INTRODUCTION
Shanidev refers to the planet Saturn, and is one of the important Navagraha in Hinduism. He is the god for Saturday as per Hindu calendar. Shani is also referred in the Puranas and in vedic texts and his mount is crow. He is the God of Justice in Hindu religion and will give favourable or unfavourable results to all, depending upon on our good and bad karma. He is the son of Lord Surya and goddess Chaya. His wives are Manda and Neela Devi. His sons are Maandhi and Kuligan.
Some people consider Lord Shani as highly inauspicious and for giving bad results in life. That is not correct, he is the justice god and always will do goodness in our life, if we have sincere bhakti on god and if we do good things in our life. Based on our past and present, good and bad deeds, he will deliver positive or negative effects in our life.
Few years ago, a tall statue of Lord Shani was installed at Medak district, nearby Hyderabad. It is worshiped by the people from all parts of india. Shani Singnapur temple is a very famous temple situated in Ahmed Nagar, Maharashtra.
In Tamilnadu, Thirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar temple is very famous for worshiping Lord Shani, in order to get rid of our sins and to get prosperity in our life. Kuchanur temple at Theni district is also a famous temple where suyambu idol of Lord shani is present. In Chennai also some famous shani temples are there. Among that, Pozhichallur Shaneeswarar is very famous, which is situated nearby pallavaram.
IMPORTANCE
Shanidev is the most powerful god, among all the other navagrahas. He will be pleased by wearing black clothes on Saturday and by doing abhiskham to him in sesame oil on Saturdays. We should worship him in the respective temples meant for him or otherwise we can worship him in the navagraha shrine of the shiva temples. Blue coloured flowers are offered to him. He loves black and his favourite food item include black sesame laddus prepared with jaggery and black pulses are also offered as naivedyam (Prasad) to him.
There is no need to avoid him with regard to worship, he is a god of justice. He is watching us in every moment of our life by calculating our good and bad karma, accordingly giving the good and bad results to us. Let us always do good things in our life, and worship Lord Shanidev and live happily for ever.
“OM SREE SHANI DEVAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY R.HARISHANKAR
