Shani Jayanti Puja – How to Perform in The Correct Manner
This festival is dedicated to Lord Shani and marks his birth anniversary He is also considered as one of the nine major planets, namely Saturn, which revolves around the Sun slowly and hence is also popularly called ‘Shanishchara’. The seventh day of the week, Saturday is dedicated to Lord Shani. He rules the west direction and is known as the one who punishes humans who do evil deeds and hurt others. It is believed that one can remove the negative energies from one’s life and save themselves from the punishments given by Lord Shani for their bad ‘karma’, if he/she worships the deity on this auspicious day. Shani Jyanti is celebrated on the ‘Amavasya’ of the Hindu month ‘Jayestha’. Lord Shani is associated with the bird, crow according to folklore, representing bad omen and harmful characteristics. Hindus worship the deity in order to expel the ill effects of sins they have committed. The legend has it that activities such as exorcisms are performed by villagers on this day.
What is the origin of Shani Jayanti?
According to Hindu mythological stories, Lord Shani is considered as the child of Sun God ‘Surya’ and his second wife, ‘Chaya’. It is said that ‘Surya’ was married to a beautiful woman called ‘Sandhya’ who gave birth to a son named ‘Yam’ (God of Death) and a daughter named ‘Yami’(river Yamuna). Since she could not bear the radiance of the Sun God, she left her shadow ‘Chaya’ behind to take care of her husband and kids so that no one gets to know she has left them. ‘Chaya’ became wicked and made Sun God, throw both his kids out of the heaven. She later gave birth to Lord Shani or ‘Chayaputra’. Sun God, ‘Surya’s two sons Lord Yam and Lord Shani are responsible for punishing humans for their evil deeds. While Lord Shani punishes them while they are alive, Lord Yam keeps a track of the deeds post a being’s death.
Another story states that when Lord Shani opened his eyes for the first time at the time of his birth, The Sun went into eclipse, thus symbolizing his power. He acts as a balance on earth for humans who are involved in both good and bad deeds. He punishes those who do bad and rewards those who do good. The general depiction of Lord Shani is that he is clothed in black colored garments, carrying a sword, two daggers, mounted on a crow.
What are the rituals that need to be followed while doing the Shani Jayanti Pooja?
- Devotees worship Lord Shani by observing fast and completing appropriate rituals on this sacred day.
- The observer should wake up early in the morning at the ‘Brahma-Muhurta’ and take a bath.
- He then should clean the praying area and make an idol of Lord Shani out of iron.
- He should then bathe the idol with mustard oil and sesame seeds and offer Black pepper, peanut oil, pickle, cloves, basil leaves and black salt to the deity.
- One should chant the Lord Shani mantra 108 times, which is: “Om Shanishcharya Namah”.
- After the ‘pooja’ rituals are completed, the observer should donate articles such as black cloth, black ‘urad’ pulse, black shoes, black umbrella, sesame seeds, mustard oil etc. to the poor and needy.
- The person observing the fast should not consume any meals throughout the day and chant the holy mantra.
- Lord Shani is known as the ‘Lord of Justice’ who gives good or bad results to humans on the basis of their deeds.