Shani
Shani (Sanskrit: शनि, IAST: Śani), or Shanaishchara (Sanskrit: शनैश्चर, IAST: Śanaiścara), is the divine personification of the planet Saturn in Hinduism, and is one of the nine heavenly objects (Navagraha) in Hindu astrology. Shani is also a male Hindu deity in the Puranas, whose iconography consists of a figure with a dark complexion carrying a sword or danda (sceptre) and sitting on a crow. He is the god of karma, justice, and retribution, and delivers results depending upon one's thoughts, speech, and deeds. Shani is the controller of longevity, misery, sorrow, old age, discipline, restriction, responsibility, delays, ambition, leadership, authority, humility, integrity, and wisdom born of experience. He also signifies spiritual asceticism, penance, discipline, and conscientious work. He is associated with two consorts: Neela, the personification of the gemstone sapphire, and Manda, a gandharva princess.
| Shani | |
|---|---|
Shani by Raja Ravi Varma | |
| Other names | Shanishvara, Chhayasutha, Pingala, Kakadhvaja, Konastha, Babhru, Roudhrantaka, Shanescharam, Sauri, Manda, Krishna, Pipplayshraya, Raviputram |
| Devanagari | शनि |
| Affiliation | Navagraha |
| Abode | Shaniloka |
| Planet | Saturn |
| Mantra | "Om Kakadhvajaya Vidmahe Khadga Hastaya Dhimahi Tanno Mandah Prachodayat" and "Om Sham Shanishvaraya Namaha" |
| Weapon | Sceptre, Trident, Axe |
| Tree | Jammi/Peepal/Shami/ Khejri or Ghaf tree. |
| Day | Saturday |
| Color | Black |
| Number | 8,17,26 |
| Mount | Crow |
| Texts | Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Harivamsa |
| Gender | Male |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | |
| Siblings | Tapati, Savarni Manu, Yama, Yami, Ashvins, Shraddhadeva Manu, Revanta, Sugriva and Karna |
| Consort | Manda and Neela |
| Offspring | Mandi and Kuligna |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Cronus |
| Roman equivalent | Saturn |
| Norse equivalent | Njörðr |
| Etruscan equivalent | Satre |