Shanivar (Shani Dev) Vrat Katha

Traditionally the Saturday fast is begun on a Saturday of the bright fortnight. Devotees wear black or blue, offer Shani Dev mustard or sesame oil, black sesame and urad, light a lamp under a peepal tree, hear the katha, and give to those in need.

Once the nine planetary deities argued about who was the greatest. They went to the just King Vikramaditya. The king had nine thrones of gold, silver, bronze, iron and other metals placed in order and said, 'Sit on your own seats; whoever sits first is the greatest.' Shani Dev's seat was of iron, and the very last. He grew angry and said, 'King, you have insulted me. Now you will see the effect of my gaze.'

Some time later Shani Dev came disguised as a horse trader. When the king mounted one horse, it carried him deep into the forest and vanished. Wandering, the king reached a merchant's house in a city. There a necklace hanging on a peg in the wall was swallowed by the peg itself, and the king was blamed for theft. That city's king had his hands and feet cut off. Crippled, Vikramaditya began turning an oil-man's kolhu.

Years passed. One night he was singing Raag Deepak. Hearing his sweet voice, that city's princess resolved to marry him, and the marriage took place. That night Shani Dev appeared in a dream and said, 'Do you see what came of insulting me?' Vikramaditya asked forgiveness and pleaded, 'Do not give anyone else the suffering you gave me.' Shani Dev was pleased and restored his hands and feet.

In the morning everyone was amazed. The peg in the merchant's house gave back the necklace. The merchant begged forgiveness and married his own daughter to him as well. Vikramaditya returned to Ujjain with his queens and proclaimed that Shani Dev is great, and that all should worship him and keep his vrat with devotion.