Shani Shingnapur is a famous temple of Lord Shani, a Hindu deity associated with the planet Shani. Shingnapur Temple timings: The Temple is open 24 hours for the pilgrims; Devotees can watch live darshan” online.
Shani Shingnapur Temple
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There are no doors to any house in the village; only the door frames are famous for Shingnapur. However, villagers did not report the theft until 2010. It is in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The main deity is ‘Swayambhu’, a ‘self–evolving’ goddess.
Also, the Shani Shingnapur temple is believed by devotees to be the “awakened temple“, which translates as “living temple“, meaning that the deity still resides in the temple symbol.
Furthermore, the villagers believe that the God Shani will punish anyone who tries to steal. Devotees worship Lord Shani with sesame oil, a black stone representing Saturn.
Rules to Follow
- One must follow specific rules to occupy the stage to worship Shani in Shani Shingnapur. Only men are granted on the platform to honour Shani dev Maharaj.
- The devotee should bathe his head and come on stage in wet clothes. The devotee should be bare-headed (devotees should wear no hat or covering cloth on the head).
- Collect water only from the well, which is sacred for the worship of Saturn. Devotees also use sesame oil for worship.
Significance of Shani Shingnapur Mandir
The significance of the Shani Temple is that in the Temple of Lord Shani, a five and a half feet high black rock set upon an open platform symbolises God. Devotees can perform puja anointing or other religious rites independently, unlike other pilgrimage centres.
The statue has a trident (Trishul) and a Nandi (bull) on the south side. On the front are small images of Lord Shiva and Hanuman. Only three people visited this shrine during the reign of Acharya Udasi Baba. They are Dagdu Changedia, Hastimal Chnagedia and Badri Tokse’s mother.
They also used to come on Saturdays. Now, 13,000 visitors are coming every day. Generally, the TempleTemple receives 30–45,000 visitors a day, reaching around three Lakh on the day of the Amavasya (moonless day), believed to be the holiest day to appease Shani.
According to a 400-year-old tradition, women cannot enter the sanctum sanctorum. Therefore, on January 26, 2016, more than 500 women led by activist Trupti Desai marched to the TempleTemple under the “Bhoomata Ramragani Brigade” and demanded entry into the sanctum sanctorum. However, the police stopped them.
In a landmark judgment on 2016 March 30, the Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government not to deny entry to any temple. Therefore, on April 8, 2016, the Shani Shingnapur Trust finally allowed women devotees into the sanctum sanctorum.
History of the Temple
According to history, Ahmednagar is famous as the place of saints. Also, there are four myths surrounding this Temple. The story of the Swayambhu idol handed through word of mouth for generations is as follows:
The stone began to bleed when the shepherd touched it with an angled rod. It came as a surprise to the shepherd. Immediately, the whole village gathered to see the miracle. That night, Shanaishwara appeared in a dream as the most pious and pious of the shepherds.
He told the shepherd that he was “Shanaishwar.” He also said that his autobiographical form is a black stone that looks special. The shepherd prayed and asked the Lord if he could build a temple for himself.
The God Saturn said that the whole sky was his roof and that he preferred the open sky and did not need a roof. He asked the shepherd to perform daily worship and ‘anoint’ every Saturday. He assured the village should not fear dacoits, burglars, or thieves.
Festivals Celebrated
Some of the Utsav celebrated at Shani Shingnapur Temple are:
Sri Shaneshchar Jayanti:
Today is the birthday of Lord Shani. From ‘Chaitra Shuddha Dasami’ to ‘Chaitra Vaadya Pratipada’, the priests chant the name of God and recite ‘Grantharaj Gnaneshwari’.
Ashadi Ekadashi:
Since 1991, every year on Ashadi Ekadashi, Shaneshwar Palki is carried on foot from Shanishingnapur to Pandarpur with much fanfare. All the trustees and devotees attend it.
Ekanadhi Sashti:
Similarly, every year during 1991, during Ekanadhi Sashti, all the trustees and devotees take Shaneshwar Palki on foot from Shanishinganapur to Paithan.
How to reach
By Air:
The nearest international airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai.
By Train:
The recommended railway stations are Ahmednagar, Rahuri, Srirampur and Belapur.
By Road:
Shingnapur village is 6 km from Ghodegaon on the Aurangabad-Ahmednagar road in Maharashtra. It is 84 km from Aurangabad and 35 km from Ahmednagar.
Hotel to Stay in Shingnapur
Some places to stay near the Temple:
- Divik Hotel, Shirdi Pimpulwadi Road, is an excellent check-in place. It offers a great dining experience and is a great place to stay.
- The Temple View Hotel on Nagar Manmad Road is close to the Temple—travellers often check in because of its convenient location and well-suited accommodation.
Places to visit near the Temple
Some places near the Temple:
Shirdi:
Shirdi is located 70 km from the famous Shani Shinganapur. Sai Baba spent most of his life in Shirdi, a village. Millions of visitors visit the Shirdi Temple daily and take Sai Baba’s blessings.
Ajanta and Ellora:
The Ajanta and Ellora Caves are considered the most significant historical monuments in Maharashtra, India, located 79 km southwest of Shingnapur.
Nashik:
Nashik is located at a distance of 143 km from Shani Shingnapur and is famous for its religious culture.
There are many places to visit in Nashik; some are Muktidham, Trimbakeshwar, Pandavleni Caves, Sula Vineyards, Kalaram Temple, Naroshankar Temple, Sundaranarayana Temple, Sri Kailas Math etc.
Shani Shingnapur Temple Timings:
The Shani Shingnapur temple timings are as follows: The Temple is open 24 hours every day.
Shani Shingnapur Live Darshan:
To watch Shani Shingnapur’s live darshan, please visit the official Website.