Celebrating Saturn's Birthday on Friday, May 19
On Shani Jayanti, We Hail Saturn Who Forges the Diamond Soul!
Shani Jayanti will occur on the day of the New Moon on Friday, May 19. Shani Jayanti is the celebration of the birthday of Shani Dev, the lord of truth and karma. Shani Dev is better known as Lord Saturn in Vedic astrology.
Prayers, pujas, and other rituals are traditionally performed in honor of Shani Dev on this special day, according to a variety of Vedic traditions.
Understanding the Timing of this Special Day
In the North Indian purnimant calendar, Shani Jayanti is observed on the amavasya tithi (the day leading into the New Moon) during the Jyeshtha month. This month extends from May 20 to June 18. According to the alternate South Indian amavasyant calendar, Shani Jayanti falls on the amavasya tithi during Vaishakha month which extends from April 21 to May 20.
One Simple Way to Honor Saturn on His Birthday
The colors of Saturn are dark blue, black, or deep purple. To propitiate Saturn, it can be helpful to tune into or wear these colors on Shani Jayanti (or also on Saturdays, the day of the week ruled by Saturn). Doing this can increase the manifestation of Saturn’s highest qualities within ourselves and in our lives. These qualities include truth, spiritual awareness, stability, organization, accountability, tenacity, discipline, hard work, patience, duty, responsibility, practicality, and efficiency.
Understanding the Symbolic Shadow Nature of Saturn
As the son of the Sun, Saturn’s nature is often expressed in the symbolic world of shadow. The late Vedic astrologer Bepin Behari referred to this idea in Myths and Symbols of Vedic Astrology (p 91):
Saturn spiritualizes, but not by arousing an inner urge to discover the real Self. This comes as an after-effect. Saturn causes frustration with the material world. It creates sorrow first. It accentuates the nature of the ‘shadow’ and makes the veil covering the soul’s real nature more prominent through its restricting influence.
Saturn’s Heat and Pressure Forge the Diamond Soul
Astrologer Steven Arroyo aptly explained in Astrology, Karma and Transformation (p 73) that Saturn’s heat and pressure allow us to develop what Buddhists call the diamond soul or diamond body. This is their way of describing our fundamental innermost nature. Many Jyotish teachers have often similarly describe Saturn as the “irritant that produces the pearl.”
Saturn's Power to Help Us Understand Our Innermost Nature
In Astrology of Inner Space (pp 426-427), astrologer Carl Payne Tobey expressed an interesting view of our diamond soul, or innermost nature. I believe that Tobey's quote explains the highest expression of Saturn. In particular, Saturn can reveal the illusions of the outer world and help us to understand the inner space that Tobey describes:
I don’t feel the need to become a part of something bigger. There is more to conquer in inner space than in the outer world. It is unlimited and more interesting. It’s the source of understanding…this does not mean I am antisocial but I prefer to deal with individuals rather than groups…For many, the outer shell of inner space is contaminated and polluted by reflections from the outer world, that ‘something bigger’ with all its corruption and hypocrisy.
I bow to Lord Shani, who removes the illusion of worldliness: Om Virodhadharabumaya Namah!
I bow to Lord Shani, who is the most senior and excellent One: Om Shresthaya Namah!
I bow to the One who speaks little: Om Mitabhasinaya Namah!
I bow to the One who destroys the root of ignorance: Om Avidyamulanasa Namah!
I bow to the One who is lowly and humble: Om Kurupinaya Namah!
I bow to the One who gives dispassion: Om Vairagyadaya Namah!
I bow to the One whose power arises from dispassion: Om Viraya Namah!
I bow to the One who is steady and reliable: Om Achanchala Namah!
I humbly bow to Lord Shani who is my own true nature. Om Sham Shanicharaya Namah!
Jai Shani Dev! Happy Birthday, Saturn! I wish a blessed New Moon and Shani Jayanti to all my readers!
Love this! In Saturn Mahadasha...
Thank you, Julianna. I enjoyed reading and appreciate the book recommendations. I have 'Arroyo's book. Now, I shall pull it off the shelf and read about the 'irritant that makes the pearl'. With Capricorn ascendant and Saturn in Cancer, Ketu in Capricorn - Saturn has taught me many lessons in this incarnation. My closet is full of 'Navy' blue!