What is Shani Dosha?

Planet Saturn or Shani is one of the most significant and influential planets in Astrology. Hence, its location, nature, and abilities in the birth horoscope of a person are certainly immensely important and crucial. Son of the Sun, and elder brother of Yama (the God of death), though Saturn is considered as a malefic planet, it is also a planet of justice. As per Vedic Astrology, Saturn gives just results of one's good and bad deeds through appropriate rewards and punishments. This article describes the consequences when planet Saturn is ill-placed or is debilitated or retrograde in the birth horoscope of a person. Such situations as commonly referred to as the presence of Shani Dosha in the Kundli.

Now, this section is going to give answer to the common question "what is shani dosha?", and "when does it occur in a birth chart?". Then, the lower sections will give information about the causes, effects, and remedies of shani dosha, to help the concerned people of the world over.

Infamous Shani Dosh occurs in a natal chart, when the planet Saturn is either ill-placed in the chart or is rather weak/debilitated or is in a retrograde position in the birth horoscope. Conjunction of Saturn with Mars, or Moon, or Rahu, etc., may also create shani dosha. Here, it may be noted that Shani is exalted in Libra, and is debilitated in the sign of Aries. Again, location of Saturn in any of the Cardinal houses or in the eighth or twelfth house, especially in the Aries, Cancer, Leo, or Scorpio sign, creates substantial shani dosha in the birth chart.

Shani Dosh Causes and Its Effects

This section contains very enlightening and securing information about the various shani dosh causes and its effects, to help the readers. As far as the causes creating shani doshas (afflictions) are concerned, these could be numerous and varied, which were committed by the native in his/her previous births. The following are some of such broad delinquencies or crimes which lead to shani dosha in birth horoscope of the present life of the native:

• Hurting and harming people and other creatures through the ways possible, knowingly or by mistake
• Practicing wickedness, hypocrisy, sadism
• Keeping an evil eye towards money and possessions, success, and happiness of other people of the society
• Getting one's works done through cheating, deceit, treachery, or other crooked means
• And, leading a self-centered life of suppressing/oppressing others unfairly or tyrannically.

What are the Possible Ill Effects of Shani Dosha?

The following are the likely bad effects of shani dosha:

• Hindrances and unreasonable Delays in Works or Results
• Illiteracy, Poverty, Misery
• Mystic Delay in Marriage or Problems in Married Life
• Impotency
• Disturbances and Quarrels in Relationships
• Uncanny Failures or Losses in Business/Profession
• No or only the Least Benefit from the Best Possible Efforts
• Theft or Cheating
• Financial Scarcities, Fluctuations, Debts
• Litigations or Jail Punishments
• Monetary Losses or Rising Debts/Loans
• Injuries or Accidents
• Evil Eye Effects or Enemies without Cause
• Low Self-esteem, Disappointments, Sickness, and Undue Responsibility
• Difficulty in Breathing or Asthma
• Disorders of the Respiratory Tract
• Prolonged, Chronic, or Incurable Diseases like Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes, Paralysis, etc.

How to Remove Shani Dosha and Its Remedies

This section deals exclusively with the topic "how to remove shani dosha and its remedies", to help the concerned people of India and abroad. The measures for alleviating or eliminating the malefic effects of shani dosha listed below, are helpful both for lessening the shani dosha and mitigating the malefic influences of the Saturn during the period of Shani Sade Sati.

Some of the important remedies to remove shani dosha are following:

• Fasting on Saturdays:

  Keeping fasts on 51 Saturdays, nourishing oneself only with Khichdi (made of rice and Urad Daal) or broth of sesame seeds, after sunset.

• Making Charities and Donations:

  Making donation of things which represent the planet Saturn especially on Saturdays. Some of such things are blue or black clothes, black gram and black sesame seeds, iron articles, items made of clay or leather, black cow or buffalo, etc. These things should be given to the poor, beggars, and other needy people.

• Worships:

  Worshipping Lord Hanuman on Saturdays and Tuesdays, and chanting Hanuman Chalisa. Worshipping Lord Shiva will also help lots. Watering Peepal Tree, or lighting a lamp of sesame oil beside the Peepal Tree on Saturdays, also help.

• Wearing Curative/Beneficial Articles:

  Blue Sapphire, Shani Yantra Pendant, or a ring made of the horse shoe of a black horse.

• Performing/Organizing any Yagyas:

  Like Vedic Yagya, Shani Graha Shanti Yagya, etc.

• Chanting/Recital of Mantras:

  Like Shani Mantra, Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, etc.

• Practicing certain Qualities:

  Practicing sincerely and regularly the qualities like honesty, rectitude, generosity, etc., towards subordinates and innocent people. Giving due space, respect, and service to aged people, disabled persons, and suffering people.