Shani Jayanti 2023: Celebrating the Birth of Lord Shani

Shani Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Lord Shani. It is also known as Shani Amavasya. Lord Shani is the son of Lord Surya and rules planet Saturn and weekday Saturday. Shani Jayanti is observed on Amavasya Tithi during Jyeshtha month.

Shani Jayanti coincides with Vat Savitri Vrat which is observed during Jyeshtha Amavasya in most North Indian states. On Shani Jayanti devotees keep fast or Upvaas to propitiate Lord Shani and visit Shani temples to seek the blessing of Lord Shani. It is believed that Lord Shani believes in fair justice and if appeased blesses His devotee with good luck and fortune. People, who do not have the blessing of Lord Shani, toil for years without getting any reward for their hard work in life.

It is a very appropriate day to perform Hawan, Homam, and Yagya to appease Lord Shani. Shani Tailabhishekam and Shani Shanti Puja are the most important ceremonies performed during Shani Jayanti. The above ceremonies are performed to lessen the effect of Shani Dosha, which is popularly known as Sade Sati, in the Horoscope.

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Importance of Shani Jayanti

Lord Shani is the deity of the planet Saturn and Saturday. Saturn is considered the slowest moving planet as per celestial movements. Hence, Astrologically there is a vital and huge significance to where this planet is positioned in an individual’s birth chart. Saturn is usually regarded as a planet that has malefic effects on the lives of the natives and thus people are scared of it.

But the fact is that this slow-moving planet is the planet of Karma. It offers success only to people who have undergone penance, hardships, and struggle and worked in their lives through hard work, discipline, and sincere efforts. Whether an individual will be blessed or will be prone to bad luck, depends upon his/her deeds done in the past and the present lives.

Lord Shani is fair and gives the natives the result of their own Karma. Shani is considered the Lord of the West and he is also famous by various other names including Sauri, Manda, Neel, Yama, Kapilaksha, and Chhata Sunu.

It is believed that all individuals go through a phase of Shani Sade Sati once in their life when they experience the most complex struggles of their life. However, if your deeds are good then Lord Shani will bestow his blessings during this period helping you to attain success and get relieved from such pain and hardships.

Devotees worship and offer prayers to Lord Shani to please him and alleviate its malefic effects. People facing Sade Sati should offer regular prayers to the deity. By fasting on the day of Shani Jayanti and visiting the temples of Lord Shani, devotees are bestowed with good fortune.

The Mythology of Shani Dev

Hindu mythology states that the Sun God and Chhaya, his wife, are Shani Dev’s parents. Shani Dev’s association with and his birth were not smooth with his father. Because of Shani Dev’s dark complexion, Surya Dev did not accept his son and grew bitter with time. Since Surya Dev did not accept Shani Dev, he experienced rejection as a child. 

Besides, Shani Dev’s anger, harsh behaviour, and bitterness towards his father became his personality’s key characteristic as he harboured a profound grudge against Surya Dev. Shani Dev earned a reputation as the deity punishing those who had made mistakes with time and providing justice to the truth. It is believed that the father’s rejection and the pain he experienced as a kid gave rise to his harsh and unyielding personality.

Although both deities’ relationship was challenging, people still worshipped them for their powers. Surya Dev is honoured for his ability to provide the world with life and light, while Shani Dev assists people in obtaining justice and overcoming their obstacles. The concept of karma is associated with Shani Dev, which emphasizes that each act has repercussions and that people should endure the effects of their deeds.

Shani Dev also symbolizes fortitude and tenacity and urges people to meet their obstacles and keep moving forward with perseverance and strength, similar to how the planet Saturn travels slowly but steadily. 

Shani Jayanti Celebrations 

Date and timing of Shani Jayanti 2023

• Date – May 19, 2023
• Day – Friday
• Beginning of Amavasya tithi – May 18, 2023, from 09:42 PM
• The ending of Amavasya tithi – May 19, 2023, from 09:22 PM 

Rituals and Customs Observed

In Navagraha or Shani temples, people typically execute a specific yajna, Puja ceremony, or Homa on Shani Jayanti. The believers clean the divine idol and the puja place when beginning the rituals. Water, panchamrit, Gangajal, and oil are used for cleaning.

Navratna Haar is offered to the idol a neckpiece made of nine priceless jewels to start the puja. Devotees chant Shani Strotra or Shani Path to succeed in life by pleasing Shani Dev.

Special prayers and offerings made to Shani Dev

During Shani Jayanti, devotees don dark clothing, mustard oil, and sesame seeds to free their lives from difficulties and challenges. Also, visiting Shani Temples to make offerings of black til seeds and oil plays a significant role in honouring Shani Dev. Many devotees also repeat the Shani Dev Mantra eleven thousand times.

Shlokas and Mantras

Shani Beej Mantra

“Om Pram Prim Prom Sah Shanaye Namah”

Maha Mantra

“Om nilanjana samabhasam

Ravi putram yamagrajam

Cahaya martanda samhubhutam

Tama namami Shanescharam“

Shani Gayatri Mantra

“Om Sanaischaraya Vidmahe Sooryaputraya Dheemahi

Tanno Manda Prachodayata”

Significance of fasting on Shani Jayanti

Fasting on Shani Jayanti is observed to appease Lord Shani through prayers, and Shani temple visits are believed to bring them good luck and abundance. According to popular belief, Shani’s placement and other navgraha’s position must be favorable in the horoscope so that one’s efforts are rewarded in this existence. People follow a strict fast until evening puja and don’t consume food or water. 

They also feed animals, particularly cows or black dogs. Fast and conducting puja, or visiting Shani Dev’s temples on Shani Jayanti, is believed to purify the bodies and minds, teach self-control, and bolster the spiritual practices of devotees. These techniques aid in achieving fulfillment and success in one’s life. 

Astrological significance of Shani Jayanti

Understanding the effects of Saturn’s placement in one’s horoscope

• According to Hindu astrology, the planet Saturn linked with Shani Dev, substantially influences a person’s life. 
• A person’s job, relationships, health, and eventual effectiveness are all thought to be influenced by Saturn’s position in their horoscope.
• Positive effects
• Saturn planet represents perseverance, discipline, and hard labor, and its position in a person’s horoscope could support the development of these qualities.
• The planet is linked to spiritual development and may guide people to discover existence’s purpose and significance more deeply.
• A powerful and well-positioned Saturn could bring success, stability, and prosperity into one’s existence.

Negative effects

• An afflicted or weak Saturn may cause difficulties, setbacks, and disruptions in a person’s life, particularly regarding work, relationships, and money. 
• When Saturn is poorly positioned in someone’s horoscope, it may cause isolation, depression, and negative feelings.
• The placement of Saturn in a person’s horoscope could cause difficult and conflicting times since the planet is linked to limitations, restrictions, and hardships.

Remedies and precautions to overcome Saturn’s negative influence

• A few practices will reduce the harmful effects of Saturn in one’s life:
• Regularly chant the Shani mantra.
• Reciting Shani Chalisa with complete devotion and faith will help eliminate Saturn’s effects.
• Ear urad dal on Saturdays
• Feeding Kachori and jalebi to the physically challenged or needy will help you win Shani Dev’s graces.
• Regularly offer prayers to Shani yantra. 

Role of Shani Jayanti in seeking blessings for success, prosperity, and well-being

It is considered the most auspicious period for asking for favours for success, well-being, and wealth. Adhering to rituals and traditions is believed to honour and appease Shani Dev and obtain his blessings on Shani Jayanti.

Lord Shani is revered as karma and justice’s rigorous enforcer, and you may succeed in overcoming challenges and achieving wealth by getting Shani Dev’s graces.

Conclusion

Shani Jayanti is significant today when individuals must overcome many difficulties and hurdles. It is a chance to seek out Lord Shani, the justice’s deity, for his graces and eliminate Saturn’s unfavourable influences in someone’s life. This festival is an excellent moment to control oneself, improve spiritual practices, and ask for graces for success, wealth, and happiness.

People could gain a greater appreciation for the justice, dedication, work, and effort’s value in their existence by adhering to the rituals and traditions associated with Shani Jayanti. Besides, this festival is a chance to reflect, ask for atonement for wrongdoings, and begin the path to a happier and more successful life. With SmartPuja, you can perform every ritual and tradition of Shani Jayanti properly and get assistance on the strict rules to be followed while observing fast, conducting puja and homam, or other associated rituals.

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