Monday 4 July 2011

Shani Dev History

History

In our routine lives, there is a great importance of the kindness and the power of God Shani. Shani occupies the seventh place among the nine planets which govern the world. This is viewed as unlucky in conventional astrology. As per ‘Kaagol Shastra’, the distance of Shani from the earth is 9 crore miles. Its radius is about one billion and 82 crore and 60 lakh kilometers. And its gravitational force is 95 times higher than that of the earth. Planet Shani takes 19 years to complete one revolution around the Sun. The astronauts have viewed the Shani’s colours as beautiful, strong, influencing and eye-catching. It has twenty two satellites in its ring.

Shani’s gravitational power is more than that of the Earth’s. Therefore, when we think good or bad thoughts and make plans, they reach Shani by the strength of his power. In astrological terms, the bad influence is considered as unlucky. But the result of good deeds will be good. Therefore, we must understand God Shani as a friend and not as foe. And for bad deeds, he is Sade Saathi, disaster and an enemy.

As regards the birth of Shani, there are different stories. Foremost and accepted is the one in the ancient ‘Scanda Poorana’ of Kasi Khanda which is as follows.

God Soorya was married to Daksha Kanya Sadnya. Sadnya could not tolerate the radiance of God Surya. She used to feel that by doing penance she could increase her brilliance. Or, by the power of her penance, she could diminish the glare of God Surya. But for God Surya, she was a spouse worshipping wife. From God Surya, she had three children. One was Vaivastahva Manu. The second was Yama Raj. And the third was Yamuna. Sadnya loved her children very much. But, she was very upset with the radiance of God Surya. One day, she thought that she would separate from God Surya, go to her parents’ home and undertake great penance. And if there was opposition, she would go far away to a lonely and undertake great penance.

By strength of her penance, Sadnya created a ‘Chaya’ (shadow) of herself and named her Suvarna. And, and then the shadow of herself became Suvarna. After handing over the children to Chaya, Sadnya told her that Chaya would thereafter play the role of womanhood and nurse her three children. She told her if any problem arose, she should call her and she would come rushing to her. But she cautioned her that she must remember that she was Chaya, not Sadnya, and nobody should know this difference.


Sadnya hander over her responsibilities to Chaya and went away to her parents’ place.

She went home and told her father that she could not stand the radiance of God Surya. And therefore, without telling her husband she had come away. Listening to this, her father scolded her very much and told her that without being called, if the daughter returns home, both her and her father would be cursed. He told her to go back to her home immediately. Then, Saudnya began to worry that if she went back, what would happen to the responsibilities which she had given to Chaya. Where would Chaya go?

And their secret would be exposed. So, Sadnya went to the dense jungles in Uttar Kurukshetra and took repose there.
She was fearful of her safety in the jungle because of her youthfulness and beauty. And she changed her form into that of a mare so that none could recognize her and started her penance. Elsewhere, the union of God Surya and Chaya begot three children. God Surya and Chaya were happy with each other. Surya never doubted anything. The children of Chaya were Manu, God Shani and Putri Bhadra (Tapti).


As per the second story, the creation of God Shani was the result of Maharishi Kashyap’s great ‘yagna’. When God Shani was in the womb of Chaya, Shiv Bhaktini Chaya was so engrossed in penance of God Shiva that she did not care for her food even.

She prayed so intensely during her penance that the prayers had a profound influence on the child in her womb. As a result of such a great penance of Chaya, without food and shade in the blazing sun, the complexion of God Shani became black. When God Shani was born, Surya was surprised to see his dark complexion. He began to doubt Chaya. He insulted Chaya by saying that this was not his son.

From birth itself, God Shani had inherited the great powers of his mother’s penance.

He saw that his father was insulting his mother. He saw his father with a cruel gaze. As a result his father’s body was charred black. The horses of God Surya’s chariot stopped. The chariot would not move. Worried, God Surya called out to God Shiva. God Shiva advised God Surya and explained to him about what had happened. That is, because of him the respect of mother and child had been tarnished and insulted. God Surya accepted his fault and apologized. And regained his earlier glorious looks and the power of his chariot’s horses. Since then, God Shani became a good son to his father and mother and an ardent disciple of God Shiva

Mantras and Remedies for reducing the malefic effects of Shani

Shani Mantras

According to Vedic Astrology the planet Saturn is called Shanaiswara. The name Shanaiswara means "slow mover".

Shani, the son of the Suryadev born to his shadow wife Chaya is the slowest of the Grahas. Saturn takes 2 1/2 years in each Rasi, completing one cycle every 30 years. Shanidev plays the role of a judge in human lives. This Diety in Hinduism who keeps an eye on our deeds and depending on our Karmas we will be rewarded or punished by Shani. Shani is the most feared of all dieties because of his power to turn the king into a pauper within a moment. King Vikramaditya is one such person who had to suffer the wrath of Shanidev.Shani is most powerful in the 7th house. Saturn rules over the two sidereal signs of Capricorn and Aquarius. Shani exalts in Libra and falls in the sign of Aries. Saturn is particularly a beneficial planet for Taurus and Libra Ascendants. A malefic Shani could mean diseases like arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, gout etc. Saturn is generally known to affect one adversely on occasions when he occupies certain positions in one's horoscope like the Saade Sati (7 1/2 years) ,Ashtama Shanaiswara (Saturn in 8th house - 2 1/2 years) etc. Shani Puja and Grah Shanti Shani Pooja are some remedies done to appease planet Saturn and reduce the hardships one will have to face during such bad times. Apart from that there are a number of remedial measures one can follow including chanting Shani Mantras. The Shani Mantra has to be chanted facing the west and a minimum of 7 times a day. One can chant the mantra 108 times using a rudraksha rosary and by keeping a shani yantra for better results. Given below are some of the
Mantras of Shani  one can chant to please Shani and reduce the malefics.

"Om Hlim Sham Shanaye Namah"
"Om praam preem praum sah shanayishraya namah"
"Om sham shanayscharaya namaha"
"Aum Aing Hring Shring Shung Shanaishcharaye Namah Aum"

Shani Gayatri Mantra
"Om Sanaischaraya vidhmahe
Sooryaputraya dhimahi

tanno manda prachodayat"


Shani Dhyan Mantra

Nilanjana samabhasam raviputram yamagrajam
chaya martanda sambhutam tam namami shaishcharam

Meaning


I bow to Lord Shani, who is black in colour and son of Sun and born to Chaya and brother of Yama , who moves very slowly.
Saneeswaran is reputed to be both a giver and destroyer. Anyone who sincerely pray to Shanidev will not only be freed from troubles but also gets a life that one desires.

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