2023 Shani Jayanti

Shani Jayanti 2023- Significance and Rituals

About Shani Jayanti

The festival of Shani Jayanti or Shri Shanaishcar Janma Diwas is celebrated in the honor of Lord Shani (Saturn) as it is regarded as the birth anniversary of the deity. On this particular day, at various places, women also observe a fast of Vat Savitri.

When is Shani Jayanti 2023?

As per the Hindu calendar 2023, Shani Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Jyestha on Amavasya Tithi. According to the Gregorian calendar 2023, the day falls in the month of May or June.

Visit choghadiya for Shani Jayanti puja muhurta.

Shani Puja Muhurat and Tithi 2023. On Shani Jayanti visit panchang to know the amavasya tithi begins and amavasya tithi ends timing.

What is the story behind Shani Jayanti?

As per HIndu texts, Shani Dev is the son of Lord Surya and Devi Chaaya, the shadow of the wife of Lord Surya, Devi Saranyu. It is said that Devi Sarnyu could not bear the heat and brightness of Lord Surya and left him. She went away for Penance and left her Shadow Chaaya to take her place. As Shani Dev was born during the time when Devi Chaaya was in severe penance meditating Lord Shiva, he was born dark. The dark complexion of Lord Shani made Lord Surya doubt over the chastity of Chaaya and he used to insult her. 

It is said that once infuriated by the insults of Lord Surya, Lord Shani casted cruel gaze on him due to which he got burnt and his complexion turned to black. At that time, Lord Shiva healed Lord Surya and unraveled the truth of Chaaya and Lord Shani’s birth. Also, Lord Shiva blessed Lord Shani with greats powers and authority to punish people for their wrong and evil deeds. 

What is the Significance of Shani Jayanti?

Lord Shani is the deity of planet Saturn and Saturday. Saturn is considered as the slowest moving planet as per celestial movements. Hence, Astrologically there is a vital and huge significance about where this planet is positioned in an individual’ s birth chart. Saturn is usually regarded as a planet which 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 life 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 just and fair and gives the natives the result of their own Karma. Shani is considered as the Lord of the West and he is also popular 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 lifetime and that is the time 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.

Hence, Hindus tend to 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.

Also See: Check Effects of Saturn Retrograde

What are the Rituals of Shani Jayanti?

On Shani Jayanti, various rituals are performed in different parts of India. As per Hindu scriptures, the main rituals that are observed on Shani Jayanti are:

• On the day of Shani Jayanti, devotees perform a special Puja ceremony, Yajna, or Homa which are usually conducted in Shani temples or Navagraha temples.
• Before initiating with the rituals, the devotees clean the place of worship and also the idol of the deity. Cleaning is done with water, oil, panchamrit and Gangajal.
• The idol is adorned with a neck piece comprising the nine precious gems known as Navratna Haar and after that puja is commenced.
• In order to please the deity and attain success in life, devotees recite Shani Path or Shani Strotra.
• Devotees are also required to make donations of mustard oil, sesame seeds, and black colored clothes on the day of Shani Jayanti to live a life free from obstacles and hurdles.
• People also observe a strict fast and feed animals especially black dogs or cows. 
• Some devotees recite Shani Dev Mantras for 11000 times and visit Shani Temples to offer oil and black til seeds. 

Shani Dev Shlokas and Mantras

• Shani Beej Mantra

“Om Pram Prim Prom Sah Shanaye Namah” 

• Shani Gayatri Mantra

“Om Sanaischaraya Vidmahe Sooryaputraya Dheemahi,Tanno Manda Prachodayata”

• Maha Mantra

" Om nilanjana samabhasam | Ravi putram yamagrajam || Cahaya martanda samhubhutam | Tama namami Shanescharam||"

What are the Benefits of Shani Puja?

The malefic gaze of Lord Shani is said to be the cause of grief, dullness, laziness, conservativeness, failures, poverty, delays and all the unfavourable things or adversities. Thus, doing Shani Puja on Shani Jayanti, you may seek his blessings and get all these benefits:

• Relief from malefic effects of Saturn or Saturn cycle called Shani Sade sati in the natal chart.
• Shani Puja is a powerful ritual to pacify all the astrological issues caused by Saturn.
• Natives going through any setbacks and bad luck get relief and peace.
• Shani Puja mitigates the effects of all your evil and wrong deeds. It bestows forgiveness and solace.
• Reduces the punishment inflicted by Lord Shani due to past deeds.
• Improvements in every domain whether its health, finance, career and many more.
• Natives get positive results for their good deeds and get their fair share of their efforts.
• People achieve their goals without any obstruction and achieve success in their endeavours at every aspect of life.