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(Redirected from Neela (goddess)) Hindu deity associated with Saturn For other uses, see Shani (disambiguation).

Shani
Saturn
Depiction of Shani from the 1842 book The Complete Hindoo Pantheon by E. A. Rodrigues
Other namesShanishvara, Chhayasutha, Pingala, Kokan, Kakadhvaja, Konastha, Babhru, Raudra, Raudrantaka, Shanescharam, Sauri, Manda, Krishna, Pipplayshraya, Raviputram, Antak
Devanagariशनि
AffiliationNavagraha
AbodeShaniloka
PlanetSaturn
Mantra"Om Kakadhvajaya
Vidmahe
Khadga Hastaya
Dhimahi
Tanno Mandah Prachodayat" and
"Om Shan Shanishvaraya Namaha"
WeaponSceptre, Trident, Axe
TreeJammi/Peepal/Shami/ Khejri or Ghaf tree.
DaySaturday
ColorBlack
Number8,17 and 26
MountBuffalo, Lion, Deer, Donkey, Horse, Dog (in animals) Crow and Vulture (in birds)
TextsBrahma Vaivarta Purana, Harivamsa
GenderMale
Genealogy
Parents
SiblingsTapati, Savarni Manu, Yama, Yami, Ashvins, Shraddhadeva Manu, Revanta, Sugriva and Karna
ConsortManda and Neela
OffspringMandi and Kuligna
Equivalents
EtruscanSatre
GreekCronus
NorseNjörðr
RomanSaturn

Shani (Sanskrit: शनि, IAST: Śani), or Shanaishchara (Sanskrit: शनैश्चर, IAST: Śanaiścara), is the divine personification of the planet Saturn in Hinduism, and is one of the nine heavenly objects (Navagraha) in Hindu astrology. Shani is also a male Hindu deity in the Puranas, whose iconography consists of a figure with a dark complexion carrying a sword or danda (sceptre) and sitting on a buffalo or some times on a crow. He is the god of karma, justice, and retribution, and delivers results depending upon one's thoughts, speech, and deeds. Shani is the controller of longevity, misery, sorrow, old age, discipline, restriction, responsibility, delays, ambition, leadership, authority, humility, integrity, and wisdom born of experience. He also signifies spiritual asceticism, penance, discipline, and conscientious work. He is associated with two consorts: Neela, the personification of the gemstone sapphire, and Manda, a gandharva princess.

Planet

Shani as a planet appears in various Hindu astronomical texts in Sanskrit, such as the 5th-century Aryabhatiya by Aryabhatta, the 6th-century Romaka by Latadeva and Pancha Siddhantika by Varahamihira, the 7th-century Khandakhadyaka by Brahmagupta and the 8th-century Sisyadhivrddida by Lalla. These texts present Shani as one of the planets and estimate the characteristics of the respective planetary motion. Other texts such as Surya Siddhanta (dated to sometime between the 5th and 10th century) present their chapters on various planets as divine knowledge linked to deities.

The manuscripts of these texts exist in slightly different versions, suggesting that the texts were open and revised over time. The versions disagree in their measurements of Shani's revolutions, apogee, epicycles, nodal longitudes, orbital inclination, and other parameters. For example, both Khandakhadyaka and Surya Siddhanta of Varaha state that Shani completes 146,564 revolutions on its own axis every 4,320,000 earth years, an Epicycle of Apsis as 60 degrees, and had an apogee (aphelia) of 240 degrees in 499 CE; while another manuscript of Soorya Siddhantha revises the revolutions to 146,568, the apogee to 236 degrees and 37 seconds and the Epicycle to about 49 degrees.

The 1st-millennium-CE Hindu scholars had estimated the time it took for sidereal revolutions of each planet including Shani, from their astronomical studies, with slightly different results:

Sanskrit texts: How many days does it take for Shani (Saturn) to complete its orbit?
Source Estimated time per sidereal revolution
Surya Siddhanta 10,765 days, 18 hours, 33 minutes, 13.6 seconds
Siddhanta Shiromani 10,765 days, 19 hours, 33 minutes, 56.5 seconds
Ptolemy 10,758 days, 17 hours, 48 minutes, 14.9 seconds
20th-century calculations 10,759 days, 5 hours, 16 minutes, 32.2 seconds

Iconography

Shani by Raja Ravi Varma
Shani wayside shrine between Dharamsala and Chandigarh, 2010

Shani is depicted wearing blue or black robes, having a dark complexion and riding a vulture or on an iron chariot drawn by eight horses. He holds in his hands a bow, an arrow, an axe and a trident. He is canonically represented riding on a large crow or vulture which follows him wherever he goes. Some Hindu texts also depict him riding other animals such as a horse, a snake or a buffalo, while Buddhist texts from Northeastern India and Nepal uniformly represent him mounted on a tortoise.

Shani is believed to be an incarnation of Krishna, on the authority of Brahma Vaivarta Purana where Krishna says that he is "Shani among planets". He is also called Saneeswar, meaning "Lord of Saturn", and is designated the task of granting the fruits of one's actions, thus becoming the most feared amongst Hindu astrological gods. He is often the most misunderstood deity in the Hindu Pantheon as he is said to cause persistent chaos in one's life, and is known to be milder if worshipped.

Shani is the root for name for the day Saturday in many other Indian languages. In modern Hindi, Odia, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Urdu, Kannada and Gujarati, Saturday is called Shanivaar; Tamil: Sani kizhamai; Malayalam: Shaniyazhcha; Thai: Wạn s̄eār̒ (วันเสาร์).

Calendar

Shani is the basis for Shanivara – one of the seven days that make a week in the Hindu calendar. This day corresponds to Saturday – after Saturn – in the Greco-Roman convention for naming the days of the week. Shani is considered to be the most malefic planet that brings restrictions and misfortunes.

Shani is part of the Navagraha in the Hindu zodiac system. It is considered malefic, associated with spiritual asceticism, penance, discipline and conscientious work. The role and importance of the Navagraha developed over time with various influences. Deifying planetary bodies and their astrological significance occurred as early as the Vedic period and was recorded in the Vedas. The earliest work of astrology recorded in India is the Vedanga Jyotisha which began to be compiled in the 14th century BCE. It was possibly based on works from the Indus Valley Civilization as well as various foreign influences.

The Navagraha developed from early works of astrology over time. Saturn and various classical planets were referenced in the Atharvaveda around 1000 BCE. The Navagraha was furthered by additional contributions from Western Asia, including Zoroastrian and Hellenistic influences. The Yavanajataka, or 'Science of the Yavanas', was written by the Indo-Greek named "Yavanesvara" ("Lord of the Greeks") under the rule of the Western Kshatrapa king Rudrakarman I. The Yavanajataka written in 120 CE is often attributed to standardizing Indian astrology. The Navagraha would further develop and culminate in the Shaka era with the Saka or Scythian people. Additionally the contributions by the Saka people would be the basis of the Indian national calendar, which is also called the Saka calendar.

The Hindu calendar is a Lunisolar calendar which records both lunar and solar cycles. Like the Navagraha, it was developed with the successive contributions of various works.

Planet Shani rules over both zodiac signs, Capricorn and Aquarius, two of the twelve constellations in the zodiac system of Hindu astrology. If Shani rules over one's zodiac sign, it is said that one must wear a ring with a stone made of Blue Sapphire.

Deity

Shani is a deity in medieval-era texts, who is considered inauspicious and is feared for delivering misfortune and loss to those who deserve it. He is also capable of conferring boons and blessings to the worthy, depending upon their karma. In medieval Hindu literature, he is mainly referred to as the son of Surya and Chhaya, or in a few accounts as the son of Balarama and Revati. His alternate names include Ara, Kona and Kroda. According to some Hindu texts, the "pipal" or fig tree is the abode of Shani (while other texts associate the same tree with Vasudeva). He is also believed to be the greatest teacher who rewards righteous acts and punishes those who follow the path of evil, Adharma and betrayal. Shanidev is a great devotee of Lord Shiva.

Statue of Shani in Bannanje, Udupi, Karnataka

In 2013, a 20-foot-tall statue of Lord Shani was established at Yerdanur in the mandal of Sangareddy, Medak district, Telangana, nearly 40 kilometers from Hyderabad city. It was carved from a monolith and weighs about nine tonnes.

Mantra translation

Shani's mantra is depicted here in Sanskrit and English:

Sanskrit: ॐ काकध्वजाय विद्महे खड्ग हस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो मंदः प्रचोदयात् ।

Transliteration: "Om kākadhvajāya vidmahe khaḍgahastāya dhīmahi tanno mandaḥ pracodayāt.''

Translation: Om, Let me meditate on him who has crow in his flag, Oh, He who has a sword in his hand, give me higher intellect, And let Saneeswara illuminate my mind.

Sanskrit: ॐ नीलांजन समाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम् छाया मार्तांड संभूतं त्वां नमामि शनीश्वरम् ।

Transliteration: "Om nīlāñjana samābhāsaṁ raviputraṁ yamāgrajam chāyā mārtāṇḍa saṁbhūtaṁ tvāṁ namāmi śanīśvaram"

Translation: O Lord, You are like the Blue Sapphire and You admire the Blue Sapphire, You are the son of Lord Surya, and Brother of Lord Yama. You are the son of Lord Surya and Goddess Chhaya, I bow to you Lord of Planet Saturn.

Dedicated Day

On Saturdays, it is believed that one should worship Lord Shani to keep oneself away from evil and to reduce the hardships of life as he blesses those who willingly and voluntarily donate to the poor without seeking anything in return.

Shani statue at Naksaal Bhagwati Temple

Shani puja is usually done to keep one safe from Lord Shani's malefic effects.

Shani temples across India

See also: List of Natchathara temples and List of Hindu temples
Vigraha of Shani Dev at Shingnapur Shani Temple
Entrance of a Shani temple in Jammu

Shani temples are found in more populated areas of India, such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Puducherry/Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Shani Shingnapur Dham in particular is a famous holy place associated with Shani. Shani Shinganapur or Shingnapur is a village in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated in Nevasa taluka in Ahmednagar district, the village is known for its popular temple of Shani. Shingnapur is 35 km from Ahmednagar city.

More common than Shani temples are artwork related to the deity, which are found in all types of temples of various traditions within Hinduism, mostly connected to Shaivism. The popularity of praying to Shani, especially on Saturdays, has increased gradually over the years.

See also

Notes

  1. Translation: Om, Let me meditate on him who has crow in his flag, Oh, He who has a sword in his hand, give me higher intellect, And let Shanishvara illuminate my mind.: "Gāyatri Mantras of Several Gods - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia". Hindupedia.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  2. "Shani Mantra". 27 June 2021.
  3. "Significance of Colors in Astrological Remedies". Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. "Planet Saturn (Shani) in Astrology". www.rudraksha-center.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  5. ^ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 373. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
  6. ^ Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 608–609. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4.
  7. Felony Disenfranchisement: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO), 9 September 2018, archived from the original on 19 December 2021, retrieved 27 October 2018
  8. Saxena, Archit (13 April 2020). Durga : A Governing Mother: Mother-Son Duo logy Book - 2. Archit Saxena.
  9. "Why Was Shani Dev Cursed By His Wife?". in.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  10. ^ Burgess, Ebenezer (1989). Ganguly, P; Sengupta, P (eds.). Sûrya-Siddhânta: A Text-book of Hindu Astronomy. Motilal Banarsidass (Reprint), Original: Yale University Press, American Oriental Society. pp. vii–xi. ISBN 978-81-208-0612-2.
  11. Aryabhatta (1973). H. Kern (ed.). The Aryabhatiya (in Sanskrit and English). Brill Archive. pp. 6, 21.
  12. Chatterjee, Bina (1970). The Khandakhadyaka (an astronomical treatise) of Brahmagupta: with the commentary of Bhattotpala (in Sanskrit). Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 75–77, 40, 69. OCLC 463213346.
  13. Burgess, Ebenezer (1989). Ganguly, P; Sengupta, P (eds.). Sûrya-Siddhânta: A Text-book of Hindu Astronomy. Motilal Banarsidass (Reprint), Original: Yale University Press, American Oriental Society. pp. ix–xi. ISBN 978-81-208-0612-2.
  14. Burgess, Ebenezer (1989). Ganguly, P; Sengupta, P (eds.). Soorya-Siddhânta: A Text-book of Hindu Astronomy. Motilal Banarsidass (Edited and Reprinted), Original: Yale University Press, American Oriental Society. pp. ix–x. ISBN 978-81-208-0612-2.
  15. ^ Burgess, Ebenezer (1989). Ganguly, P; Sengupta, P (eds.). Soorya-Siddhânta: A Text-book of Hindu Astronomy. Motilal Banarsidass (Reprint), Original: Yale University Press, American Oriental Society. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-81-208-0612-2.
  16. Williams, Matt (17 April 2017). "The Orbit of Saturn. How Long is a Year on Saturn?". Universe Today. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
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  24. Backlund, Roya (4 November 2020). "Every Zodiac Sign Has A Ruling Planet & This Is Yours". Elite Daily. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  25. "Lucky Stone by Date of Birth - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  26. Jordan, Michael (2014). Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses. Infobase Publishing. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-4381-0985-5.
  27. Dowson, John (2013). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. Routledge. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-136-39029-6.
  28. Haberman, David L. (2013). People Trees: Worship of Trees in Northern India. Oxford University Press. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-19-992916-0.
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  36. "10 Most Important Shrines and Temples Of God Shanidev". 3 February 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.

Further reading

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