Shani Chalisa

There are various benefits associated with Shani Chalisa such as mental peace, improved discipline, financial stability, good health and spiritual growth

Shani Chalisa is a traditional Hindu devotional hymn (Chalisa), which is dedicated to Lord Shani (Shani Dev). Lord Shani is the planetary deity associated with Saturn. Shani Chalisa is similar to Hanuman Chalisa in terms of its composition and easy to understand language. Shani Chalisa essentially praises Shani Dev for his just nature, immense powers and his role as the dispenser of karma. Given below is the Shani Chalisa in full.

॥ दोहा ॥

जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन, मंगल करण कृपाल ।

दीनन के दुःख दूर करि , कीजै नाथ निहाल ॥1॥

जय जय श्री शनिदेव प्रभु , सुनहु विनय महाराज ।

करहु कृपा हे रवि तनय , राखहु जन की लाज ॥2॥

जयति जयति शनिदेव दयाला । करत सदा भक्तन प्रतिपाला ॥

चारि भुजा, तनु श्याम विराजै । माथे रतन मुकुट छवि छाजै ॥

परम विशाल मनोहर भाला । टेढ़ी दृष्टि भृकुटि विकराला ॥

कुण्डल श्रवन चमाचम चमके । हिये माल मुक्तन मणि दमकै ॥

कर में गदा त्रिशूल कुठारा । पल बिच करैं अरिहिं संहारा ॥

पिंगल, कृष्णो, छाया, नन्दन । यम, कोणस्थ, रौद्र, दुःख भंजन ॥

सौरी, मन्द शनी दश नामा । भानु पुत्र पूजहिं सब कामा ॥

जापर प्रभु प्रसन्न हवैं जाहीं । रंकहुं राव करैं क्षण माहीं ॥

पर्वतहू तृण होइ निहारत । तृणहू को पर्वत करि डारत ॥

राज मिलत वन रामहिं दीन्हयो । कैकेइहुँ की मति हरि लीन्हयो ॥

वनहुं में मृग कपट दिखाई । मातु जानकी गई चुराई ॥

लषणहिं शक्ति विकल करिडारा । मचिगा दल में हाहाकारा ॥

रावण की गति-मति बौराई । रामचन्द्र सों बैर बढ़ाई ॥

दियो कीट करि कंचन लंका । बजि बजरंग बीर की डंका ॥

नृप विक्रम पर तुहि पगु धारा । चित्र मयूर निगलि गै हारा ॥

हार नौलखा लाग्यो चोरी । हाथ पैर डरवायो तोरी ॥

भारी दशा निकृष्ट दिखायो । तेलहिं घर कोल्हू चलवायो ॥

विनय राग दीपक महँ कीन्हयों । तब प्रसन्न प्रभु ह्वै सुख दीन्हयों ॥

हरिश्चन्द्र नृप नारि बिकानी । आपहुं भरे डोम घर पानी ॥

तैसे नल पर दशा सिरानी । भूंजी-मीन कूद गई पानी ॥

श्री शंकरहिं गह्यो जब जाई । पारवती को सती कराई ॥

तनिक विकलोकत ही करि रीसा । नभ उड़ि गतो गौरिसुत सीसा ॥

पाण्डव पर भै दशा तुम्हारी । बची द्रोपदी होति उधारी ॥

कौरव के भी गति मति मारयो । युद्ध महाभारत करि डारयो ॥

रवि कहँ मुख महँ धरि तत्काला । लेकर कूदि परयो पाताला ॥

शेष देव-लखि विनती लाई । रवि को मुख ते दियो छुड़ाई ॥

वाहन प्रभु के सात सुजाना । जग दिग्गज गर्दभ मृग स्वाना ॥

जम्बुक सिह आदि नख धारी । सो फल ज्योतिष कहत पुकारी ॥

गज वाहन लक्ष्मी गृह आवैं । हय ते सुख सम्पत्ति उपजावै ॥

गर्दभ हानि करै बहु काजा । सिह सिद्ध्कर राज समाजा ॥

जम्बुक बुद्धि नष्ट कर डारै । मृग दे कष्ट प्राण संहारै ॥

जब आवहिं स्वान सवारी । चोरी आदि होय डर भारी ॥

तैसहि चारि चरण यह नामा । स्वर्ण लौह चाँदी अरु तामा ॥

लौह चरण पर जब प्रभु आवैं । धन जन सम्पत्ति नष्ट करावैं ॥

समता ताम्र रजत शुभकारी । स्वर्ण सर्वसुख मंगल भारी ॥

जो यह शनि चरित्र नित गावै । कबहुं न दशा निकृष्ट सतावै ॥

अद्भुत नाथ दिखावैं लीला । करैं शत्रु के नशि बलि ढीला ॥

जो पण्डित सुयोग्य बुलवाई । विधिवत शनि ग्रह शांति कराई ॥

पीपल जल शनि दिवस चढ़ावत । दीप दान दै बहु सुख पावत ॥

कहत राम सुन्दर प्रभु दासा । शनि सुमिरत सुख होत प्रकाशा ॥

॥ दोहा ॥

पाठ शनिश्चर देव को, की हों ‘भक्त’ तैयार ।

करत पाठ चालीस दिन, हो भवसागर पार ॥

Who is Shani Dev?

Shani Dev is the son of Surya or the Sun God and Chhaya Devi. As per Vedic astrology and Hindu tradition, Shani Dev is regarded as the Karmaphaladata, the one who gives the fruits of one’s actions. Shani Dev is also known as a strict and fair judge of an individual’s karma.

Shani Dev governs various aspects related to humans such as discipline, hard work, delays, justice, longevity and the consequences of past karma. In astrology, Shani Dev’s presence is there in periods such as Sade Sati. This is a period of approximately 7.5 years, occurring during the Saturn’s transition in 12th, 1st, and 2nd houses from the Moon.

There is also the Dhaiya on Kantak Shani in astrology, which lasts for around 2.5 years. Based on their birth chart, individuals may also have Shani Mahadasha or Shani Dosha. Chanting the Shani Chalisa with sincerity and devotion can bring relief from these conditions.

Purpose of Shani Chalisa

Shani Chalisa describes the various characteristics of Shani Dev such as a dark complexion and powerful gaze. Various vehicles are associated with Shani Dev such as the elephant that represents prosperity whereas the donkey that represents hardship. Shani Chalisa also describes the tests faced by even great people such as Lord Ram and Vikramaditya. Shani’s hard tests eventually helped these individuals to enhance their emotional and spiritual growth.

With Shani Chalisa, devotees can pray to Shani Dev and seek his protection. They can pray to Shani Dev to reduce their hardships. Shani Chalisa is not an escape, but more of a means to face adversities with greater patience, strength and grace. Shani Chalisa describes how rewards and challenges in an individual’s life are based on one’s karma or deeds.

Importance of discipline, humility, perseverance and righteousness in life is clearly highlighted in Shani Chalisa. The sacred hymn also talks about the fact that difficulties can be turned into opportunities with self-correction and spiritual growth. Shani Chalisa can be beneficial for everyone and even more so for individuals going through Sade Sati, Dhaiya, or other Saturn-related challenges.

Key benefits of Shani Chalisa

Sincere and regular recitation of Shani Chalisa can bring various benefits. For example, it can provide relief from Saturn’s malefic effects. With Shani Chalisa, obstacles could be transformed into valuable life lessons. Devotees can reduce their fear, anxiety and stress with sincere recitation of Shani Chalisa. In the traditional sense, Shani Chalisa can protect an individual from sudden misfortunes, accidents, false accusations, enemies and obstacles.

Shani Chalisa can help an individual cultivate good habits such as patience, hard work and ethical living. Devotees can make steady progress, overcome delays and get help in clearing debts through disciplined effort. With good habits, devotees can achieve better health and mental well-being. Shani Chalisa can be useful for legal and karmic matters. It encourages devotees to live a balanced and righteous life.