Karmandir 
About
Shani Dev is one of the nine grahas (Navagraha) and the devta of the planet Saturn. He is the son of Surya Dev and Chhaya. Because he moves slowly across the sky, he is called 'Shanaishchar', the slow-moving one. Devotees see him as the god of justice, who gives every person the fruit of their own deeds: strict, but fair. Saturday is his day. In hard times many people pray to him, offer mustard oil and black sesame, and help people in need in his name. Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra, where he is worshipped as a black stone under the open sky, is his best-known shrine.
The story
The Puranas say that Sanjna, the wife of Surya Dev, could not bear his great heat. So she left her shadow, Chhaya, in her place and went away to the forest to do tapasya. Shani Dev was born to Chhaya, which is why he is called 'Chhayaputra', son of the shadow.
A well-known story about Shani Dev is told of King Dasharath of Ayodhya, who later became the father of Shri Ram. Once Guru Vasishtha and the astrologers told the king that Shani was about to cross the Rohini nakshatra, and that when this happens, a terrible famine of twelve years falls on the earth. The king could not bear the thought of his people suffering. He rode his shining chariot up into the sky, all the way to Rohini, and stood in Shani Dev's path with his bow drawn.
Shani Dev was amazed. He said that devas, asuras and humans all feared even his glance, yet this king stood before him without fear, for the sake of his people. Pleased by the king's courage, he offered him a boon. Dasharath asked nothing for himself, only that Shani should never cross Rohini. Shani Dev granted it. Then the king folded his hands and praised him with a hymn that is still recited as the Dasharath Shani Stotra. The story shows that Shani Dev values courage, selflessness and care for others.
How they are shown
Shani Dev has a dark blue-black colour and wears blue or black clothes and a golden crown. He usually rides a crow; some texts describe a vulture or an iron chariot instead. He holds a bow and arrow and a trishul, and one hand is raised in blessing. His serious, steady form reminds devotees that every action brings its result, so they pray to him with humility. At Shani Shingnapur he is worshipped as a tall black stone on an open platform, with no roof above it.
How to worship
Saturday
Mustard oil (poured over the murti or stone), black sesame (til) and black urad; by custom these and iron things are also given in daan
On Saturday, after a bath, light a mustard-oil lamp in the evening before Shani Dev or under a peepal tree. Offer a few black sesame seeds and a little mustard oil, and chant 'Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah' 108 times. You may read the Shani Chalisa and sing the aarti 'Jai Jai Shri Shanidev'. Many devotees also read the Hanuman Chalisa on Saturdays. Devotees believe the worship Shani Dev loves most is honest work and kindness: help the poor, workers and the elderly, and give without expecting anything back.
Their festivals
- Shani Jayanti Jyeshtha Amavasya (purnimant calendar of North India; the same day is Vaishakh Amavasya in the amant calendar)
- Shani Amavasya (Shanishchari Amavasya) Any Amavasya that falls on a Saturday
- Shani Trayodashi (Shani Pradosh) Any Trayodashi that falls on a Saturday
Aarti, chalisa and katha
Temples and tirth
Yantras
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shani
- hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/शनि_(ज्योतिष)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhaya
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shani_Shingnapur
- bhaktibharat.com/katha/rohini-shakat-bhed-dasharath-rachit-shani-stotr…
- hindu-blog.com/2018/05/story-of-king-dashrath-stopping-shani.html
- hindu-blog.com/2007/06/story-of-dasharatha-and-shani-bhagavan.html
- shubhpanchang.com/hi/aarti/shani-dev
- bhaktibharat.com/festival/shani-jayanti
- outlookindia.com/astrology/astro-picks/shani-jayanti-2026-date-time-pu…