It is Lord Saturn's birthday today (Saturday) May 18th, 2012...I bow down for the Big Lord! Jai Ho Shani Maharj ji!!
This is a picture the Shani Temple we went to a few years back it is in Shignapur a village located in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra. It is about 35 km from Ahmednagar. We were spending time in Shirdi visiting the Shirdi Sai Baba and went on a day trip to this Shignapur to visit Lord Shani. It was a totally different world to me at the time and the Puja was unlike any I had experienced in India.
"The presiding deity of Shinganapur, Sri Shaneshwara or Lord Shanidev- the personification of the planet Saturn is worshipped with utmost reverence and devotion by multitudes of people from all over the world. The spectacle of the deity in black stone is overwhelming. A unique aspect of this place is, that no temple structure houses the Shanidev. There is only a simple platform on which stands the swayambhu idol, in black stone.
Shingnapur is also famous for the fact that no house in the village has doors, only door frames. Despite this, no theft is reported in the village. Villagers never keep their valuables under lock and key. Villagers believe that the temple is a "jagrut devasthan" (lit. "alive temple"), meaning that the god here is very powerful. They believe that god Shani punishes anyone attempting theft."JAI HO SHANI MAHARAJ JI!!!
I will write more about this later, at the time there were not many people visiting, Babu left me with the driver while he went and prepared for the Puja having a shower and removing his street clothing for just a clothe that is worn around the waste. He told me he needed concentration on Lord Shani and that he was not to look at me, that it was ok if I walked behind him barefoot from the car to the temple. At the time it seemed strange to me but I complied although I did not understand, I felt like a fish out of water the feminist that I am. He did his Puja and I did mine, I was kind of perplexed as to why this seemed to be a man's thing. If you can see below it is all men worshiping Shani. I will write more on this later.
This is a picture the Shani Temple we went to a few years back it is in Shignapur a village located in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra. It is about 35 km from Ahmednagar. We were spending time in Shirdi visiting the Shirdi Sai Baba and went on a day trip to this Shignapur to visit Lord Shani. It was a totally different world to me at the time and the Puja was unlike any I had experienced in India.
"The presiding deity of Shinganapur, Sri Shaneshwara or Lord Shanidev- the personification of the planet Saturn is worshipped with utmost reverence and devotion by multitudes of people from all over the world. The spectacle of the deity in black stone is overwhelming. A unique aspect of this place is, that no temple structure houses the Shanidev. There is only a simple platform on which stands the swayambhu idol, in black stone.
Shingnapur is also famous for the fact that no house in the village has doors, only door frames. Despite this, no theft is reported in the village. Villagers never keep their valuables under lock and key. Villagers believe that the temple is a "jagrut devasthan" (lit. "alive temple"), meaning that the god here is very powerful. They believe that god Shani punishes anyone attempting theft."JAI HO SHANI MAHARAJ JI!!!
I will write more about this later, at the time there were not many people visiting, Babu left me with the driver while he went and prepared for the Puja having a shower and removing his street clothing for just a clothe that is worn around the waste. He told me he needed concentration on Lord Shani and that he was not to look at me, that it was ok if I walked behind him barefoot from the car to the temple. At the time it seemed strange to me but I complied although I did not understand, I felt like a fish out of water the feminist that I am. He did his Puja and I did mine, I was kind of perplexed as to why this seemed to be a man's thing. If you can see below it is all men worshiping Shani. I will write more on this later.
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