Shaniwar Vrat Katha

Shani Dev is called the king of planets. Lord Shiva has given him the title of the God of Justice. Shani Dev gets angry very quickly. Due to this anger, he remains angry with his father Surya. Everyone tries to avoid his anger, otherwise, a mountain of troubles falls on the person, so Saturday fast is kept to please him. A person takes many measures to avoid Shani Dosh and keep him calm. By the grace of Shani, a person gets happiness and prosperity. Those who keep the Saturday fast should listen to the Saturday fast story at the time of worship.

Shaniwar Ki Katha

Once all the nine planets Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu argued. Who is the greatest? After fighting among themselves, all went to Devraj Indra. Indra was unable to decide in a confused state. But he suggested to all the planets that only King Vikramaditya on earth could decide this because he was a very just king.

All of them went to King Vikramaditya on earth and told him the reason for their visit. The king became very worried after hearing about their problem. It was natural for him to be worried because if someone is called smaller than someone, then that planet will get angry. After a lot of thinking, the king found a solution. He got nine thrones made from gold, silver, bronze, brass, lead, tin, zinc, mica, and iron. They were placed in the above-mentioned order.

Everyone was requested to sit on the throne in order. The condition was that whoever sits on the throne last, will be considered the youngest. Due to this Shani Dev could get the throne last and was called the youngest. In a fit of anger, Shani Dev thought that the king had done all this deliberately. Enraged, he told the king that king you do not know me. The Sun stays in one zodiac sign for one month, the Moon for two and a quarter months and two days, Mars for one and a half months, Jupiter for thirteen months, and Mercury and Venus for one month each, but I stay for two and a half to seven and a half years. I have destroyed many great people. When Shri Ram's Sadhesati came, he had to wander from forest to forest and when Ravana's Sadhesati came, Lanka had to be defeated by the army of monkeys. The angry Shani Dev told the king that now you needed to be careful. Saying this, Shani Dev left from there in an enraged state.

Time passed and the wheel of time kept turning and the king's Sadhesati came. Then Shani Dev went to the king's kingdom disguised as a horse trader. He had many horses of good breed with him. When the king came to know about the horses of the trader, he sent the horse keeper to buy good horses. The horse keeper bought many good horses, apart from this the trader gave a horse of the best breed as a gift to the king for riding.

As soon as King Vikramaditya sat on that horse, it started galloping towards the forest. It disappeared after reaching inside the forest. The king kept wandering in the forest in a state of hunger and thirst. Suddenly he saw a cowherd, who quenched the king's thirst. The king happily gave him his ring and went towards the city. After reaching a businessman's shop there, he drank water and said his name was Vika. Fortunately, the merchant earned a lot that day. The merchant happily took him home with him.

There was a necklace hanging on a peg in the merchant's house, which the peg was swallowing. Within a short time, the necklace disappeared completely. When the merchant returned, the necklace was missing. He thought that Vika had stolen it. The merchant got Vika arrested and as a punishment the king got his hands and legs chopped off considering him a thief. He was thrown out of the city in a disabled state. Just then an oilman was passing by, who took pity on Vika. He made Vika sit in his cart. Vika started driving the bulls with his tongue.

After some time, the Shani Dasha of the king ended. When the rainy season came, Vika started singing Malhar. After listening to Malhar, the princess of a city, Manbhavani, vowed in her heart that she would marry the one who was singing this raga. She sent her maids to find him, but on returning, they all told her that he was a handicapped man. The princess did not listen even after knowing this and the very next day she sat on a hunger strike. When the princess did not listen after explaining a million times, then the king sent a call to the oilman and was asked to prepare for the marriage with Vika.

The princess got married to Vika. One day, Shani Dev came into Vika's dream and said, "See Rajan, you have suffered so much by insulting me." The king, begging for forgiveness, folded his hands and said, "O Shani Dev! The pain you have given me, do not give such pain to anyone else." Shani Dev accepted this request and said that all your troubles would be removed by my fast and story. Whoever meditates on me daily and feeds flour to ants, all his wishes will be fulfilled.

Shani Dev also gave back the hands and legs to the king. The next day when the princess woke up in the morning, she was surprised. Vika told Manbhawani that he was Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain. Manbhawani was overjoyed. The king and the citizens of the city were very happy. When the merchant heard this, he fell at his feet and asked for forgiveness. The king said that all this was the effect of Shani Dev's anger and no one was at fault in this. The merchant requested that he get peace only when he comes to his house and eats food. The merchant welcomed the king with many types of dishes. When the king was eating, the peg that had swallowed the necklace was now spitting it out.

The merchant thanked the king by giving him many coins and requested him to marry his daughter Shrikanwari. The king happily accepted. The king returned to Ujjain City with his two queens Manbhawani and Shrikanwari. The whole city celebrated by lighting lamps and celebrating. The king announced that I had said that Shani Dev is the smallest, but in reality, he is supreme. Since then, worship and the story of Shani Dev started happening regularly in the entire kingdom. An atmosphere of happiness and joy was created among all the people. Whoever listens to or reads the fasting story of Shani Dev, all their sorrows go away.

Shaniwar Vrat Puja Vidhi

On this day, wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and wear clean clothes. After this, Offer water to the Peepal tree. In the morning, bathe the iron idol of Shani Dev with Panchamrit. After this, place the idol on a lotus made of twenty-four petals of rice. Then worship Shani Dev with black sesame seeds, flowers, incense, oil, black clothes, etc. After the worship, remember the ten names of Shani Dev. Chant Shani mantras.

Shaniwar Mantra

ॐ शं शनैश्चराय नमः

ॐ प्रां प्रीं प्रौं सः शनैश्चराय नमः

ॐ शन्नो देविर्भिष्ठयः आपो भवन्तु पीतये। सय्योंरभीस्रवन्तुनः।

Conclusion

On the day of the fast, after taking a bath, water should be offered to the Peepal tree. One should not have feelings of hatred towards anyone on the day of the fast. On this day, donate essential goods to the poor. Apart from this, feed flour to ants on this day. On Saturday fast, one should remain on fruits for the whole day. Break the fast only after worshipping Shani Dev on the second day of the fast. If you want to know about the importance of Saturday fast then you can talk to astrologers.