Shani Shingnapur

Sthala Puranam

Shepherds touched a black stone with a pointed rod and it bled. Shani appeared in a shepherd's dream and said he preferred the open sky to a roof.

He asked for daily worship and weekly oil offerings on Saturdays, and promised the hamlet protection from thieves.

Speciality

• The deity is a swayambhu (self-formed) black stone about 5.5 feet tall, on an open platform with no roof.
• Houses, shops and temples within about one kilometre have no doors or locks, since villagers fear Shani's punishment for theft. A bank branch opened here in 2011 with doors that stay open.
• For about 400 years women were not allowed in the inner sanctum. After a Bombay High Court ruling in March 2016, the trust let women in on 8 April 2016.
• About 30,000–45,000 visitors come daily, and about 3 lakh on amavasya.

Festivals

• Fair on new-moon days (amavasya), especially on Saturdays, with a palanquin procession
• Shani Jayanti
• Shani Thrayodashi

How to reach

Before you go

• Dress modestly. Leave footwear outside the temple.
• Timings, ticket rules and dress codes change. Check the temple's own notice or website before you travel.
• Book darshan, rooms and special poojas only at the official counter or website, not through agents.
• Saturdays and amavasya are very crowded. Weekdays are calmer.
• Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur are close, so many pilgrims combine them.

Prayers for this temple

• Sani (Saturn) Graha Stotram
• Navagraha Stotram (All Nine)