The Shani Shingnapur Temple is located in the village of Shingnapur in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India. This temple, situated in the open sky, is dedicated to Lord Shani, who is also believed to have been born in Shingnapur according to Hindu mythology. In Hinduism, Lord Shani is considered the son of Lord Surya (Sun) and the brother of Yama, the god of death, and is revered as the deity of justice.
Shani Shingnapur Temple is only 70 kilometers away from the famous Sai Baba temple in Shirdi, and people who visit Shirdi often also visit the Shani Shingnapur Temple. The temple is easily accessible via road from Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar, and Mumbai.
According to Vedic astrology, Saturn (Shani) is considered the slowest-moving planet. It resides in each zodiac sign for approximately 2.5 years. It is believed that Lord Shani meticulously assesses everyone’s good and bad deeds during their lifetime. Those who commit negative deeds often face the adverse effects of Shani’s gaze, known as “vakra drishti,” whereas those who perform virtuous deeds receive Shani’s auspicious blessings.
In the Shani Shingnapur Temple, the self-manifested idol of Lord Shani is enshrined in the form of a large black stone. Devotees continuously offer sesame seeds and mustard oil on the idol as a form of reverence. According to religious beliefs, long ago during a flood, this stone reached the village of Shingnapur. Some shepherds noticed this stone. When they tried to move the stone with a large wooden stick, blood started flowing from it. That night, one of the shepherds had a dream where Lord Shani came and instructed them to establish this stone as a deity.
Another belief associated with this temple is that visiting it with one’s maternal uncle (mama) and nephew (bhanje) brings greater benefits. This is because it was the maternal uncle and nephew who retrieved the stone from the flood and installed it at its current location. According to folk traditions, after having the darshan (viewing) of Lord Shani at the Shani Shingnapur Temple, one should not look back until they have exited the temple premises.
The village of Shingnapur is also famous for another reason: the houses here do not have doors installed. The residents believe that Lord Shani himself protects the village, and theft does not occur here. While the Shani Shingnapur Temple always has a crowd of devotees, the atmosphere here is particularly grand on Saturdays and especially on the new moon day dedicated to Lord Shani.
The route from Shirdi to the Shani Shingnapur Temple is quite pleasant and green. Here, by the roadside, I enjoyed drinking delicious sugarcane juice extracted by bulls in wooden mills. If you’re going to visit Sai Baba in Shirdi, make sure to visit the Shani Shingnapur Temple as well. Om Sham Shanicharaya Namah.
************************
➝How to reach Shani Shingnapur Temple: The distance from Pune is approximately 160 kilometers, from Shirdi 70 kilometers, from Nashik 144 kilometers, and from Ahmednagar city 40 kilometers. The nearest major railway station is Ahmednagar. The closest airport is Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport (formerly Aurangabad).
➝Best time to visit Shani Shingnapur Temple: The temple remains open throughout the year, but the period from November to February is most suitable.
➝Time required to visit Shani Shingnapur Temple: It takes about one day by car from Pune, Shirdi, and Nashik. If you are going from Shirdi, it will be better to return from Shani Shingnapur on the same day and stay at Shirdi.
