Pooja Procedure

Shani Dev Puja Procedure

The worship of Shani Dev (Lord Shani) involves specific rituals and procedures to appease the deity and seek his blessings. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to perform Shani Dev Puja (worship):

Shani Dev Puja Procedure

1. Purification and Preparation

  • Cleanse Yourself: Take a bath early in the morning on Saturday, the day dedicated to Shani Dev, to purify your body and mind.
  • Choose the Right Place: Set up the puja area in a clean and peaceful place. It can be in a temple, home altar, or under a Peepal tree (sacred fig tree).

2. Set Up the Altar

  • Idol or Picture of Shani Dev: Place an idol or picture of Shani Dev on a clean cloth. You can also include a representation of Lord Hanuman, as he is believed to mitigate Shani’s effects.
  • Offerings (Samagri): Arrange the items for the puja, which typically include:
    • Black sesame seeds (til)
    • Mustard oil
    • Black cloth
    • Blue flowers
    • Iron articles
    • Lamp (diya) with mustard oil
    • Incense sticks (agarbatti)
    • Fruits (especially black-colored fruits like black grapes or jamun)
    • Sweets made of sesame or black gram
    • Coconut
    • Rice mixed with black sesame seeds

3. Invoke Shani Dev

  • Lighting the Lamp: Light a lamp filled with mustard oil and place it in front of the idol or picture of Shani Dev.
  • Chant the Invocation Mantra: Recite “Om Sham Shanaischaryaye Namah” or “Om Praam Preem Praum Sah Shanaischaraya Namah” to invite the presence of Shani Dev.

4. Offering Rituals (Upacharas)

  • Abhishekam (Bathing the Idol): If you have a Shani idol, you can perform Abhishekam by pouring water, milk, and mustard oil over the idol.
  • Offer the Black Cloth: Place the black cloth on or near the idol.
  • Offer Mustard Oil and Sesame Seeds: Pour mustard oil and black sesame seeds into a small bowl and place it before Shani Dev.
  • Offer Blue Flowers and Iron Articles: Place blue flowers and any iron articles in front of the idol as part of the offering.
  • Lighting Incense and Diya: Light incense sticks and wave them in a circular motion before the deity.
  • Offer Prasad: Place the fruits, sweets, and coconut before Shani Dev as Prasad (holy offering).

5. Recite Shani Dev Mantras and Stotra

  • Chant Shani Mantras: Recite Shani mantras like:
    • “Om Sham Shanaischaryaye Namah”
    • “Om Praam Preem Praum Sah Shanaischaraya Namah”
  • Read Shani Chalisa or Shani Stotra: Reading or reciting the Shani Chalisa or Shani Stotra is considered highly beneficial.

6. Perform Aarti

  • Aarti of Shani Dev: Light a camphor or a small diya and perform the aarti (waving the light) while singing or reciting the Shani Aarti.
  • Offer Flowers and Rice: Offer flowers and akshat (rice mixed with black sesame seeds) to Shani Dev while performing the aarti.

7. Conclude the Puja

  • Seek Blessings: Bow down before Shani Dev and seek his blessings for protection, prosperity, and peace.
  • Distribute Prasad: After the puja, distribute the Prasad to family members or visitors.

8. Charity and Acts of Kindness

  • Donate to the Needy: On the same day, it is auspicious to donate black-colored items like black cloth, black sesame seeds, iron, and food to the poor or to temples.
  • Feed the Crows: Feeding crows, considered the vehicle of Shani Dev, with cooked rice mixed with black sesame seeds is believed to appease him.

9. Additional Observances

  • Fasting: Some devotees observe a fast on Saturdays, consuming only one meal or fruits, avoiding salt, and other specific foods.
  • Avoiding Malefic Activities: It is advisable to avoid negative actions like lying, cheating, or causing harm to others, especially on Saturdays.

Important Notes:

  • Shani Amavasya: Worship on Shani Amavasya (new moon day falling on a Saturday) is considered particularly powerful.
  • Visiting Shani Temples: Visiting a temple dedicated to Shani Dev, such as Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra, can enhance the benefits of the worship.a

The procedure of pooja

1) Aasanam Samarpayanami : Take the posture (aasana)
2) Padya Samarpayanami : Offer water to the feet of God Shani.
3) Ardhya Samarpayanami : Pour water.
4) Aachamaniya Samarpayanami : Drink the water.
5) Snanam Samarpayanami : Offer water for the bath of God.
6) Vasram Samarpayanami : Offer black cloth.
7) Gandham Samarpayanami : Offer the items of camphor, incense etc.
8) Pushpamalam Samarpayanami : Offer the flower garland.
9) Dhupam Samarpayanami : Light the incense sticks.
10) Deepam Samarpayanami : Light the lamp.
11) Akshatam Samarpayanami : Offer the rice.
12) Naivedyam Samarpayanami : Offer the black ‘til’.
13) Dakshinam Samarpayanami : Offer the ‘dakshina.
14) Namaskaram Karomi : Do ‘namaskara’.