In Vedic astrology Shani (Saturn) is the planet of discipline, time, duty and consequence. He is also a deity in the Puranic tradition, the son of Surya (the Sun) and Chhaya. The popular reputation of Shani is harsher than the texts; the classical image is of a slow, just teacher who rewards patience and honest work. The Saturday puja is a way of asking for steadiness during a difficult period, and many people keep it in the years Saturn transits their Moon sign or during the Saturn period (dasha) in the chart. You can read more on the Saturn Mahadasha guide. No chart placement guarantees any outcome, and this page does not claim that worship will change one.
Timing
The puja is kept on Saturday, often in the evening or at sunrise, so no tithi calculation is needed. Shani Jayanti, his birth day, falls on the new Moon of the month of Jyeshtha. Saturday evenings with a Pradosh are also favoured (see the Pradosh vrat). The Pradosh Vrat page and the city pages such as New Delhi and London show those days. The any-city tool will do any other city. We do not state dates here.
Samagri: what to gather
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Picture or iron idol of Shani, or a visit to a Shani temple | The place of worship |
| Mustard or sesame oil in a small lamp | Lit before Shani or under a peepal tree |
| Black sesame seeds (til) | Offered |
| Blue or black flowers, such as shankhpushpi or dark flowers | Offered |
| Black or dark blue cloth | Offered in some families |
| Urad dal, or khichdi | Food offered or given |
| Incense and a small bell | Worship |
| Iron item such as a nail or bowl, in some traditions | Given in charity |
Steps in order
- Wake early on Saturday, bathe and put on clean, dark or plain clothes.
- Set up a small altar or go to a temple. Light a lamp with mustard or sesame oil.
- Offer black sesame, flowers and incense, and chant Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah or a verse of your choice.
- Many families recite the Hanuman Chalisa on Saturday, as Hanuman is described in tradition as protecting his devotees from Shani’s difficulty.
- Read or listen to the katha.
- Keep the fast through the day, or eat one meal in the evening.
- Give something to those in need, such as oil, food, blankets or work, to a worker or an elderly person. This is the heart of the observance in many families.
- Light a lamp under a peepal tree in the evening, if there is one near you.
The katha
A traditional story tells of King Vikramaditya, the just ruler of Ujjain. The planets were debating who was greatest, and Shani said he was. Vikramaditya was asked to judge, and ranked them by their metals, putting Shani last, with iron. Shani, offended, said that he would come into the king’s life for a period of seven and a half years, and the king agreed.
Over that time, the king lost his throne, his hands and feet were cut off after a false accusation, and he lived as an oil-presser’s helper in a distant town. Through all of it he remained patient and truthful. When the period ended, Shani appeared and said that the king had borne it with grace, restored his limbs and his kingdom, and told him that those who remember him with humility are not harmed by him. The king ordered that Shani be honoured in his realm. The story is a parable of patience, and tellings differ.
Regional variations
Customs differ by region and family; follow your family’s custom. In Maharashtra, the Shani Shingnapur temple is an important centre. In Tamil Nadu, Thirunallar is a well-known Shani temple, and lamps of sesame oil are a common offering there. Some families do not keep a fast and only light a lamp and do charity.
Fasting and health
Many keep a day-long fast, or one meal without salt in the evening. You do not need to fast to worship. If you are pregnant, diabetic, unwell, or on regular medication, please consult a doctor, and eat when needed. Helping someone in need on Saturday is a fully accepted form of the vrat.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Is Shani to be feared?
Popular belief is harsher than the texts. Shani is described as a stern but fair teacher of discipline. A difficult period in a chart is a time to be steady and honest, and it is not a sentence.
↳ Why oil and sesame?
Mustard oil and black sesame are associated with Saturn in tradition, and a lamp of sesame oil is a common offering.
↳ Why do people recite the Hanuman Chalisa on Saturday?
Tradition tells that Hanuman is a protector of those who remember him, and that Shani respects him. Many families sing the Chalisa on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
↳ Should I wear blue or black?
Many wear dark or plain colours in Shani's honour, but this is a custom and not a rule. Clean, simple clothes are enough.