Why Shani Dev's idol is not kept at home: the legend of his wife's curse and rules of worship
Devotees are advised to worship Shani Dev at a temple, not at home, because of a legend that his wife cursed him so that whoever he looks at suffers.
The mention of Shani Dev makes many people uneasy. He is regarded as the sternest of the gods and as the deity of justice. Astrology holds that he weighs a person's good and bad deeds and gives results accordingly. That is why his worship calls for care and adherence to rules. The most important of them is that Shani Dev should not be worshipped at home and his idol should not be kept in the house.
In Hinduism, each deity has a different method of worship. Devotion alone is not enough; the rules must be followed as well. It is believed that worship done by the rules bears fruit, while breaking them can bring bad consequences. Those planning to pray on Shani Jayanti or on a Saturday should first understand why the worship is not done at home.
A legend is cited as the reason. According to it, Shani Dev's wife cursed him, saying that whoever he looks at will come to harm. His gaze is very severe, and anyone on whom it falls will suffer.
While worshipping, people look into the eyes of the deity, at the idol. It is believed that if an idol of Shani Dev is kept at home and looked at every day, the cursed gaze brings negative energy into the house. When such energy comes, peace leaves the home, quarrels break out and happiness departs. Work of the family members is hindered and money becomes tight. For this reason it is said that the idol should not be kept at home. Worship at a Shani temple is considered more auspicious instead. On Saturdays, people worship by going to the temple.
Those who wish to worship on Shani Jayanti or on a Saturday should rise early, bathe, put on clean clothes and then go to the temple. There, Shani Dev should be bathed ritually with panchamrit or panchagavya. Kumkum and kajal are applied to the idol, a mustard oil lamp is lit and incense is burnt. Black flowers and sweets made with oil are considered auspicious offerings to Shani Dev. Black sesame seeds are also offered.
Then the mantras of Shani Dev should be chanted with devotion. The mantra "Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah" should be recited, the Shani Chalisa read and the aarti performed at the end. If any mistake was made during the worship, forgiveness should be sought from Shani Dev, because he is also forgiving, provided one's deeds are good.
It is also said that there is no need to fear Shani Dev. He punishes only those who do wrong. If your deeds are good and you do no harm to anyone, Shani Dev will never harm you. On the contrary, he will give good results. So instead of keeping an idol at home, one should visit the temple for darshan. Always behaving well is the simplest way to please Shani Dev.
