Shani Dav

The word shani also denotes the seventh day or Saturday in most Indian languages. The word shani(शनि) comes from Śanayē Kramati Saḥ (शनये क्रमति सः), the one who moves slowly, because Saturn takes about 30 years to revolve around the Sun.

Shani is a deva and son of Surya and his wife Chhaya, hence also known as Chayyaputra. He is the elder brother of Yama, the Hindu god of death, who in some scriptures corresponds to the deliverance of justice. Surya's two sons Shani and Yama judge. Shani gives us the results of one's deeds through one's life through appropriate punishments and rewards; Yama grants the results of one's deeds after death.^[1]

It is said that when Shani opened his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an eclipse, which clearly denotes the impact of Shani on astrological charts. He is known as the greatest teacher and well wisher for the righteous as well the greatest punisher for those who follow the path of evil, betrayal, backstabbing and unjust revenge. He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and mounted on a crow, which is Shani's vāhana. As protector of property, Shani is able to repress the thieving tendencies of birds.

निलाञ्जन-समाभासं रवि-पुत्रं यमाग्रजम् ।

छाया-मार्ताण्ड-संभूतं तं नमामि शनैश्चरम् ॥

nilāñjana-samābhāsaṃ ravi-putraṃ yamāgrajam,

chāyā-mārtāṇḍa-saṃbhūtaṃ taṃ namāmi śanaiścaram

सूर्य-पुत्रो दीर्घ-देहो विशालाक्षः शिव-प्रियः ।

मन्द-चारः प्रसन्नात्मा पीडां हरतु मे शनिः ॥

sūrya-putro dīrgha-deho viśālākṣaḥ śiva-priyaḥ,

manda-cāraḥ prasannātmā pīḍāṃ haratu me śaniḥ

ॐ निलान्जनम समाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम।

छायामार्तंड संभूतं तं नमामि शनैश्चरम॥

ॐ शनैश्वराय नमः॥

सूर्य पुत्रो दीर्घ देहो विशालाक्षः शिवप्रियः।

मन्दचारः प्रसन्नात्मा पीडां हरतु मे शनिः॥

कोणस्थ पिंगलो ब्रभू कृष्णो रौद्रो दंतको यमः।

सौरिः शनैश्वरो मन्दः पिप्पालोद्तः संस्तुतः॥

एतानि दशनामानी प्रातः रुत्थाय य पठेतः।

शनैश्वर कृता पिडा न कदाचित भविष्यती॥

Om Neelaanjanam Sambhasam Raviputram Yamagrajam|

Chayaamartand Sambhootam Tam Namaami Shanaischaram|| (Repeat Twice)

Om Shanaischaraay Namah|| (Repeat Twice)

Surya Putro Dheergh Deho Vishaalaakshah Shivapriyaah|

Mandacharah Prasannaatma Peedam Haratu Mein Shanih|| (Repeat Twice)

KoNasth Pingalo Prabhoo KrushNo Roudro Dantako Yamah|

Sauriah Shanaischaro Mandah Pippaalodatah Samstutah|| (Repeat Twice)

Aetaani Dashanaamaanee Pratah Ruthaay Ya Patethah|

Shanaischar Krutaa Peeda Na Kadaachit Bhavishyati|| (Repeat Twice)