आरती · Shani
Shani Aarti
जय जय श्री शनिदेव
The Shani Aarti, beginning with "Jai Jai Shri Shani Dev", is the central lamp-offering hymn in the worship of Lord Shani Dev. Sung on Saturdays (Shaniwar), during Sade Sati, on Shani Trayodashi, and on Shani Jayanti, it concludes any Shani Puja with the waving of a five-wick mustard-oil lamp before the Shani idol. The Aarti praises Shani in his many forms — son of Surya and Chhaya, slow-mover (Mandagati), the dispenser of karmic justice — and asks for his protective grace through the difficult periods he himself governs.
Hindi · 7 stanzas
Deity Hub
शनिShani
Worship on Saturdays · Shani Jayanti
Frequently Asked Questions about Shani Aarti
When should the Shani Aarti be performed?
The Shani Aarti is performed at the conclusion of every Saturday (Shaniwar) Puja, on Shani Trayodashi (the 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha that falls on a Saturday), on Shani Jayanti (Vaishakha Amavasya, in May–June), during the seven-and-a-half year Sade Sati period, and during Shani Mahadasha or Antardasha. It is traditionally performed in the evening after sunset, with a mustard-oil lamp containing five wicks, facing west.
What offerings (bhog) are made during Shani Puja?
The traditional offerings for Shani — many of which are mentioned in the Aarti itself — include: black sesame seeds (kala til), mustard oil (sarson tel) for the lamp and as offering, urad dal (black gram), iron (loha) in the form of nails or horseshoe, black cloth, black or dark-blue flowers (especially blue lotus where available), modak or kala til ladoo as bhog, jaggery (gur), and offerings of grain to crows (Shani's messenger) and buffalo (his vahana). The mustard-oil lamp with five wicks is the central act of the Aarti.
Where should the Shani idol be placed for Puja?
In a home temple, the Shani idol or image should be placed facing west or south, never facing north or east directly. The devotee performing the Aarti should face the deity (so the devotee faces east or north). The Shani idol should never be looked at directly in the eye during worship — only at the feet or chest, as Shani's gaze is considered powerful enough to alter destiny. Public temple worship at major Shani temples like Shani Shingnapur (Maharashtra), Tirunallar (Tamil Nadu), and Shani Dham (Delhi) follow similar conventions.
What is the difference between Shani Aarti, Chalisa, and the Dasharatha Krit Stotram?
The Shani Aarti is sung during the lamp-offering ritual at the conclusion of any Shani Puja — it is the devotional climax of worship. The Shani Chalisa is a longer 40-verse Hindi devotional recitation read before or after the Puja, narrating Shani's glory and his effects through dasha and transit. The Dasharatha Krit Shani Stotram is a 10-verse Sanskrit hymn from the Padma Purana, composed by King Dasharatha, considered the most authoritative classical hymn for protection during Sade Sati. The complete Shani worship sequence is: Stotram → Chalisa → Aarti.