Post by patrickm on Oct 13, 2010 0:06:24 GMT -6
AccuWeather Video - Saturn Returns To The Morning Sky This Week
[P does Snoopy Dance!
(No extra charge for the .gif - Astro Joe ;D]I will have to get up at 2 to have the scope running by 6 (and yes, I know it's not really worth setting up the scope to see Saturn at the horizon...yet.)
I know Saturn is male, but I always think of her as female, like a beautiful boat. But Cronos, the son of Titan, who castrated and deposed Uranus, is no female! Not as pretty to contemplate now either, but shines just as brightly and beautifully.
Was doing more reading and found my way over to Wikipedia to read about the Hindu equivalent, Shani.
The word Shani comes from Shanaye Kramati Sa, the one who moves slowly, as Saturn takes about 30 years to revolve around the Sun. Shani is also known as Shanaishwar Shani Bhagavan, Shaneesvara, Saneesvara, Shaneesvaran, Shani Deva.
Shani is a Deva and son of Surya (the Hindu Sun God) and his wife Chhaya (Shadow goddess) and hence also known as Chayyaputra. He is the elder brother of Yama, the Hindu God of death, who in some scriptures corresponds to the deliverance of justice. Interestingly, Surya's two sons Shani and Yama judge. Shani gives us the results of one's deeds through one's life through appropriate punishments and rewards; Yama grants the results of one's deeds after death.
It is said that when Shani opened his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an eclipse, which clearly denotes the impact of Shani on astrological charts. He is known as the greatest teacher. Shani dev is said to be very harmful to those who follow the path of betrayal, backstabbing and unjust revenge. He is known in Hindu scriptures as the greatest trouble giver as well as the greatest well wisher. He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and variously mounted on a black crow.
In Hindu scriptures
The story of Shani Bhagavan's life is described in Shri Shani Mahatmyam, written several centuries ago. The story of Shani Mahatmyam describes how devotion is required to please him and receive his kripa (blessings). Shri Shani Mahatmyam begins with descriptions of the importance of the other planets and their strengths. These are told by the scholars serving king Vikramaditya's court from the city of Ujjain.
Shani Bhagavan is described as having a dark complexion, a beautiful face, his caste is teli (Oil vendors), and he prays Kal-bhairav. After listening to the birth story of Shani, Vikramaditya laughed and ridiculed him. Shani heard the remarks of Vikramaditya and placed a curse on him. The story goes on to describe Vikramaditya's difficulties as a result of offending Shani. He loses his kingdom, he is charged with stealing, his hands and legs are cut-off by a neighbouring king. Eventually, Vikramaditya prays to Shani, who is satisfied with Vikramaditya's devotion and brings him back to his former glory. The last part of the story describes various experiences faced by various gods, demons and sages, including Brihaspati (the Guru of gods) and Shiva et al. Shani Mahatmyam stresses values such as perseverance in difficult times, complete devotion (bhakti) and faith in the values one believes in, and never to lose confidence in life in spite of difficulties.
According to the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, when the navagraha came to look upon Ganesha shortly after his birth, he lost his human head under Shani's gaze.[3]
[snip]
According to the Vedic astrology, in order to get protection against the bad effects of Saturn's transit, the following are the possible remedies during the important transits of Saturn - Kanta Sani (When Saturn transits through the eighth house from the natal moon sign), Sade-sati (when Saturn transits through the twelfth, first and second houses from the natal moon sign) -
- Worship Mother Goddess Kali during Dark Moon
- Worship Vishnu in the form of Lord Krishna and keep chanting 'Om Namo Narayanaya', 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare..'
- Pray to Sree Hanumanji in His Supreme Cosmic Form, which is the Form in which He shook Shani Bhagavan off of His back and the form in which He received divine blessings and instructions from Surya, the Sun God.
A common mantra for drawing the support of Shani Bhagavan is: Om Sham Shanaischaryaye Namah. The following is another mantra for propitiating Shani: Aum praang preeng proung sah Shanaye namah Neelaanjan samaabhaasam raviputram yamaagrajam, Chaayaa-maartandam-sambhootam, Tam namaami Shanaishcharam.
Some devotees chant 'Om Sham Shanaischaryaye Namah' 108 times daily. Also, if reading vedic textures are practised then it is suggested to recite Saturn's shloka from Navagraha Sukta: 'Om Shanno Devirabhishtaya Aapo Bhavantu Peetaye Shanyorbhisravantumah Shanaishcharaaya Namah.'
- Perform thilabhishekam on sanitrayodasi, sanijayanthi (pushya masam bahula astami) and saniamavasya days.
- Donate black till to a Brahmin (1 kg 900 grams)
- Feeding till and jaggery mix to black cow (kapila govu) .
- Fasting on Saturdays (only liquids) 6 a.m to 6 p.m (sravana masam must)
- Feeding to crows (mornings)
- Feeding to physically disabled people.
- Navagraha pradakshinas(19 rounds)/walking, jogging.
- Visit famous sanitemples (once in 2 1/2 years) Mandapalli, Sanisingnapur, Tirunallar, Narsingole, Venkathala and Veerannapalem (parchur mandalam, prakasam district).
- Light two lamps in front of your main door after sunset every day with till oil.
- Recite dasaradha maharaja krutha sani sthothram.
- Jyestadevi, saneeshwara swamyvarla kalyanam (sravana purnimaday).
- Sanijapam 19000, with moolamantram, punarcharana, havanan, danam.
- Sanaichara vratham, homam on Saturdays in sravana masam.
- Sanaichara dheeksha: sravana sudda vidiya to sravana bahula sashti.
- Chanting: 'rama nama', Hanuman chalisa, Durga sthuthi.
- Prayers and devotion to Hanuman, Sri Durga Devi, Vinayaka.
- Offering curd rice mixed with cumin seeds to god and feeding them to crows.
- Feed an orphan child
- Feed fish to long hair cat
Thanks Wikipedia
At 21', the tallest statue of Lord Shani/Saturn in the world at Shanidham, near Delhi, India. (I hope I got that right.)