🖤 Saturday Vrat (Shani Dev) Vrat Katha
The story
The katha of King Vikramaditya and Shani: once in the court of Vikramaditya of Ujjain a debate arose on which of the nine planets is the greatest; the pandits praised all but Shani — and the king too called Shani cruel and small. Shani was offended — 'Vikram, you do not know my power; you will see when I come to your sign (Sade Sati).' The time came — Shani arrived as a horse-trader; the king bought a fine horse, and the moment he mounted, it carried him into a dense forest and vanished. Hungry and thirsty, the king wandered; a merchant sheltered him — but in that very house a painted peg on the wall seemed to swallow a gold necklace, the king was branded a thief, and his hands and feet were cut off.
An oil-presser took pity and set him at the oil-mill — the crippled king drove the oxen and at night sang Megh Malhar; the princess of that city was enchanted by the song and insisted on marrying the crippled servant. Seven and a half years passed — Shani Dev appeared in a dream: 'Vikram, this was the fruit of my insult; your test is now over.' The king begged forgiveness and prayed — 'the suffering you gave me, give to no one else.' Shani said — 'Whoever keeps my vrat on Saturday, donates oil, sesame and urad, lights a lamp at the peepal and hears my katha — him I will not trouble.' The king's hands and feet returned, the peg gave up the necklace, the truth came out, and Vikramaditya returned to Ujjain with the princess; everyone took up the Saturday vrat. The lesson — Shani spares no one, but faith, charity and service make the suffering bearable; mock no planet and no person.
A second katha (Pippalada and Hanuman's promise): the sage Pippalada raised the Brahma-danda against Shani to avenge his father's death — Shani was lamed; at Brahma's word he promised not to trouble children under sixteen or the devotees of Pippalada (the peepal) — hence the peepal worship; and after losing to Hanuman in Lanka, Shani promised not to trouble Hanuman's devotees — hence the Hanuman Chalisa on Saturday.
Why this katha — the significance
Shani: son of the Sun and Chhaya, giver of the fruit of karma, significator of patience, labour, service, justice, longevity and sorrow; black and blue, iron, oil, sesame, urad, blankets and blue sapphire are his. Saturn's aspect and transit (Sade Sati, Dhaiya) bring tests into life — yet the texts say Shani is impartial and raises those who do good.
Sade Sati: Saturn's transit through the 12th, 1st and 2nd houses from the Moon sign (about seven and a half years) — three phases; Dhaiya: Saturn in the 4th or 8th from the Moon (two and a half years). In these periods the Saturday vrat, oil donation, the Shani stotra, service to Hanuman and help to labourers, servants and the poor are the remedies; check your own Sade Sati status from the birth chart.
Hanuman and the peepal: Shani promised Hanuman that he would not trouble his devotees — hence the Hanuman Chalisa or Sundarkand on Saturday; Vishnu dwells in the peepal and Shani loves it — a mustard-oil lamp and water at the peepal on Saturday evening, with circumambulation, is the most common Saturn remedy.
Shani temples and Shanishchari Amavasya: Shingnapur (Maharashtra), Kokilavan (Mathura), Tirunallar (Tamil Nadu), Shani Dham in Delhi; an Amavasya falling on Saturday is 'Shanishchari Amavasya' — special oil abhishek and sesame donation.
How the katha is heard
- Hear or read the katha after the puja, before the aarti — the whole family sits together.
- The one keeping the vrat should listen with a calm mind; keep a lamp lit and a little akshat-flowers in hand.
- At the end, offer the flowers at the deity's feet and bow; share the prasad with everyone.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the next Saturday vrat, and when are the Saturdays and Shanishchari Amavasya in {Y}?
The list above gives the next twelve Saturdays with month and paksha; on the Amavasya page a Saturday Amavasya is marked '(Shanishchari)'. Best to begin on a Saturday of a Shukla Paksha, a Shravana Saturday or a Shanishchari Amavasya.
How to keep the Saturday vrat during Sade Sati?
First check the Moon sign and the phase of Sade Sati from the chart; then 7/11/19 Saturdays — morning Shani-Hanuman puja, Shani mantra/stotra, Hanuman Chalisa, one meal, the peepal lamp at dusk, donation of oil, sesame, urad and blanket, service to the poor; through the Sade Sati keep the peepal lamp and donation every Saturday.
When and how is the peepal lamp lit?
On Saturday around sunset (pradosh — timings above) a mustard-oil lamp with black sesame at the root of the peepal, water offered, 7 circumambulations, a prayer for Shani's peace; folk custom forbids touching the peepal at night, hence at sunset.
Why not stand in front of the Shani image?
Folk tradition — to avoid Shani's gaze (the astrological notion of his harsh aspect) devotees stand aside and look at the feet; at Shingnapur devotees do not turn their back on the platform but do not look straight either; the spirit is reverence, not fear.
What to eat in the vrat?
One meal — urad khichdi or dal, sesame-jaggery, a vegetable in mustard oil (some homes), curd is fine; or fruit; no garlic, onion, meat or alcohol; many homes eat after the evening peepal lamp.
Why is oil or iron not bought on Saturday?
Folk belief — buying Shani's things (oil, iron, black cloth, salt, blanket, footwear) on Saturday invites his displeasure, donating them earns his grace; not a scriptural rule, but kept in most homes — donate and postpone the purchase.
How many Saturdays, how is the udyapan done, should one wear blue sapphire?
7, 11 or 19 (continuously during Sade Sati); udyapan — Shani-Hanuman puja, donation of oil, sesame, urad, blanket and iron, a meal for labourers, stotra recitation, dakshina; blue sapphire only after a chart check and on the advice of a pandit or astrologer — a wrong sapphire is believed to harm.
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