शनि मन्त्र — Word-by-Word Meaning

शनि मन्त्र

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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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

ॐ शं — शनैश्चर (शनिदेव) को नमस्कार। शनि का सरल एकाक्षर (शं) बीज-नमस्कार, प्रतिदिन उनकी कृपा हेतु जपा जाता है। ॐ प्रां प्रीं प्रौं सः — शनैश्चर को नमस्कार। यह शनि बीज मन्त्र है, जो पीड़ित शनि के उपाय रूप में परम्परागत रूप से २३,००० बार जपा जाता है। ॐ, हम काकध्वज (शनि) को जानें, खड्गधारी का ध्यान करें; वे मन्द (शनि) हमें प्रेरित करें। (शनि गायत्री मन्त्र।) नीले अंजन (काजल) के समान कान्ति वाले, सूर्य (रवि) के पुत्र और यम के बड़े भाई, छाया तथा मार्तण्ड (सूर्य) से उत्पन्न — उन शनैश्चर को मैं नमस्कार करता हूँ। (प्रसिद्ध शनि ध्यान श्लोक।) कोणस्थ, पिङ्गल, बभ्रु, कृष्ण, रौद्र, अन्तक, यम, सौरि, शनैश्चर और मन्द — इस प्रकार पिप्पलाद ऋषि द्वारा उनकी स्तुति की गई है। (शनि के दस नाम।) जो प्रातः उठकर शनि के इन दस नामों का पाठ करता है, उसे शनैश्चर द्वारा की गई पीड़ा कभी नहीं होती।

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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