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| SHANI - THE
SATURN |
In Vedic astrology the planet Saturn
is called SHANI. In Sanskrit Shani comes from SANISCHARA,
which means, "slow mover". From Shani we get the
word "shun", which means to ignore, or lose awareness of
something. Thus, Saturn represents a
loss of awareness, or ignorance. This loss of
awareness can also mean the diminishing awareness of the
material world of manifestation.
Here Saturn indicates the ascetic, rich with inner
spirituality, and lost to this material plane of
existence. Saturn is a malefic graha. He rules over the
two sidereal signs of Capricorn and Aquarius. He is
exalted in Libra, and fallen in the opposite sign of
Aries.
Saturn is a karaka, or indicator, of
longevity, misery, sorrow, old age and death, discipline,
restriction, responsibility, delays, ambition, leadership
and authority, humility, integrity, wisdom born of
experience. Saturn also indicates asceticism,
denial, non-attachment, spirituality, hard work,
organization, reality and time itself.
Saturn's most powerful place in the chart is in the 7th
House and the Kendra's, or Angles. He is a particularly
beneficial planet for Taurus and Libra Ascendants.
Saturn's nature is Vata, or Airy. His
gem is Blue Sapphire and all black stones and his metal is
Lead. Saturn's direction is west and his day is Saturday.
He reaches full maturity at age 36. In Vedic myth
Saturn is the son of the Sun, born to his shadow wife,
Chaya. Saturn is lame because one of the Sun's first wife
Sanjana's children became angered with him and struck him
in the foot. Thus Saturn walks with a limp, which accounts
why he is the slowest of the Grahas.
The graha SANISCHARA (Saturn), also
known as Manda, is generally known to affect one adversely
on occasions when he occupies certain positions in one's
horoscope like Saade Sati (7 1/2 years) Ashtama Shani
(Saturn in 8th house - 2 1/2 years) etc. He is the
Lord of Makaram and Kumbam. He is the slowest moving
planet taking 2 1/2 years in each Rasi, completing one
cycle every 30 years. A prayer to
this Devata, especially on Saturdays, is said to mitigate
the hardships one will have to face during these periods.
Sanischara bestows all benefits to the devotees who pray
sincerely to him. The legend that depict the influence of
the worship of SHANI goes as follows, and is narrated
whenever a worship or offering is made to the deity.
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| SHANI AS SEEN
IN TEMPLES |
The legend
pertains to a king. The king invited merchants from far
and wide and proclaimed that the king himself would
purchase all unsold goods. The merchants were happy. Once
a blacksmith brought an iron image of Saturn for sale,
which ultimately was purchased by the king, who installed
that in his palace with reverence. Other gods became
unhappy on this action of the king. At night, the king saw
a brilliant woman going out of the house. On king's
enquiry, he learnt that, it was Lakshmi. She said that she
could not stay in the place where Saturn is present. After
sometime a male image went out and was told to be Bhaivabh
(Prosperity). Similarly all other gods Dharma (Religion),
Dheriye (Patience), Kshama (Pardon) and all others went
out. When the last Satya (Truth) was going out, the king
protested and said that because of faith in Satya, he did
not object to the others from going out. Feeling the
sentiments of the king, Satya stopped. All other deities
were waiting outside for Satya, but when he did not come
out Dharma (religion) said that he could not remain
without Satya; so he returned in. Similarly all others
followed suite and all gods and attributes came back
inside the palace. They told the king that only because of
his devotion to the Satya (truth); they all had to return
and that such a king could never be unhappy. Due to the
devotion to Satya, (truth), Lakshmi (wealth) and Shani
(Saturn) came to live together, to the benefit of the
devotees. |
