Shani
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.
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