The third law of Newton states that “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction”. Karma or action has been a focus of not just sciences but philosophy and religions of the world. The fruit of one’s action or “reaping what you sow” is a concept with which we all are familiar.
Hinduism has divine beings, gods such as Dharmaraja (the king of Dharma or righteous action) Yama, who are believed to take note of all the activities one does on the earth, only to distribute its gifts or punishments when the soul leaves the human realm and goes to Yamapuri (the city of Yama).
Receiving the fruits of one’s acts in the afterlife is one thing, but there is one Hindu god who keeps a keen, unwavering eye on all our actions, and accordingly with the firmness of a judge, gives good or bad results of our Karma during our lifetimes. He is Shani, Shanishchara (one who chara or walks shaneh or slowly), Saturn, the son of Bhagwan Surya, and one of the Navagraha or nine planets.
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This year Shani Jayanti or the birth anniversary of Lord Shani is to be celebrated on 6th June 2024, in different parts of India, where temples of the planet god are situated. Let us get to know a few things about Lord Shani, a powerful, popular but misunderstood divinity in Hindu culture.
The Hindu texts describe Shani as a god who protects order or Dharma. As a member of the Navagrahas, he has an impact on every person’s life according to the position he holds in his Kundali or horoscope. Due to his sternness in judging people, many fear Shani as an “inauspicious” or “angry” deity.
This however is an incorrect perception. Because Shani does not get “too pleased” or “too angry” with anyone. He does not cause difficulties out of hate or wrath. He only reflects back our Karma.
A person who consciously walks the path of goodness is thus never bothered by Shani and they receive boons from the planet-God for their ethical nature. It is only towards the evil, sinning people, those who live their lives driven by negative thoughts and emotions, that Shani becomes a force to reckon with.
According to the legends in the Puranas, Shani Dev is the son of Surya and his wife Chaaya (the goddess of shadow). Brillant and powerful, Surya was married to the daughter of the architect of gods, Vishwakarma, named Sandhya (goddess of evening).
Together, they had Yama (the god of death), Yamuna (the river goddess), Vaivasvata Manu and the Ashvinikumaras. The family was a blissful one, but the Teja (brilliance) of Surya was becoming unendurable for Sandhya Devi.
With her powers, she gave rise to another woman from her shadow, named her Chaaya, and bestowed upon her the responsibility of her family. Surya remained unaware of this switch and continued to live with Chaaya as her wife. Their union birthed Shani, Tapti, and Manu.
Chaaya, who was an ardent devotee of Shiva, performed great penance during the birth of Shani, leaving food and water and worshipping her Ishta. The extremeness of her action affected the child Shani, who was born immensely dark. So dark, that Surya, who was famed for his beautiful brilliance, suspected that he was not his son. The tie between father and son was to be a strained one.
Angered by his father’s reactions, Shani looked at Surya with a fierce gaze, and the glorious rays of the Sun were lost in a pitch-black darkness. Shiva had to intervene finally and ask Shani to forgive his father. Shiva blessed Shani with the task of keeping his unforgiving eye on the actions of human beings, becoming the distributor of Karma-Phala (fruit of action), good or bad.
Hanuman is the disciple or Shishya of Surya Deva and Shani is his son. However, many people suffering from the different ill effects of Shani’s Drishti (eye) on them, are suggested to worship Lord Hanuman by the ritual experts. But why is that?
It is said that having finished his education under Surya, Hanuman asked him what he wanted in Guru Dakshina, the fees paid in the traditional Indian education system to one’s master.
Surya mentioned that Shani, his son was not on good terms with him, and he wished to be respected by him like any other father. Hearing this, Hanuman reached the planet of Shani (Saturn) where he expressed Surya’s wishes to Shani.
The planet-God was however not willing to abide and instead, attacked Hanuman, reaching his shoulders and pushing him in order to subdue him with his power. Hanuman remained unaffected.
He began expanding his body as a reply and grew to such a massive size that his weight became unbearable for Shani. Finally, Shani Dev accepted his defeat and demanded a gift of sesame seeds (Til) and oil to soothe the pain caused by Hanuman’s display of strength.
From that day on, Lord Shani is offered sesame seeds and oil by his devotees and those repenting for their deeds and seeking refuge from the eye of Shani. And just like the two ingredients eased his ache, Shani ensures that the life of those who offer Til and Tel (the seeds and oil) becomes easy.
Rakshasa Raj (the king of Rakshasa) Ravana is known from the epic Ramayana, for abducting goddess Sita which led to his defeat and death and the victory of Rama. However, Devi Sita was not the only one wrongfully taken by the warrior-king of Lanka.
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Among his other captives was Shani, the planet god who, unlike the other planets, refused to be in the 11th house of Ravana’s soon-to-be-born son, Indrajit’s Kundali. The 11th house in Jyotisha or astrology is considered the Laabha Bhaava or the place of good luck, and all the planets being in his 11th house meant Indrajit would receive positive effects and success from all of them.
Shani did not agree to this and sat in his 12th house when the son was born, which is a spot of loss, loneliness, and ill luck. Angered beyond words, Ravana captured and placed Shani in captivity in his city. He is also said to have attacked the leg of Shani, hurting him and causing him to become lame and hence slow.
When Lord Hanuman paid a visit to Lanka, he saw Shani Dev and helped him escape the city. Indebted to him, Shani said that Hanuman will always have great success and fortunes and those who worship him will also be rid of evil and negative actions and will lead lives according to Dharma.
One of the popular ways of worshipping Shani Dev is offering him Sarson ka Tel (mustard oil) or Til ka Tel (sesame oil) with black sesame seeds. People also donate black color items such as black clothes, blankets, umbrellas, and footwear to people around a Shani temple or the priest. Performing the Daan (donation) of Loha (iron) especially on Saturday or Shanivar (the day of Shani) is believed to yield positive results.
People also perform Chaaya-Daan (donation of shadow) by looking at a container or earthen lamp full of oil and then giving it to the shrine of Lord Shani, to relieve themselves from the ill effects of Karma and the gaze of Shani. The Peepal tree and Shami plant (associated with Shani Dev) are also worshipped to attain the fortune and blessings of the planet-got.
Those who perform elaborate rituals sing the aarti and Chalisa of Shani Dev with the following mantra-
“Om Sham Shanishcharaye Namah”
Another mantra of Shani Deva is-
“Neelajanam Samabhasam, Ravi Putram Yamagrajam, Chaaya maartand Sambhootam, Tam namai Shaneshcharam”Meaning-“He who has a dark blue appearance, the son of Ravi (Sun) and the elder brother (agraja) of Yama, he who is born from the union of Chaaya and Martand (another name for Sun), I bow down to (namami) that slow walking god (Shaneshcharam)”
Devotees seeking to overcome the sufferings caused by negative Karma under the effect of Shani’s gaze are sometimes also suggested by ritual experts to worship Shiva and Hanuman and recite the “Mahamrityunjaya Mantra”, “Bajrang Baan”, “Hanuman Chalisa” and the mantras of both the gods, who bless the individual and shield them from Shani’s influence.
IN CONCLUSION
Shani reprimands. He is the elder brother of Yama (who judges and punishes in the afterlife) and as his elder, Shani warns a person while they have the time to undo their bad actions and get on a just, good, and virtuous path. He is powerful, strict, and yet a welcome moral compass, one that does not let a person lose sight of the right way of living.
His own life is an illustrious example that one should under no circumstance do wrongful and sinful deeds. His refusal to follow Ravana’s orders despite the threat of imprisonment shows the high moral standards of Shani Dev, who only expects the same from all of us. Equinanimous and unmoved by anything other than actions, Shani is Dharma incarnate of earth.
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