Shani Mantra — Word-by-Word Meaning
शनि मन्त्र
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
शनैश्चर
Shanaishchara
The slow-mover — Saturn, who moves slowest among the grahas; god of karma and justice
प्रां प्रीं प्रौं सः
Praam Preem Praum Sah
The seed (beej) syllables of the Shani mantra
काकध्वज
Kakadhvaja
The crow-bannered one — the crow is Shani's emblem and mount
नीलाञ्जन
Nilanjana
Blue collyrium (kajal) — describing Shani's dark, blue-black lustre
पिप्पलाद
Pippalada
The sage whose ten-name hymn pacifies Shani's affliction
मन्द
Manda
The slow one — another name of Saturn
Complete Translation
Om Sham — salutations to Shanaishchara (Lord Saturn). The simple one-syllable (Sham) seed-salutation to Shani, chanted daily for his grace.
Om Praam Preem Praum Sah — salutations to Shanaishchara. This is the Shani Beej (seed) Mantra, traditionally japa-chanted 23,000 times as a remedy for an afflicted Saturn.
Om, may we know the crow-bannered one (Shani); may we meditate on him who bears the sword. May that Manda (Saturn) inspire and impel us. (The Shani Gayatri Mantra.)
Resembling the lustre of blue collyrium (kajal), the son of the Sun (Ravi) and the elder brother of Yama, born of Chhaya and Martanda (the Sun) — to that Shanaishchara I bow. (The famous Shani dhyana verse.)
Konastha (dweller in the corner), Pingala (the tawny), Babhru (the brown), Krishna (the dark), Raudra (the fierce), Antaka (the ender), Yama, Sauri (son of the Sun), Shanaishchara (the slow-mover) and Manda (the slow) — thus is he praised by the sage Pippalada. (The ten names of Shani.)
Whoever rises at dawn and recites these ten names of Shani — the affliction wrought by Shanaishchara shall never befall him.
Origin & History
Source: Traditional Navagraha mantras; Nilanjan dhyana and Pippalada ten-names from the Puranic tradition
Author: Traditional (ten names attributed to sage Pippalada)
Period: Ancient
Shani — the planet Saturn — is the son of Surya (the Sun) and Chhaya, and the elder brother of Yama, the lord of death. As the slowest-moving graha and the great judge of the Navagrahas, he weighs each soul's karma and returns it exactly, which is why his Sade Sati is feared. The sages gave mantras to win his grace: the seed mantra for daily japa, the Gayatri for invocation, the Nilanjan verse for meditation, and the ten names compiled by the sage Pippalada — said to shield the reciter from every affliction Shani can send.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shani mantra and what does it mean?▼
The principal Shani mantra is the Beej Mantra 'Om Praam Preem Praum Sah Shanaishcharaya Namah', a salutation to Shanaishchara (Saturn). The page also gives the Shani Gayatri, the Nilanjan Samabhasam dhyana verse, and Pippalada's ten-name mantra — all chanted to please Saturn, the lord of karma and justice.
How many times should the Shani beej mantra be chanted?▼
It is chanted in multiples of 108 (one mala) daily, especially on Saturdays. The traditional full remedial count for strengthening Saturn is 23,000 repetitions completed over time.
What is the Nilanjan Samabhasam mantra?▼
'Nilanjana-samabhasam ravi-putram yamagrajam, chhaya-martanda-sambhutam tam namami shanaishcharam' is the famous Shani dhyana verse: 'Resembling blue collyrium, son of the Sun and elder brother of Yama, born of Chhaya and the Sun — I bow to Shanaishchara.' It is recited to meditate on Shani's form.
Which day and time is best for the Shani mantra?▼
Saturday (Shanivar) is Shani's day — at sunrise or dusk. Shani Jayanti and Shani Amavasya are especially powerful. Lighting a mustard or sesame-oil lamp and offering black sesame and urad enhances the worship.
Can the Shani mantra help during Sade Sati?▼
Yes — the Shani beej mantra and the ten-name mantra are classic remedies during Sade Sati (the 7½-year Saturn transit) and Dhaiya, believed to soften Saturn's trials and grant patience, justice and relief when chanted regularly with sincerity.
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