Shani Mantra

When it is sung or recited

When it is recited: on Saturdays, the day of Shani, often in the evening, and by people who keep a Shani vrat or a regular Shani japa.

Repetitions: Many people chant it 108 times on a mala. Old ritual texts name much larger counts (for example 23,000) for a formal observance, which is done under the guidance of a priest.

Meaning

'Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah' means salutations to Shanaishchara, the slow mover, who is Saturn; 'sham' is the seed syllable (bija) of the mantra. The verse 'Nilanjana samabhasam' describes Shani as having the dark blue glow of collyrium, as the son of the Sun and the elder brother of Yama, born of Chhaya (shadow) and Martanda (the Sun). It ends by saying, I bow to that Shanaishchara. In the Navagraha Stotra this is the verse for Shani.

Please note

The verse is the seventh verse of the Navagraha Stotra, a hymn to the nine planets that is traditionally attributed to Vyasa. 'Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah' appears in old ritual texts, for example the Garuda Purana. Different traditions use different mantras for Shani, so follow the one your family uses. For correct pronunciation, ask a scholar or your family priest.

Text compared with: sanskritdocuments.org, sa.wikisource.org, hi.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org. A comparison with printed editions is still in progress. Wording differs between sources, so follow your priest’s version.