Worship of the just judge
Shani is the deity of Saturn and the giver of the fruits of karma, scrupulously fair rather than cruel. His worship is less about asking for favours than about humility: oil offered to him, a lamp under the peepal, honest work, and generosity to the poor and to labourers, whom he is said to protect.
When to do it
- Saturday, especially in the evening after sunset. See Saturday Shani Bhakti.
- Shani Amavasya (a new moon falling on Saturday) and Shani Jayanti (Jyeshtha Amavasya in north India).
- Throughout Sade Sati and Dhaiya.
What you will need
- Mustard oil in a small iron or steel bowl
- Black til (sesame) and black urad
- A blue or black flower, a black cloth
- A mustard-oil lamp (diya)
- Items for charity: oil, black blankets or clothes, footwear, food
Step by step
- Prepare. Bathe and wear clean clothes; dark blue or black are traditional on Saturdays.
- Ganesh first. Bow to Ganesha.
- At a Shani temple: pour mustard oil over the black stone or iron image, and offer black til, urad and a blue flower. At home, offer these before a picture kept outside the main shrine, as many families do.
- Look at his feet. By custom, devotees worship Shani standing slightly to the side and keep their eyes on his feet rather than meeting his gaze.
- Peepal lamp. At dusk, light a mustard-oil lamp under a peepal tree and offer water at its root. See Peepal Jal Arpan; tending a Shami tree is another of his remedies.
- Mantra. Chant the Shani mantra or the Shani Gayatri Mantra 108 times.
- Path. Read the Shani Chalisa.
- Aarti. Sing the Shani Dev Aarti.
- Hanuman. Read the Hanuman Chalisa; tradition says Shani does not trouble Hanuman's devotees.
- Charity. Give oil, food, black clothes or footwear to someone in need. This is considered the heart of Shani worship.
Things to keep in mind
- Many families do not keep a Shani murti in the home shrine and worship him at a temple or under the peepal instead. This is a widespread custom, not a scriptural rule.
- On Saturdays, devotees traditionally avoid buying oil, iron or black items for themselves, though giving them away is encouraged.
- Shani is pleased by honesty, hard work and fair treatment of workers and the poor. These count for more than any ritual.
Frequently asked questions
Why is mustard oil offered to Shani Dev?
A popular story says Hanuman soothed Shani's injuries with oil after freeing him from Ravana's captivity, and oil has been his offering ever since.
Can Shani Dev be worshipped at home?
Yes, with a picture, a lamp, the chalisa and the mantra. Many families keep his picture outside the main shrine and do the oil offering at a temple.
What helps during Sade Sati?
Saturday worship, the peepal lamp, the Hanuman Chalisa, charity to the poor, and steady honest work are the most widely recommended remedies.
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