Lord Shani - Deliverance of justice

Lord Shani:

Planet Saturn is called as Lord Shani and weekday Saturday is dedicated to Lord Shanidev.Lord shani is also called as Chayaputra or Raviputra as he is born to Lord Surya and Goddess Chayadevi.'Shani tryodasi' which comes with tryodashi (Lunar day of Hindus) on Saturday, 'Shani Amavasya' which comes on new moon day Saturday are considered as auspicious days for worshiping the Lord. New moon day which comes on Vaishakha or Jyaishta month according to Hindu calendar is considered as the birth anniversary of Lord Saturn. Planet Saturn is powerful giver and destroyer.

Cultural belief:
 
Lord Shani was believed as a form of Lord Shiva. Lord Yama(death god) is elder brother of Lord Saturn.Shani puja on Saturdays will please Lord Saturn and will be blessed with removal of hardships.Shani Tilabhishekam,Shani Pradosh Vratam,Shani Tila puja,Shani hawan and Shani Shodashopachara poojas  are considered as very much auspicious. Shodashopachara pooja(16 steps of prayer) is considered as the powerful prayer which is explained below.

Achamana — water sipping 3 times for self purification.
Pranayamam - breathing exercise.
Ganapati Prayers — Prayer to Ganesha to remove obstacles.
Kalsha - Inviting waters of all rivers into pot.
Sankalpa — declaration of intent.
Ghanta — Ringing bell(welcoming God)

16 steps of worship:
Dhyana or Avahana - Inviting the Lord Saturn
Asana - offering seat to sit.
Paadhya - offering water to wash the feet.
Aarghya - offering water to wash hands.
Aachamana - offering water to drink.
Madhuparka - offering sweet welcome drink.
Snana - Bathing should be done by pouring sesame oil or full ripe coconut water by reciting Sri Rudram or Purusha Sooktam or Sri Suktam. Pouring oil should be stopped after completion of one of the selected mantras. Unfortunatly, if oil was completed bathing should be continued with coconut water or simply water.
Vastra, Upaveeta - Offering Black Cloth to Lord.
Gandha - Offering Sandalwood paste for fragrance(like scent).
Pushpa - offering flowers with sesame seeds by praying Lord with 108 names('Ashtothara Sathanamavali').
Dhoopa - Lightening incense sticks.
Deepa - Lightening lamp using black wicks or specially made wick using black cloth & sesame seeds.
Naivedya - offering food (Sweet balls made with jaggery and sesame seeds, coconuts or banana's)
Taambula- offering betel leaf with areca nut.
Aarati - offering camphor light.
Mantrapushpa, Pradakshina - offering flower powered by mantra and doing circumambulation.

Interesting facts:

• Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra is very famous for Lord Saturn, there the God self emerged from earth as black stone.In this village, houses are with no doors.
• Shri Mandeshwara Temple in East Godavari district,AP is very famous temple where Lord Shiva blessed Lord Saturn for his capabilities.
• Lord Saturn rides on Iron chariot and mounted on Crow.
• According to astrology, Lord Saturn in 7th place of Horoscope considered as strong.
• Aquarius and Capricorn are the zodiac signs ruled by Lord Saturn.
• Taurus and Libra are the zodiac signs where Lord Saturn is most beneficial.
• Elinati Shani or Sade Sathi is the period of 7.5 years of transit of Lord Saturn considered as powerful.
• Peepal tree has strong influence of Lord Saturn so it should be touched only on Saturdays to get positive results. 
• Prayer of Lord Hanuma with 'Hanuman chalisa' on Saturdays also pleases Lord Saturn.

Scientific Reasons:

• Astrology connected metal iron to Saturn and called Mandhagaman (means very slow). Science found ferrous (iron) oxide on Saturn.
• Saturn takes 22.7 years to complete one rotation around sun.
• In Germany,Scientists observed the room with microscope where group of people chanting 'Sri Rudram'.They found electrons flowed in the room in the form of Shiva Linga.  Mantras like Rudram,sooktam have direct healing and relaxing effect on people in the surroundings.
• Mr.Sathish Chandra explained power generation using 'Poorusha-Sookta'.
• Recent researches said that Hanuman Chalisa explains accurate distance between Sun and Earth.
• If we do head bathing by applying sesame oil all over the body can cure several skin diseases.
• Sesame seeds contains Vitamin-E, Vitamin-B, Calcium, Magnesium and fiber which give healthy benefits to the body.
• Black cloth absorbs heat from environment and gives heat to body. Sesame seeds give heat to body.
• The whole prayer for Lord Saturn passes a valuable healthy habits to generation by generation.