Shani Mantra — Meaning and How to Chant
Shani Dev is the son of Surya and Chhaya, and in tradition he is the just deity who gives the fruits of our karma. 'Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah' is his short seed mantra, and 'Nilanjana Samabhasam' is his well-known verse from the Navagraha Stotra. Devotees chant these on Saturdays.
Om sham shanaishcharaya namah ||
Nilanjana-samabhasam ravi-putram yamagrajam | chhaya-martanda-sambhutam tam namami shanaishcharam ||
Meaning
Mantra
Om sham shanaishcharaya namah ||
With the seed syllable 'Sham', I bow to Shani Dev, the slow-moving one.
Verse 1
Nilanjana-samabhasam ravi-putram yamagrajam | chhaya-martanda-sambhutam tam namami shanaishcharam ||
He shines with the dark blue of kohl; he is the son of Surya and the elder brother of Yama, born of Chhaya and the Sun. I bow to that Shani Dev.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
How many times should the Shani mantra be chanted?
'Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah' is usually chanted 108 times (one mala). The 'Nilanjana Samabhasam' verse is recited 1, 11 or 21 times.
When should the Shani mantra be chanted?
On Saturdays, especially in the evening, and on Shani Jayanti. Traditionally devotees light a mustard-oil lamp near a peepal tree while chanting.
What does the name 'Shanaishchara' mean?
'Shanaih' means slowly and 'chara' means one who moves — Saturn appears to move most slowly across the sky, hence the name.