Shanivar (Saturday) is dedicated to Shani Devta(Saturn).The Saturday vrat keeps away all the hurdles and misfortunes. Saturn sits in a mirror chariot, yoked with eight black horses. The recitation of Shani Chalisa is also beneficial. On this day the devotees worship Saturn idol made of iron. Black flowers, black sesame seeds (til,). Horse bean (Black urada) and black clothes are used for worship. Black articles and Mustard oil are given in donation. Devotees also feed ants with whole wheat flour.
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Once a debate occurred
between all the Gods in the heaven about the greatest of them all. But, they
were unable to decide and the debate turned into a war like situation. All of
them then went to Indra and asked him to adjudicate the matter. Indra was in
great dilemma and after thinking for some times he said about his inability to
judge the matter and suggested them to go to the court of king Vikramaditya of
Ujjayani who is known to be a great justice.
On his suggestion, all the
gods went on earth and visited Ujjayani. When Vikramaditya came to know about
the visit of Gods, he himself welcomed them. After coming to his court, the
Gods asked him to solve the matter. Vikramaditya too got in great dilemma as he
knew that all the gods were powerful in their own ways and telling anyone small
or big may bring him his ire.
After thinking for some times,
the king got an idea. He ordered for nine chairs made of different metals:
Gold, Silver, Bismuth, Copper, Lead, Galena,
Zinc, Mica and iron respectively and got it kept in a row one after the
other. He then requested the gods to sit on their respective seats. When the
Gods sat, he said that you all have yourself judged the greatest of you all.
The God sitting on the first seat is the most powerful. Shani Dev was sitting
on the last seat. On listening the judgement, he felt humiliated and got angry.
He said “you do not realise
my power. I will destroy you. Sun stays in a zodiac for one month; Moon for two
and quarter days; Mars for 1 and ½ months; Mercury and Venus for 1 month;
Jupiter for 13 Months but I can stay in a sign for 7 and ½ years. Even big Gods had suffered my ire.
Ram had to stay in the
forest due to Sadesati and even and Ravana died and his family got destroyed in
the war due to Sadesati. Now its your turn to face my ire. All the Gods then
went away.
After few days Shani Deva
visited Ujjayani in disguise of a horse trader. He brought many attractive
horses along with him. When Vikramaditya came to know about this, he sent his
stable-lad (Ashwapaal) to buy some horses but was perplexed on knowing the
prices as they were too expensive. He went back and informed the king about the
same. Then the king himself went to the trader and selected a beautiful and
healthy horse for himself.
When the king sat on the
horse to take a ride, it took of with the speed of a light and took the king to
a far away forest and dropped him there and disappeared. The King loitered in
the forest in hunger and thirst to locate and reach his kingdom but of no
avail. After some time he met a cow-herd and asked him for some water. After
soothing his thirst, the king gave him his ring. The king then asked him the
way and reached to a city nearby.
The king rested on a shop of
a businessman and told him that he is from Ujjayani. While the king was on his
shop, the businessman earned high profits and the businessman took him to be a
lucky visitor for him and took Vikramaditya to his home for meal. The king saw
a necklace hanging on the peg and to his surprise he saw the peg swallowing the
necklace. When the businessman saw that the necklace is not there, he took the
king to be a thief. He ordered his servants to tie Vikramaditya with a rope and
take him to the king of that city.
Though Vikramaditya
explained him the real story, the king did not believed him and ordered to slit
his hands and legs. His hands and legs were cut and then he was left on the
city streets. Few days later a Teli(Oil-man) felt pity and took him to his
house. The Teli taught him to ride bullocks and handed him this work.
Time passed and the period
of Sadesati was over and spring season came. One night the king was singing
Megh Malhar Raga. At that time, the princess of the town, Mohini, was passing
from nearby and was attracted by the song. She sent her attendant to call the
singer. When the attendant returned, she told the story of the king to the princess.
The princess was attracted
towards the singer and even after knowing about his paralysis, the princess
decided to marry him. Initially her parents resisted the decision but the
princess protested and said that she will marry that person only or else she
will remain unmarried. Finally the king agreed to marry the Princess to
Vikramaditya.
After marriage, Vikramaditya
and the princess started living in the house of the Teli. One night, Shani Dev
came in his dreams and said “you ranked
me lowest among the Gods but now you have seen my power”. Then Vikramaditya
apologised to him. Shani Dev accepted his prayers and disappeared. In the
morning, Vikramaditya and his wife was surprised to see his body back to its
previous shape. The king then thanked Shani Dev and told the princess about his
real identity and about the Sadesati of Shani Dev.
The father of the princess
became very happy on knowing about thee king Vikramaditya and the businessman
who blamed of stealing his necklace came running to him. He fell down on his
legs and apologised from Vikramaditya. The businessman invited Vikramaditya to
his house for dinner. Suddenly to every bodies surprise, the necklace
reappeared. Even the businessman then married his daughter to king
Vikramaditya. and then sent them to his kingdom along with many gold
jewelleries and other gifts.
When Vikramaditya reached
Ujjayani along with the princess Mohini and the daughter of the businessman,
they were received with full warmth and the peoples burnt candles and celebrated
Diwali in this happiness. Next day the king made an announcement that Shani Dev
is most powerful of all the Gods and all the men and women should observe his
fast and listen his Katha. This announcement made Shani Dev very happy and from
that day onwards the wishes of all the people observing this fast started
getting fulfilled with his compassion.
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