How do we worship Śani on Saturdays?

light a sesame-oil lamp, offer black sesame, recite a Śani stotra or the Hanumān Cālīsā, and serve people who work hard for little — Śani’s worship is discipline and fairness.

Śani, son of Sūrya and Chāyā, is often feared, but tradition sees him as the just teacher who returns the results of our own actions and rewards patience, honesty and hard work. Approaching him with respect rather than fear is the right spirit.

Common Saturday practices: light a sesame-oil lamp at a Śani temple or under a peepal tree in the evening; offer black sesame, black urad or a blue flower; recite the Śani stotra traditionally attributed to King Daśaratha, or “Oṁ Śaṁ Śanaiścarāya namaḥ” 108 times. Many also visit Hanumān, following the story of his help to Śani. Some keep a simple Saturday fast.

Most important of all is the service Śani is said to love: helping labourers, the elderly, the disabled and the poor, treating staff fairly, and feeding animals. Many families find this the most meaningful part of the practice.

Source: Daśaratha’s Śani stotra; popular tradition · Mantra: Oṁ Śaṁ Śanaiścarāya namaḥ

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