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Shani, known as the Saturn is the seventh among the Navagrahas. The Saturn is a planet of masculine energy. He is the ruler of Signs Capricorn and Aquarius, the tenth and eleventh in the natal chart. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of planet Saturn (Shani). Saturn is a very slow moving planet. It takes around 29.5 years to travel through all 12 Zodiac signs. Saturn stays for approximately 2.5 years in a sign. Lord Shani is also known by names like Shani Dev, Ravinandana, Shaneeswara and Shani Bhagwan.
Saturday is considered the best day for worshipping Shani. Black sesame, Til oil are offered to Shani. Many devotees also offer clothes, foods to handicapped and poor. According to Vedic Astrology, black and blue colors are associated with Lord Shani. Blue Sapphire is the gemstone of Shani. Blue Sapphire helps to gain mental clarity, clears confusion and corrects the individual in making the right decisions.
The Saturn is a powerful planet that has a power to obstruct, destroy, and depress. Saturn represents austerity, longevity, old age, concentration and meditation, discipline, restrictions and sufferings. He is the significator of old age, death, and disease.
Lord Shani, the Saturn is depicted as a dark complexioned man with two hands carrying a bow and arrow, riding on a Chariot dragged by a Crow. Sometimes, he is portrayed with four hands carrying a sword, bow and arrow sitting on a buffalo.
According to Vedic Astrology, strong and well-located Saturn in a chart will indicate a good capacity and ability to endure the hardships of life, a strong sense of responsibility, seriousness, self-discipline, austerity. An afflicted Saturn can create difficulty in facing responsibilities, or trying to evade them, causing more problems and suffering. It can cause mental depression, loneliness, feelings of isolation, addictions and chronic diseases.
The sacred mantra, Shani Dev Mantra, describes Shani as blue mountain. The mantra goes on to hails Shani as the son of Surya, the Sun God and brother of God Yama , the God of the underworld. Devotees believe chanting of the mantra with sincerity and devotion can alleviate all the sufferings and derive the grace of Shani. It is also believed that Lord Shani does not trouble the devotees of Lord Hanuman, the monkey God and an avatar of Lord Shiva. Therefore, worshipping Hanuman will also help to a great extent in averting the negative energies from planet Saturn.
There are several mantras and slokas praising Lord Shani like Shani Kavach, Shani Gayatri Mantra, Shani Moola Mantra, Shani Sloka, Shani Beeja Mantra.
There are various temples dedicated to Shani. The most important ones are the Saneeswara Bhagavan Temple at Tirunallar in Tamil Nadu, Yerdanur Shani Temple in Telangana and Bannanje Shri Shani Kshetra in Karnataka.
The sacred scriptures prescribe fire ceremony, Abishekam (hydration ceremony), Pooja/Archana (Light and Sound ceremony), Yantra and Mantra (special sounds) as the ways to offer your prayer to the divine. Out of these, fire ceremony is the most evolved spiritual technology on earth to connect with the divine beings. Participate in the remedial services to clear your karma and receive the blessings.
