How to Appease Shani Dev and Overcome Suffering

Shani/Saturn is one of the Navagrahas or planetary deities in Vedic astrology. He is a powerful graham who can make or mar your life. According to Hindu mythology, Shani is the son of Lord Surya and Chhaya. Astrologers claim that if a person has Shani in an unfavorable position in his/her horoscope, it is very inauspicious. Hindus worship Shani to gain relief from their sufferings in life.

Shani is a karmic planet. Its role is to make people undergo the consequences for their actions – both evil and good – in this lifetime. 

Saturn is the slowest of all the planets and stays in a zodiac sign for two and a half years. It’s most powerfully placed when it occupies the seventh house. So, Shani is favorable to people whose Ascendant is Taurus or Libra. 

People regard Shani as a harbinger of misfortune and retribution. They worship Shani to ward off misery and remove obstacles. Some accounts hold that Shani is actually an incarnation of Vishnu, who assigned him the responsibility of dispensing the fruits of their karma to human beings. 

It is said that when Shani opened his eyes after birth for the first time, the sun was eclipsed, such was the power of his gaze.  

Yama is the elder brother of Shani and the Hindu god of death. While Shani hands out justice when a person is still alive, Yama metes out justice after a person dies. Shani has two sisters— Goddess Kali, who destroys evil forces, and Putri Bhadra, the goddess of the hunt. Shiva, the husband of Kali, is Shani’s brother-in-law and guru. 

Shani, the God of Karma

People think that Shani is a cruel deity who is quick to anger. But Shani is not only the greatest troublemaker but also the greatest well-wisher. Strictness and beneficence go hand-in-hand with Shani. He is the god of justice who gives both rewards and punishments.

Shani is cruel to people who betray and backstab others.  He also targets the vain and arrogant. His task is to make us pay for our sins so that we are cleansed of the negativity within us. 

People born under Shani's influence are prone to money and health issues, accidents, sudden failures, etc. Shani will give us success only if we are willing to do hard work and follow a disciplined lifestyle. 

Saade Sati 

It is important for everyone to be in the good books of Shani. Saade Sati is a seven-and-a-half-year period when Saturn occupies the astrological house of your birth. This occurs once every 27 to 29 years. 

The danger of experiencing bad luck and adversity in your life is strongest when Saturn is in your house and the signs placed before and after it. So once every 27 to 29 years, there can be a period of bad luck that lasts 7.5 years (3 times 2.5 years). Those who have led a virtuous life may not have anything to fear. But those who have done evil things will have to face Shani’s wrath. It is recommended that all people perform rituals to please Shani during Shani’s transits to minimize problems in life.

Shani Temples

Black and dark blue are Shani’s favorite colors. Hence, to please Shani, wear black or dark blue clothes on Saturdays which are dedicated to Shani. Also, avoid fish, eggs, meat, and alcohol, and light lamps with mustard or sesame oil. It also helps people worship Lord Hanuman or visit his temple. 

There is a small shrine for the ‘Navagraha’ in many temples, where one can worship Shani. Kumbakonam, a temple town in Tamil Nadu, is the oldest Navagraha temple in India. Shani here is said to be very benign. Some renowned stand-alone Shani temples and shrines are the Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra, Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple in Pondicherry, and the Mandapalli Mandeswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh. 

There is a 20-foot-tall statue of Shani in the Yerdanur Shani Temple in Medak district, while the Bannanje Shri Shani Kshetra in Udupi boasts a 23-foot-tall statue of the deity. The world’s tallest Shani statue is in the Shani Dham Temple of Delhi. It is carved out of native rock.

Ways to Appease Shani

Do Shani Pooja on Saturdays

Saturday is dedicated to Shani. On this day, arise early in the morning and bathe. Perform a Pooja to Shani using a copper utensil. Chant Shani Mantra during the Pooja. As Prasad, offer sesame oil, blue flowers, and mustard. Chant a hymn from the Shani Chalisa. Wear a black garment and fast from dawn to dusk.

Mantra: Om sham shanishcharaya namah
 
Worship Lord Hanuman

Hanuman saved Shani from Ravana's clutches, so Shani is forever indebted to the monkey god. He is very pleased when we pray to Hanuman with true devotion and chant his chalisa. It helps reduce Shani's ill effects and brings his blessings.
It is also good to worship Shiva and Ganesha, along with Shani and Hanuman.

Keep a Tidy Home

Shani removes the obstacles in your life. It also helps to do some decluttering on your part. Clean your house daily and get rid of all the unwanted stuff. Also, free your mind of negative thoughts.

Worship a crow and a Peepal tree

Worshipping crows and Peepal trees appeases Shani. The crow is his mount or vehicle. Hindus feed crows because they represent their ancestors. By accepting the food you offer them, your ancestors in the form of crows bless you and remove your negative karma.

Shani Dev is said to dwell on the Peepal tree. It is a common practice among Hindus to circumambulate a peepal tree five times and touch the bark with both hands. This supposedly pleases Shani. Sometimes, they mix milk, water, and jaggery in a bowl and keep it under the tree. 

Do Social Service or Charity

Do some charitable deeds every now and then, like giving alms to the poor or feeding a beggar. As per the Bhagavad Gita, offering food to the needy is the highest form of karma. Do good things without any expectations. This makes Shani very happy. Feed handicapped people or lepers on Saturdays. This pleases Shani the most.

Listen to Dasaratha Shani Stotram

Saturn moves to the Rohini constellation once in 30 years. This is supposedly a very difficult period. When this was about to happen during King Dasaratha’s reign, the king, fearing that his kingdom would suffer severe poverty, worshipped Shani rigorously to please him. As a result, Shani did not enter Rohini. Listening to the Dasaratha Shani Stotram can bring relief from Shani-related problems.

Visit Shani Temples

Shani is called the god of justice and karma. He treats you harshly or benevolently as per your actions. Good actions bring rewards, and evil actions bring punishments. Visit Shani temples on Saturdays and worship him to gain his favor. 

Recite the Shani Chalisa

Reciting the Shani Chalisa helps those whose horoscopes have the negative influence of Shani. It can reduce the ill effects of Shani Dosha. Recite it every Saturday evening for optimum results.