Śani Jayanti 2001

Śani Jayanti (शनि जयंती) is the birth day of Shanaishchara, the slow-moving graha, son of Surya and Chhaya. It is kept on the Amavasya of Vaiśākha as the Amanta calendar counts the months, the same day that the Purnimanta calendar calls the Amavasya of Jyeṣṭhā.

The Skanda Purana tells, in the Avanti Khanda, that Chhaya bore twins, the river Tapi and Shanaishchara, "who scorches all the worlds". In the Kashi Khanda, Shani is worshipped as Shanaishchareshvara at Varanasi, and whoever sees him there on a Saturday is freed from the affliction of Shani.

The same Purana gives the names of Shani to be recited at dawn: Sauri, Shanaishchara, Manda, Krishna, Ananta, Antaka, Yama, Pinga, Chhayasuta, Babhru, Sthavara and Pippalayana. Whoever recites them, it says, never suffers the affliction of Shani. When an Amavasya falls on a Saturday, it asks for bath, dana and shraddha.