Shani Jayanti is celebrated as Lord Shani’s birthday on
the Amavaysa day (No moon day) during Vaishaka month. Shanidev is worshipped as
one of the Navgrahas - celestial planet bodies. He is the ruler of the planet
Saturn, which has heavy influence on people and is often revered for protection
against evil and removal of all doshas and ill effects of the planet in the person’s
horoscope.
Lord Shani was born as a son of Lord Surya and Devi
Sadnya. Together they had three children – Vaivasthava, Lord Yamraj and a
daughter Yamuna devi. However the legend says that Devi Sadnya wanted to leave
Lord Surya and offer penance as she was unable to bear the harsh glare of his halo
anymore. Fearing that this may anger Lord Surya, Devi Sadnya created a being
with her own reflection and named her Chaya. She made her promise to not
disclose this secret to anyone and continue performing duties to her husband
and children as a devoted wife and a mother. Meanwhile Devi Sadnya went to her
father Daksha, who grew angry upon learning his daughter’s deed and asked her
to return to her husband immediately. However she went to Himalaya for penance.
Meanwhile Chaya gave birth to three more children – Manu, Lord Shani and a Putri
named Bhadra. Hence Lord Shani is also revered as Chayaputra among other names.
It is said that when Lord Shani was in the womb of Chaya, she was offering
rigorous penance to Lord Shiva and was so engrossed that she did not care to
touch food or bothered to cover herself from the blazing sun. As a result Lord
Shani bears a dark complexion and is also an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva
himself.
When Lord Shani was growing up, Chaya once asked him to
wait for food as it had to be first offered to gods. Furious Shani kicked his
mother, upon which Chaya cursed him that he would have a broken leg. Because of
this curse he bears a limp leg. This peculiar characteristic also reflects in
one of the saying – Shani Kramati Saha - meaning one who moves slowly. The
planet Saturn takes 30 years to revolve around the sun. In vedic astrology, the
planetary placements are rendered more importance for any success or failure in
life. It is often believed that the miseries and suffering in life are caused
as a result of Lord Shani’s displeasure towards oneself and the person may be
suffering from Saade-Saati, leading to hindrances in growth, peace and
happiness. It occurs when Saturn – the ruling planet of Lord Shani, passes over
the birth moon, the twelfth house or second house from it. Since Saturn spends
about two and a half years in each house the total ill-effected period is about
seven and half years. Various pujas and remedies can be offered which can bring
respite and relief from the ill-effects. Lord Shani is also believed to bring
good luck in a gradual manner with hard work, discipline and perseverance.
Worship to Lord Shani is done with utmost reverence and
faith. Fasting on Shani Jayanti assure their devotees protection against evil
and removes obstacles from a person’s life. People visit Shanidev temple
offering puja, sesame seeds, black clothes and Telabhishek to Lord Shani. They
pray for his blessings and removal of all problems from personal and
professional life.
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