Shani Dev

About Shani Dev

Shani Dev is the slow-mover. His Sanskrit name, Shanaishchara, points to Saturn's near-30-year crawl through the zodiac. The Neelanjana shloka pictures him as blue-black like collyrium (kajal eyeliner), son of Surya the Sun and Chhaya the shadow-wife — which is why his skin is dark. He is the elder brother of Yama and, with him, weighs each person's karma. He rides a vulture or an iron chariot drawn by eight horses. His seven-and-a-half-year transit, Sade Sati, is said to test a soul. Devotees chant his Beej mantra — Praam Preem Praum Sah — on Saturdays, his weekday, often at Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra, the doorless village shrine.