Navagraha · शनैश्चरः
Shani (Saturn): mantra, gemstone and remedies
Shani, Saturn, is the slowest of the seven visible grahas: it takes about two and a half years to cross one sign. Tradition calls it the judge among the planets, who rewards steady and honest work. Its transit over the Moon sign is the sade sati.
Where Shani is today
27/10/2026, 6:00 am IST
- Rashi
- Meena मीन (Pisces), 15°22′
- Nakshatra
- Uttara Bhadrapada, pada 4
- Motion
- Retrograde
- Next sign change
- Into Mesha (Aries) on 03/06/2027
All nine grahas are on planet positions today; this year’s sign changes are on planet transits and the retrograde periods on retrograde planets.
Shani at a glance
| Names | Sanskrit: शनैश्चरः · Hindi: शनि · English: Saturn · also called Shanaishchara, Manda, Shani Dev |
|---|---|
| Signifies (karaka) | work and duty; discipline, patience and hard effort; workers, helpers and the elderly; justice and the results of past actions; long life and slow, lasting results |
| Signs it rules | Makara (मकर) and Kumbha (कुंभ) |
| Exalted in | Tula (तुला) |
| Debilitated in | Mesha (मेष) |
| Friends | Budh and Shukra |
| Neutral | Guru |
| Enemies | Surya, Chandra and Mangal |
| Nakshatras it rules | Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada |
| Weekday | Saturday |
| Number | 8 |
| Colour | Dark blue, black |
| Ratna (gemstone) | Blue Sapphire, नीलम (Neelam) |
| Vimshottari mahadasha | 19 years (8 of 9 in the dasha order) |
| Lal Kitab | Pakka ghar 8, 10; stands for workers, uncles, machinery, iron and old age |
What Shani signifies
- work and duty
- discipline, patience and hard effort
- workers, helpers and the elderly
- justice and the results of past actions
- long life and slow, lasting results
Shani mahadasha (19 years): Work, discipline and responsibility. Results come through steady effort; delays teach patience. Find your running dasha with the dasha calculator.
Shani mantra
Shani beej mantra
ॐ प्रां प्रीं प्रौं सः शनैश्चराय नमः
Romanised: Om prāṃ prīṃ prauṃ saḥ śanaiścarāya namaḥ
Meaning: Om, the seed sounds of Saturn, salutations to Shanaishchara, the slow-moving one.
Shani verse of the Navagraha stotra
नीलाञ्जनसमाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम्।
छायामार्तण्डसंभूतं तं नमामि शनैश्चरम्॥
Romanised: nīlāñjana-samābhāsaṃ ravi-putraṃ yamāgrajam /
chāyā-mārtaṇḍa-sambhūtaṃ taṃ namāmi śanaiścaram
Meaning: I bow to Shanaishchara, dark blue like kohl, the son of the Sun and elder brother of Yama, born of Chhaya and the Sun.
The Navagraha stotra is traditionally ascribed to the sage Vyasa and has one verse for each graha.
Japa count (commonly suggested): 23,000. Commonly suggested total for a full japa (anushthan), completed over several days in rounds of 108 on a mala. For daily practice, one round of 108 is the usual suggestion. Some manuals give other totals; follow the count your pandit or astrologer gives.
Tradition suggests learning the pronunciation from a teacher or priest. A mantra is a practice of faith and focus, not a guarantee of any result.
Simple remedies for Shani (commonly suggested)
These are practices commonly suggested in the tradition. Whether a graha needs attention in your chart is decided from the whole Kundli.
- Recite the beej mantra 108 times on Saturdays.
- Give mustard oil, black sesame or black urad in charity on a Saturday.
- Light a mustard oil lamp under a peepal tree on Saturday evening, as many families do.
- Treat workers, helpers and elderly people with respect, and help those in need.
Gemstone: the ratna of Shani is Blue Sapphire, नीलम (Neelam); commonly suggested substitutes are Amethyst and Iolite (Neeli). Wear a gemstone only after Namieta has checked your Kundli. A ratna strengthens its planet, and a planet that is weak or troublesome in your chart can make a stone unsuitable even when it matches your Mulank. Crystals are a gentler choice to keep at home or work. The gemstone calculator shows the stone of your Mulank.
Lal Kitab: the Lal Kitab remedies for Shani are on Lal Kitab remedies.
← Shukra · All nine grahas · Rahu →
Questions about Shani
What is the Shani beej mantra?
ॐ प्रां प्रीं प्रौं सः शनैश्चराय नमः (Om prāṃ prīṃ prauṃ saḥ śanaiścarāya namaḥ). Om, the seed sounds of Saturn, salutations to Shanaishchara, the slow-moving one.
How many times should the Shani mantra be chanted?
One round of 108 on a mala is the usual daily suggestion, often begun on a Saturday. For a full japa the total commonly given is 23,000, completed over several days. What suits you depends on your chart.
Which gemstone is for Shani?
Blue Sapphire, नीलम (Neelam); commonly suggested substitutes are Amethyst and Iolite (Neeli). A ratna strengthens its planet, so wear one only after your Kundli has been checked. The gemstone calculator shows the stone of your Mulank.
How long is the Shani mahadasha?
19 years in the Vimshottari dasha. Work, discipline and responsibility. Results come through steady effort; delays teach patience.
Is Shani a bad planet?
No graha is simply good or bad. Among other things, Shani stands for work and duty, and for discipline, patience and hard effort; how it works for you depends on its sign, house and strength in your own Kundli, and on the running dasha.