other hand repented his mistake and worshiped Lord Shiva who got the truth to him. Knowing the fact he went in search of Shani and apologized for his behavior.
Why was Lord Shani cursed by his wife?
Lord Shani got married to Dhamini but used to always be indulged in his prayers for Lord Krishna and would not pay attention to Dhamini, a day while he was in his meditation, Dhamini tried talking to Shani and put too many efforts which all went futile. This annoyed Dhamini who cursed Lord Shani saying though after all her efforts he did not open his eyes and noticed her henceforth his eyes will always be lowered and since then if he did see anyone they would get destroyed and will be in immense trouble. Lord Shani repented for his mistake and tried explaining Dhamini the real picture though she understood she did not have powers to nullify the curse and hence did altered that people with wrong deed would get impacted with the anger of Shani. This resulted Lord Shani to punish people for their sins.
What is Shani Sade Sati?
Shani Sade Sati the name itself portrays the meaning Shani for a period of 7 1/2 years. There is a belief among people that Sade Sati or seven and half years of God Shani put the normal life of man into great distress i.e in this phase one goes with lot of troubles, great deal of misery,sorrow, fearsome disease, excess, loss of money, blame, insult, illness, imprisonment etc are undergone. Hence Shani Sade Sati has many names such as Shani Sade Sati, Shanichari, Musibathi, Aafath etc.
Why is it named Shani Sade Sati
Shani takes 30 years to traverse all the 12 planets and stays for 2 and ½ years in one sun sign. When the planet positions the lord of the house, then the good benefits are derived. In the circle of planets, Lord Shani is called ‘Chaya Martand’ hence when ‘Chaya Grah’ or the star passes through a house, then the stars around the house are in trouble i.e to be precise the star that aspects the house and the other previous and next stars to it are all troubled which are under ‘Chaya Grah’. This way this comes three times i,e Shani transits thrice (2 and ½ x 3= 7and ½) and thus this period of 7 and 1/2 is believed by people to bring suffering,sorrows and misfortune and is named as Shani Sade Sati. People do offer prayers and many other sayings to get rid of this. Well on other side few people also believe that this stage is not only meant for troubles but also comes in other way at times to change the life and also benefits people for their good work.
Shani basis of Saturday
Shani also known as Shanaishchar ( which means slow mover) as Saturday is lorded by Saturn and Shani is believed to be prayed on Saturdays to get rid of all the troubles faced. There is yet another legend tale on Lord Shani connected to Saturday offerings, it is believed according to Surya Sanhita, Hanuman was born on Saturday and is the Rudra avatar of Lord Shiva. Lord Hanuman is said to have rescued Shani Dev from the clutches of Raavana, and in return Shani promised him that who worships Hanuman on Saturdays will be free from the bad effects of Shani and thus people pray Hanuman on Saturdays.
Ways to please Shani Dev and get rid of Shani Sade Sati
There are numerous ways which people believe to get rid of Shani Sade Sati and from the bad effects of Shani. There are many sayings considered by people on this and few are listed below
- Worship Shani and Lord Hanuman on Saturday
- Offer mustard oil and jaggery to Shani
- Worship peepal tree
- Do Good deeds
- Donate poor and consider freeing birds from cage
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