Friday 1 July 2011

Shani Amavasya

Amavasya is the no moon day and Shani Amavasya is no moon day that falls on Saturday or Shanivar. Hindus consider amavasya as the darkest day of the month and inauspicious. Shani Amavasya is too considered as inauspicious with the fear of Shani Graha. In 2010, there are three Shani Amavasyas falling on the dates: 13th February, 12th July and 6th November 2010.

Pooja for Shani Dev: Shani Dev is considered as one of Deity of Navagraha. Many Hindu communities fear of Shani Dav and believe that influence of Shani can be detrimental for one’s progress in life.

People who believe and follow astrology do several remedial poojas termed as ‘Shani Shanti poojas’. People suffering from Kaal Sarpa Dosha and Pitra Dosh observe special poojas to get the favor of Lord Shani.

On the day of Shani Amavasya, the temples having Navagrahas are seen thronged with people performing Abhishekam to Shani Dev. Shani Shingnapur is the famous temple in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra where Shani Devata is the presiding deity of the village. Devotees from all over India come and offer obligations to Shani Dev. On the day of Shani Amavasya thousands of people come from all over India to perform special poojas to Shani Dev.

Shani Amavaysa is also considered as an ideal day to perform Shradh or Tarpan for dead ancestors. People observe fast and offer obligations to their ancestors as a mark of respect and gratitude.

There are many theories on the good and ill effects of Shani on one’s horoscope. Experts suggest the best way to escape is by praying to Lord Hanuman. There is a legend very popular in India that tells that Lord Hanuman is the subduer of Shani Dev. This is better than to fall in the traps of astrologers who recommend costly remedial poojas taking undue advantage of the occasion.

Shani Bhagavan
Shani is a Deva and son of Surya (the Hindu Sun God) and his wife Chhaya (Shadow goddess) and hence also known as Chayyaputra. He is the elder brother of Yama, the Hindu God of death, who in some scriptures corresponds to the deliverance of justice. Interestingly, Surya's two sons Shani and Yama judge. Shani gives us the results of one's deeds through one's life through appropriate punishments and rewards; Yama grants the results of one's deeds after death.

It is said that when Shani opened his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an eclipse, which clearly denotes the impact of Shani on astrological charts. He is known as the greatest teacher. Shani dev is said to be very harmful to those who follow the path of betrayal, backstabbing and unjust revenge. He is known in Hindu scriptures as the greatest trouble giver as well as the greatest well wisher. He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and variously mounted on a black crow.

Ways to please Shani

According to legend, Shani is a devotee of Lord Shiva. As mentioned in the "Navagraha Pidahara Sthothram" of "Brahmanda Purana", anybody who chants the following sthothra is relieved from all the ill effects of Shani.

Suryaputhro Deerghadeho Vishaalaakshah Shivapriyah |Mandachaarah Prasannathmaa peedam harathu me Shanih ||

The Shaneeswara Mantra In Telugu:
సుర్యపుత్రో దీర్ఘదేహో విశాలాక్షః శివప్రియః
మండచారః ప్రసన్నాత్మా పీడం హరతు మీ షనిహ్

सूर्य पुत्रो दीर्घ देहो विशालाक्षः शिवप्रियः।मन्दचारः प्रसन्नात्मा पीडां हरतु मे शनिः ॥

The Shaneeswara Mantra In Tamil:

Sangadangal Theerpai Shani BagavaneMangalam Ponga Manam Vaitharul VaiSacharavindri Saaga neriyilIcchagam Vaazha Innarul Thaa Thaa

According to the Vedic astrology, in order to get protection against the bad effects of Saturn's transit, the following are the possible remedies during the important transits of Saturn - Kanta Sani (When Saturn transits through the eighth house from the natal moon sign), Sade-sati (when Saturn transits through the twelfth, first and second houses from the natal moon sign) -
  • Worship Mother Goddess Kali during Dark Moon
  • Worship Vishnu in the form of Lord Krishna and keep chanting 'Om Namo Narayanaya', 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare..'
  • Pray to Sree Hanumanji in His Supreme Cosmic Form, which is the Form in which He shook Shani Bhagavan off of His back and the form in which He received divine blessings and instructions from Surya, the Sun God.
A common mantra for drawing the support of Shani Bhagavan is: Om Sham Shanaischaryaye Namah. The following is another mantra for propitiating Shani: Aum praang preeng proung sah Shanaye namah Neelaanjan samaabhaasam raviputram yamaagrajam, Chaayaa-maartandam-sambhootam, Tam namaami Shanaishcharam.
Some devotees chant 'Om Sham Shanaischaryaye Namah' 108 times daily. Also, if reading vedic textures are practised then it is suggested to recite Saturn's shloka from Navagraha Sukta: 'Om Shanno Devirabhishtaya Aapo Bhavantu Peetaye Shanyorbhisravantumah Shanaishcharaaya Namah.'
  1. Perform thilabhishekam on sanitrayodasi, sanijayanthi (pushya masam bahula astami) and saniamavasya days.
  2. Donate black till to a Brahmin (1 kg 900 grams)
  3. Feeding till and jaggery mix to black cow (kapila govu) .
  4. Fasting on Saturdays (only liquids) 6 a.m to 6 p.m (sravana masam must)
  5. Feeding to crows (mornings)
  6. Feeding to physically disabled people.
  7. Navagraha pradakshinas(19 rounds)/walking, jogging.
  8. Visit famous sanitemples (once in 2 1/2 years) Mandapalli, Sanisingnapur, Tirunallar, Narsingole, Venkathala and Veerannapalem (parchur mandalam, prakasam district).
  9. Light two lamps in front of your main door after sunset every day with till oil.
  10. Recite dasaradha maharaja krutha sani sthothram.
  11. Jyestadevi, saneeshwara swamyvarla kalyanam (sravana purnimaday).
  12. Sanijapam 19000, with moolamantram, punarcharana, havanan, danam.
  13. Sanaichara vratham, homam on Saturdays in sravana masam.
  14. Sanaichara dheeksha: sravana sudda vidiya to sravana bahula sashti.
  15. Chanting: 'rama nama', Hanuman chalisa, Durga sthuthi.
  16. Prayers and devotion to Hanuman, Sri Durga Devi, Vinayaka.
  17. Offering curd rice mixed with cumin seeds to god and feeding them to crows.
  18. Feed an orphan child
  19. Feed fish to long hair cat

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