The legend of Shani

Sham Misri

The legend that depicts the influence of the worship of Shani goes as follows, and is narrated whenever a worship or offering is made to the deity.

The legend pertains to a king. The king invited merchants from far and wide and proclaimed that the king himself would purchase all unsold goods. The merchants were happy. Once a blacksmith who had an iron image of Saturn wanted to sell it to the king. The blacksmith had it for sale. The king paid good amount of money for the iron idol of Shani (Saturn) and was ultimately purchased by the king. The king installed the idol in his palace with reverence. On seeing this action of the king, other gods’ became unhappy.

That very night, the king saw a brilliant woman going out of the house. On king's enquiry, he learnt that, it was Lakshmi. She said that she could not stay in the place where Saturn is present.

After sometime a male image went out of the house. The king again enquired about it. This time he was told it was Bhaivabh (Prosperity) who had left.

Similarly all other gods Dharma (Religion), Dheriye (Patience), Kshama (Pardon) and all others went out. When the last Satya (Truth) was going out, the king protested and said that because of faith in Satya, he did not object to the others from going out. Feeling the sentiments of the king, Satya stopped. All other deities were waiting outside for Satya, but when he did not come out Dharma (religion) said that he could not remain without Satya; so he returned in. Similarly all others followed suite and all gods and attributes came back inside the palace. They told the king that only because of his devotion to the Satya (truth); they all had to return and that such a king could never be unhappy. Due to the devotion to Satya, (truth), Lakshmi (wealth) and Shani (Saturn) came to live together, to the benefit of the devotees.