Introduction
Shani is the Hindu god of the planet Saturn, one of the nine celestial bodies (Navagraha) of Indian astrology. He is the son of Surya, the sun god, and Chhaya, and is one of the most feared and respected of the planetary deities. He is the giver of the results of one's actions (karma), and is associated with discipline, justice, hardship, delay and endurance. His name is from Shanaishchara, "the slow mover", because Saturn moves slowly.
Family
- Father: Surya
- Mother: Chhaya
- Siblings: Ashvini Kumaras, Yama, Yamuna
Names
Shani is also called Shanaishchara, Sauri ("son of Surya"), Manda ("slow") and Chhayaputra ("son of Chhaya"). His day is Saturday, called Shanivara.
Origin
Shani is the son of Surya and Chhaya, the shadow of Sanjna. His half-brother is Yama, and his sister is Tapati. His dark colour is said to result from Chhaya's austerity while she was pregnant, or from the sun's heat.
Iconography
Shani is depicted as dark, dressed in black or blue, riding a crow (or a vulture or a chariot pulled by horses), and holding a bow, arrows, a mace and a trident. In some images he is lame, and different stories explain this.
His gaze
A story in the Brahmavaivarta Purana tells that Shani, who was a devotee of Krishna, had been cursed that his glance would bring harm. When he looked at the infant Ganesha, the child's head was burned off. This is one variant of the story of Ganesha's elephant head.
In astrology
In Jyotisha, Saturn rules Capricorn and Aquarius, and is exalted in Libra. Its gem is blue sapphire (neelam), its metal iron and its colour black. The feared periods are:
- Sade Sati: the seven and a half years when Saturn transits the sign before, the sign of, and the sign after the Moon in a person's birth chart. It is often regarded as a time of testing.
- Dhaiyya (or Panoti): a period of two and a half years, when Saturn is in the fourth or eighth house from the Moon.
Saturn is regarded as a teacher, who rewards effort and honest work and punishes shortcuts.
Folk tradition
- Shani and Hanuman: in a popular folk tradition, Shani was held captive by Ravana, and freed by Hanuman, and Shani promised not to trouble Hanuman's devotees. This is why Hanuman is worshipped on Saturdays.
- King Vikramaditya: the story of Shani's test of the legendary king Vikramaditya, who lost his kingdom and limbs and regained them, is widely told.
Worship and temples
Saturdays are dedicated to Shani, and devotees offer sesame oil, black sesame, black cloth and iron. The Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra is famous, because the houses in the village have no doors, since Shani is believed to protect the village from theft. The Thirunallar temple in Tamil Nadu is another major site. Shani Jayanti, on the new moon of the month of Jyeshtha, is his birthday.