Shani: Friend or Foe

Shani: Friend or Foe

Shani is one of the Navagraha which are the nine primary celestial beings in Hindu astrology. Shani is in material form in the planet Saturn. Shani is the Lord of Saturday; the word Shani also denotes the seventh day or Saturday in most Indian languages. The origin of word Shani comes from the following: Shanaye Kramati Sa: i.e. the one who moves slowly, as Saturn takes about 30 years to rotate around the Sun. Shani is also known as Shanaischarya Shani Bhagavan, Shaneesvara, Saneesvara, Shaneesvaran, Shani Deva.

Suryadev (Sun: son of Brahma) and Sandna (the daugther of Daksha Prajapati) were Shri Shaneshwar's parents. Sandna and Suryadev had two sons Dakshinadhipati Yama and Shri Shaneshwar and four daughters Tapti, Bhadra, Kalindi and Savitri. Sandna finding it intolerable to live with the cruel frown of Surya's light, created her own replica and named her as Sanvarna and asked her to behave as Surya's wife and perform all the duties and relish the human rights of a wife. She made her promise that under no condition would she reveal to Suryadev that she was not Sandna and promised to help her when needed. Sandna went back to her father Daksha. When Daksha saw that his daughter coming back, he advised her that she better live with her husband only. The dejected Sandna did not follow her father's advice and instead transformed herself into a mare and resided in the Himalayas and started penance. Savarna performed the role of dutiful wife. She also gave birth to five sons and two daughters from Surya. Surya did not have any doubts about Sanvarna. One day Shanidev was very hungry and he asked his mother to give him something to eat. She asked him to wait till she had made her first offering to God. But Shanidev insisted on serving him first and in anger kicked his mother Sanvarna. She in return cursed him that his leg would break. Shanidev reported the matter to his father Surya. Surya said," A mother would never curse a son like this." Surya observed Sanvarna closely and found that she was not Sandna. Surya was enraged and asked her who she was. Sanvarna confessed that she was a 'shadow' of Sandna and that Sandna had gone to the Himalaya for reparation. Surya told Shanidev that Sanvarna was like his mother and her curse would not go in vain. It is therefore that Shanidev has one disabled leg.

Shani is considered to be the strongest evil effect or influence and a stern teacher who represents patience, effort, endeavor, and endurance; and who brings restrictions and misfortunes. However, a favorably-placed Shani on the horoscope of a person stands for a strong career, healthy life and everything positive for that person. In fact, a well-placed Shani in one's horoscope is something every astrology-believing Hindu hopes for, as no other 'graha' can bestow what a favorable Shani can. Shani placed "unfavorably", on the other hand, denotes troubles in all of the above. Shani is much feared by those Hindus who believe in astrology, as the "malefic" effects of his being unfavorably placed can be quite severe. However, it is to be remembered that any pleasure or pain that befalls a person during Shani's influence is not arbitrary; rather, it is the result of the person's own karma, now being manifested in the "presence" of Shani. Thus an "unfavorably-placed" Shani brings about the harsh results of one's bad karma, and vice-versa.

The planet Shani or Saturn revolves around the Sun in about 30 years, which means it passes through all the 12 rashis or moon signs in 30 years. Thus Shani spends on an average about two and half years in each rashi or moon sign. This movement of Shani through the moon signs carries great importance in Hindu astrology and horoscope predictions. The effect of Shani starts when it enters the previous rashi/moonsign to one's own birth rashi and stops when it leaves the rashi/moonsign after one's birth rashi. The total period of 7.5 years (2.5 x 3) is called Saadesaati or "Shani Maha Dasa", and is typically a period of great difficulty.

Shani rules the signs Makara (Capricorn) and Kumbha (Aquarius) are glorious in Tula (Libra) and in his fall in Mesha (Aries). Mercury and Venus are considered friendly towards Shani or Saturn, while the Sun, Moon and Mars are enemies. Shani is the lord of three nakshatras or lunar houses: Pushyami, Anuradha and Uttara Bhadrapada. Shani has the following associations: his color is black or dark blue, metal is iron and gemstone is Blue Sapphire. His element or tattva is air, direction is west (where the sun sets and darkness begins) and he rules all seasons. The traditional foods for Shani are sesame seeds or black gram, his flower is the violet and he is linked to all black animals and all trees that are considered useless and ugly. Depending on Shani (Saturn) position in the horoscope of a person, it is believed that Shani will bring good luck or ill-luck. Everyone lives in terror of bad luck for seven-and-a-half years. This is based on the calculation of the Navagrahas in one's horoscope and the position that Shanisvaran holds. The shastras also mention 'pariharas' that can be done to lessen the evils of this period or at least gain the confidence to face the problems.

In most of big temples, a shrine is dedicated to Shani or his idol is installed along with other eight planets. The idol of Shani is made of iron, stone or is painted black. He has four arms. Pouring oil over this idol is one of the important rituals of worshipping Shani. Shani's vehicle is the crow, which is considered to be an unlucky bird. According to the astrologers "A person born under the influence of Shani, suffers from slandered and poverty. His peace of mind is destroyed and his family suffers along with him." If a person incurs Shani's displeasure, there is no end to his or her suffering. It is also believed that when Shani is in the ninth stellar mansion, most dreadful events befall mankind. There are several instances of this in the scriptures. When Lord Ram broke Shiva's bow in the court of king Janaka, it caused natural calamities. Because of this catastrophic event, the earth sank in many places and the water of the seven seas was in turmoil. Parshuram compared this event to Shani's influence when he is in the ninth house.

To get good result from Shani's evil effect is worshipping Lord Hanuman. Scriptures say that when Shani warned Lord Hanuman about the onset of his seven-and-half year long influence (Saade sati), Lord Hanuman accepted the challenge and allowed Saturn to have his play. When the planet dwelled on Lord Hanuman's shoulder, Hanuman increased his height so much that Shani got crushed between Hanumanji and roof and Shani couldn't move and was in pain. Finally, the planet had to bow before Hanuman. Shani then declared that any one who worshipped Lord Hanuman will not be affected by the evil effect of the planet.

Shani is friend of who walk on the path of good karma, follow religion and respect elders. But, if people don’t follow the rules of Shani then Shani is great threat and foe to the people who don’t respect elders, and who don’t follow good karma, and religion, Shani teach lesson to them.