LORD SHANI DEV
When we talk about Shani Dev, first thing which comes in our mind is that he is an angry God who brings negativity in one’s life. But this assumption is not at all true. In Hindu Mythology Shani Dev is a God of Justice and what results we get depends on our deeds. Shani Dev is one of the main deities in our Hindu Navgraha System.
When we talk about Shani Dev’s appearance, we find a dark figure man carrying a weapon and sitting on a vulture as his Vehicle. Devottes pray with giving bath to Shani Dev’s idol with Mustard Oil and by donating black things, which can be any cloth or Dal. When we speak about Shani Dev in context of Astrology, It is said to be the most influential among the navgrahas and has great impact on people’s life. How Shani Dev affects our lives totally depends on what karma we have done. His judgments seems strict and everyone fears when they come to know that there is a shadow of Shani Dev in their life. It is believed that it effects person’s growth, happiness, and long life. To avoid any negative effect of planet Saturn on our lives we worship Lord Shani . Saturday is a day when we worship Shani Dev.
SHANI JAYANTI
Shani Jayanti is known as one of the biggest occasion for devotees of Lord Shani. This day is celebrated as the birth day of Lord Shani. According to our Hindu Calendar, Shani Jayanti is celebrated on Amavasya Tithi of the Vaishakh month. On this auspicious day, devotees visit Shani Temple, chant Shani Strota and take fast to get Lord Shani Dev’s blessings.
Although Shani Dev Jayanti is celebrated in different parts of the India, but the best celebration can be seen in Shani Shingnapur Shaneshwara Mandir, in Maharastra which is the most famous Shani Temple where people pray and get blessings from Shani Dev.
Lord Shani Dev’s influence on Our Life
It is evident that our life has great influence of Lord Shani Dev. As per the Astrology the position of Shani in a native's horoscope determines their success and well-being. A person leading a peaceful and prosperous life definitely have Shani greh at the best position in his or her horoscope. If your life is full of roller-coaster them this might be the malefic effect of Shani Dev in their horoscope.
Now when we know that we have malefic effects of Saturn in our horoscope, we perform Navagraha Puja to lessen these malefic effects. Same way people under the influence of Sade Sati perform Shani Yagya to please Lord Shani and reduce the bad effects in their life. If you are planning to perform Shani Puja, then Shani Jayanti is the best day. Lord Shani Dev puts due importance to discipline, patience, and hard work and make people realize how important it is.
Shani Dev Jayanti Rituals.
Shani Dev Jayanti begins with Om Shani Jayanti jaap in the morning. After this idol of Lord Shani is cleaned with Gangajal, Panchamrat, Mustard Oil, and Water. Later Nauratnahaar is offered to Shani Dev then Shani Yagya is performed by the Purohits. All the people present at the Jayanti recite Shani Strota and chant Shani Mantra: "Om Sham Shaneshchraya Namah”.
In such an auspicious day devotees do fasting, donate black clothes, black til, or mustard oil. They also perform ‘Shani Shanti Puja’, ‘Shani Thailabhishekam’ and ‘Shani’ Jap 23000 times, so that they lead a peaceful and prosperous life. In today’s busy life we know that it’s impossible to take out time to do these many jaaps, so the priest also came up with 108 jaaps of Shani Mantra. And if you don’t have time for 108 jaaps then minimum of 21 jaaps also serves its benefits. All these rituals and Puja ceremonies help to prevent Shani Dosh.
With the blessings of Lord Shani Dev we can move ahead in our problem-free life and can achieve great success. With the blessings of Shani Dev we can gain abundant knowledge, wealth and prosperity.
