What We Should Do On Shani Amavasya?

Shani Amavasya is dedicated to Shani (Saturn), who is also called Shanishwara and Chaya Putra. This day is auspicious for many Hindus. People who have Shani Dosha, Sade Sati, and Mahadasha in their natal charts can perform the Shani Amavasya Pooja on this day to appease Shani and avoid evil effects. Shani is one of the most powerful ‘grahas’ in Hindu astrology. On this day, people donate to the needy. Shani blesses those who are not greedy and live a righteous life. Shani Amavasya Pooja is performed to remove evils from one’s life. 

People who are going through Sade Sati or Saturn cycle in their life observe Vrat or fast and pray to Shani on this day. Devotees perform all the rituals related to Saturn devotedly as he is known for his aggressive nature. The position of Shani in the horoscope and that of the other navagrahas should be favorable so that one’s hard work brings results. One of the main temples to celebrate this auspicious day is the Shani Shingnapur Shaneshwara Mandir in Maharashtra.

Shani Jayanti: Significance and Importance

Shani is a great leveller. Rich or poor, educated or ignorant, all are equal in the eyes of Shani. There is a general perception that Shani is aggressive and wrathful. Shani does create havoc in our lives, but it is for karmic reasons. If one has done evil deeds, Shani makes sure they pay for their sins. A person’s success or failure depends on the placement of Saturn in their natal chart. 
Also, it is not true that misfortune happens due to Shani. Shani gives blessings to those who work hard and persevere. Vedic scriptures say that Shani is the son of Surya (Sun God) and Chhaya. Chhaya was the shadow of Surya’s first wife, Sanjana, who created her as a proxy as she could not bear her husband’s radiance. Shani is the god who disciplines and punishes us for our evil deeds and the one who delivers justice and inflicts hardships.

Shani Amavasya 2021 is the no moon day (Amavasya) that falls on a Saturday. Hindus worship ‘pitrus’ on this day and also perform Tarpan and Shraadh for dead kin. Performing Pooja and daan on this day can reduce the ill effects of Pitru dosha and Kaalsarp dosha. Fasting on this day is beneficial as it can please Shani. In a year, there may be around 2-3 Shani Amavasya days. 
Praying to Shani on Shani Amavasya can nullify the adverse influence of Shani in one’s horoscope. If Shani is not favorable in your horoscope, there will be many adverse events in all aspects of your life. Devotees recite mantras for Shani Dev and pray throughout the day and also observe a fast which is broken after sunset by eating rice with sesame seeds or black urad dal. Those who are going through Sade Sati or Shani Mahadasha can observe vrat and perform Pooja to overcome troubles and get peace of mind.  
 
Shani Amavasya Pooja Vidhi

Devotees should wake up before sunrise and take a bath. Then they should offer black sesame seeds or mustard oil to a peepal tree or Shani Dev’s idol. An earthen lamp filled with mustard oil is also lit. Devotees can visit Shani or Navagraha temples or pray to the deity at home. Shani Gayatri Mantra has to be chanted to please the deity. The idol should be dressed in black clothes, and offerings like jaggery and chana (Bengal gram) should be made. Bhog with black sesame seeds can be offered too. Sesame oil lamps or mustard oil lamps are also lit in front of the idol. Take some sesame oil and pour it into a lamp. Then take a cloth, put some sesame seeds in it, and tie the ends. Then dip the cloth in the sesame oil and once it soaks up the oil, light it.  

Things to do for appeasing Shani

Chant the mantra ‘Om Praam Preem Praom Saha Shanayshchraey Namah’.  
 
Feed hungry people a meal of urad dal khichdi at an auspicious time. This will please Shani, and he will bless you.
 
Clean your home and dispose of all the waste, including unused things in your house.
 
Worship a peepal tree by pouring mustard oil on its branches or by worshipping it before sunrise.
 
Feed crows to avoid misfortune.
 
Donate dark blue, black, or deep purple-colored clothes.
 
Avoid alcohol and meat.
 
Observe fast and perform Shani Dosha Pooja.

Celebrating Shani Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Shani is also a good way to please Shani. Shani Jayanti 2021 is on June 10.