It is not clear when Shani Jayanti was first introduced as a festival in the Hindu religion. It is Lord Shani, best regarded as a planet, is an ancient Hindu deity, and his worship probably dates back to the Vedic period and the ancient past. The festival of Shani Jayanti has been celebrated for centuries, and its origins are lost in time. In this year 2023 it will also be celebrated with honor and gusto in different parts of India. In this article we shall elaborate everything regarding Shani Jayanti 2023 and throw light on its remedial power to eliminate all types of negativities from human lives.
However, it is believed that this particular festival gained more prominence during the period when astrology became an important aspect of Hindu culture. People began to observe the negative effects of planet Saturn in their horoscopes and started worshipping Lord Shani to appease him and reduce his negative influence by all means.
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Today, Shani Jayanti is celebrated by millions of people around the globe and is an important festival in the Hindu calendar. It is observed with great devotion and enthusiasm, and it is seen that people perform various rituals and offer prayers to seek the blessings of Lord Shani.
Shani Jayanti is important as it marks the birthday or the appearance day of Lord Shani, who is also known as Shanaischar or Saturn. It is observed on the very Amavasya or no moon day of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha that typically falls in the months of May or June according to the Gregorian calendar.
Who is Lord Shani?
Lord Shani is believed to be the god of justice, discipline, and karma in the Hindu mythology. It is believed that he has the power to reward or punish humans based on their deeds. Hence, he is considered a powerful deity in Hinduism. On the occasion of the very auspicious day, devotees offer prayers and perform rituals to appease Lord Shani and seek his blessings for a happy and prosperous life.
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The day of Shani Jayanti is considered auspicious for performing numerous spiritual activities, including fasting, chanting hymns, mantras, and donating to the poor and destitute. It is also believed that observing fast on this particular day brings forth good luck and help to ward off the negative effects of Saturn in one's horoscope or birth chart. Lord Shani is revered and feared at the same time as it is he who can’t tolerate bad deeds and at the same time offer his grace to the person who leads the right track all throughout his/her life.
What is Done on Shani Jayanti?
On the day of Shani Jayanti, devotees wake up early in the morning, take a holy dip or simply a bath, and wear clean clothes. They then visit a nearby Shani temple or offer prayers at home by lighting lamps, incense sticks, diya and candles. Devotees go on performing various rituals and offer sweets, fruits, and flowers to the very deity. Some people also donate among the poor and needy as an act of charity, considered to be auspicious deeds on this day.
Fasting is also a common practice observed by many devotees on the day. . It is believed that through fasting, one can purify the mind and body and win the blessings of Lord Shani. Some people also chant various mantras, hymns and kabacham dedicated to Lord Shani. All these are believed to help in reducing the negative effects of Saturn in one's birth chart.
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To be specific, Shani Jayanti is a significant festival in Hindu religion, and it is observed with great devotion and enthusiasm by millions at home and abroad. It is an opportune moment to seek the blessings of Lord Shani and pray for good fortune, all round prosperity, and happiness in life.
How it is Performed?
• Shani Jayanti is primarily celebrated by offering prayers to the deity and performing various rituals to Lord Shani. Here we are going to tell how the festival is typically performed quite enthusiastically with devotion:
• One should wake up early in the morning and take a bath to purify oneself.
• One should visit a temple or go for a puja at home with an idol or picture of Lord Shani.
• One should offer various items during the worship, such as flowers, fruits, sweets, incense sticks, and lamps.
• One should chant various mantras and stotras related to Shani Maharaj. It is done just to seek his blessings and reduce the negative effects of him in horoscopes.
• It is best to observe fast that involves abstaining from food and water for the whole day. It is believed to help purify the mind and body as a whole and obtain the blessings of Lord Shani.
• It is also ideal to donate to the poor and needy people. Food, clothes, and other essential items are distributed among the poor and needy as an act of charity. This particular deed is considered highly auspicious on this day.
Where is Shani Jayanti Observed?
So to say, Shani Jayanti is primarily observed in India, where Hinduism is regarded as the predominant religion. The festival is celebrated across the country too. We notice the festivity observed with utmost devotion in states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
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In Maharashtra, Shani Jayanti is observed with great devotion. Thousands of devotees visit the Shani Shingnapur temple, located in the Ahmednagar district to offer prayers to Lord Shani. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is named and observed as Sani Peyarchi the moment planet Saturn transits from one zodiac sign to another.
Shani Jayanti is also celebrated in other parts of the globe where Hinduism is practiced. Such countries are Nepal, Mauritius, and some located in Southeast Asia.
How can it Remove Negativities?
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shani is the god of Justice and is also associated with the planet Saturn. It is believed that he has the power to reward or punish people based on their actions, and his influence can bring good or bad fortune to an individual.
On the day of the Jayanti, devotees perform various rituals and offer prayers to seek the blessings of Lord Shani. It is believed that these rituals and prayers can help reduce the negative effects of Saturn in an individual's horoscope and bring good fortune and prosperity.
For instance, fasting on the Jayanti day is believed to purify the mind and body and gain the blessings of Lord Shani. Similarly, donating to the poor and needy is considered an act of charity and can help ward off negative energies and bring good fortune.
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Chanting mantras dedicated to Lord Shani is also believed to be beneficial as it can help reduce the negative effects of Saturn in an individual's horoscope. Additionally, lighting lamps with mustard oil is considered auspicious on the occasion, as it is believed to ward off negative energies and bring good fortune.
The rituals and prayers performed on Shani Jayanti are believed to help remove negativities and bring good fortune and prosperity. However, it is important to note that the festival is primarily observed with faith and devotion, and the results may vary from person to person.
The Negativity of Shani Dev as Per Astrology
In astrology, Saturn or Shani is often associated with restriction, limitation, discipline, and hard work. Moreover, it is seen as a planet that brings challenges and difficulties, especially in the areas of life such as career, authority, responsibility, and karma that Shani Maharaj has the rights to rule over.
Some of the negative traits linked with Shani in astrology include pessimism, stubbornness, coldness, rigidity, and a tendency to be utterly critical or too much judgmental. In addition, Saturn can bring bouts of depression, isolation, and loneliness in different phases of life. Again Saturn or Shani Dev is responsible for bringing various obstacles and delays in achieving one's goals.
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Anyway, it's important to remember that astrology is just a lens through which man can view the world. These interpretations are not absolutely universal or objective truths. It's up to each person to decide how much weight should be given to astrological beliefs and how to interpret them in his/her own life.
Date and Time of Shani Jayanti 2023
As per the Hindu lunar calendar, Shani Jayanti is going to be celebrated on the day when the new moon or Amavasya falls in the month of Jyeshtha. In this year 2023, Shani Jayanti will be celebrated in various corners of India and in some parts of the outer Indian countries on Wednesday, 24th May. However, please note that the exact date and time may vary based on the sighting of the moon and the location.
Shani Dev and Other Planets
In astrology it is noted that Shani Dev is associated with both the zodiac signs Aquarius and Capricorn. Friends of Shani Dev are Mercury and Venus. The enemies as per astrology are Sun, Moon and Mars. The relation with Jupiter is considered neutral.
How to Appease Shani Dev
Black clothes, urad dal, black shoes, jamun and all kinds of black things should be donated to keep off the angry glance of Shani Dev. Shani Darshan in any temple on every Saturday has great significance too. Donating of anything to the distressed always pleases Shani Dev and he is ready to offer his grace. The grace of Shani Dev can also be had by worshiping Hanumanji.
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