Why We Dread Shani

Why do most Hindus fear Shani Dev? Shani is one of the popular deities that the Hindus pray to ward off evil and remove obstacles. They are under fear of evil from his planet - Saturn. Anyone born under his influence is believed to at risk. Even the day named after him, Shanivara or Saturday, is considered inauspicious.

Shani is represented as having a dark complexion and is said to be the son of Surya, the sun god, and Chaya, the servant whom his wife Swarna surrogated. He is the brother of Yama, the god of death and is believed by many to be an avatar of Shiva.

According to myths, Shani oversees the "dungeons of the human heart and the dangers that lurks there." Stories about his evil influence abound. He is said to have chopped off Ganesha's head...