Shanivar Vrat Katha: In Hindu mythology, Shani Dev, also known as the Lord of Saturn, is often considered the most powerful and feared deity among the nine planetary gods. Known for his quick temper, it is believed that his anger can bring immense misfortune. Due to his wrath, even his relationship with his father, Surya Dev (the Sun God), is strained. To appease Shani Dev and gain his blessings, devotees observe a fast on Saturdays. This practice is believed to bring happiness and prosperity to one’s life. Those who observe this fast should listen to the Saturday Vrat Katha during their prayers. Let’s explore the story behind the Saturday fast.
The Story of the Saturday Fast (Shanivar Vrat Katha)
Once, a debate ensued among the nine planets—Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu—about who was the greatest. Unable to resolve their dispute, they approached Indra, the king of the gods. Indra, finding himself in a dilemma, suggested that they go to King Vikramaditya on Earth, known for his fairness and wisdom.
The planets went to King Vikramaditya and explained their problem. The king was troubled by their request, as declaring one planet superior to the others would undoubtedly anger the rest. After much contemplation, the king devised a plan. He had nine thrones made of gold, silver, bronze, brass, lead, tin, zinc, mica, and iron, and arranged them in this order.
He asked the planets to sit on the thrones in sequence. The condition was that the one who sat on the last throne would be deemed the smallest and least significant. Due to this arrangement, Shani Dev ended up on the last throne and was considered the smallest. Angered by this, Shani Dev thought that the king had done this intentionally.
Fuming with rage, Shani Dev warned the king, “You do not know me. The Sun stays in a zodiac sign for a month, the Moon for about two and a quarter days, Mars for one and a half months, Jupiter for thirteen months, and Mercury and Venus for one month each. But I, Shani, remain in a sign for two and a half to seven and a half years. I have caused the downfall of the greatest. During my period of Sade Sati, Lord Rama wandered in the forests, and during my period for Ravana, Lanka was defeated by an army of monkeys.”
Shani Dev cautioned the king to be careful and left in anger. Time passed, and the wheel of fate turned, bringing the period of Sade Sati for King Vikramaditya. Shani Dev disguised himself as a horse trader and came to the king’s kingdom with many fine horses. When the king heard about the trader’s horses, he sent his stable master to buy some good horses. The stable master purchased several horses, and the trader also gifted the king a magnificent horse for his personal use.
As soon as King Vikramaditya mounted the horse, it galloped uncontrollably towards the forest and vanished. The king wandered in the forest, hungry and thirsty. He was later found by a cowherd who quenched his thirst. In gratitude, the king gave the cowherd his ring and continued towards the city. There, he quenched his thirst at a merchant’s shop and introduced himself as Vika. By a stroke of luck, the merchant’s business flourished that day. Pleased, the merchant took Vika to his home.
At the merchant’s house, there was a necklace hanging on a peg, which the peg soon swallowed. When the merchant returned, he found the necklace missing and suspected Vika of theft. He had Vika arrested and, mistaking him for a thief, ordered his hands and feet to be cut off. In this crippled state, Vika was thrown out of the city. A kind oilman took pity on him and allowed Vika to ride in his cart. Vika then began to drive the oxen with his tongue.
Eventually, King Vikramaditya’s period of Shani Dasha ended. During the monsoon season, Vika began to sing the Malhar raag. Princess Manbhavani of a nearby city, enchanted by the raag, vowed to marry the singer. Her maidservants searched for the singer but reported back that he was a crippled man. Despite this, the princess remained firm in her decision and went on a hunger strike until her father agreed to the marriage.
The king arranged for the marriage between the princess and Vika. One night, Shani Dev appeared in Vika’s dream and said, “See, King, how much suffering you endured for belittling me.” The king apologized, asking Shani Dev never to inflict such suffering on anyone else. Shani Dev accepted the plea and assured him that observing his fast and listening to his story would alleviate all sufferings. He also restored the king’s hands and feet.
The next morning, when the princess awoke, she was astonished to see that Vika was actually King Vikramaditya. Overjoyed, the princess and the townspeople celebrated. When the merchant heard this, he begged for forgiveness. The king explained that it was all due to Shani Dev’s wrath and that no one was to blame.
The merchant invited the king for a meal, and as the king dined, the peg that had swallowed the necklace regurgitated it. The merchant thanked the king with many gold coins and requested the king to marry his daughter, Shreekunwari. The king accepted and returned to Ujjain with his two queens, Manbhavani and Shreekunwari. The entire city was decorated with lamps and celebrated joyously. The king declared that although he had called Shani Dev the smallest, in truth, Shani Dev was supreme. From that day, the regular worship and recitation of Shani Dev’s story began throughout the kingdom, bringing happiness and peace to all.
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