Shani Dev Aarti
श्री शनिदेव जी की आरती
"Jai Jai Shri Shani Dev, Bhaktan Hitkari" is a short traditional Hindi aarti to Shani Dev, son of the Sun and Chhaya. A refrain and four stanzas describe his dark form and blue garments, name the offerings dear to him (sesame, oil, urad dal and iron) and seek his shelter. It is sung on Saturdays at the end of Shani puja, usually after the Shani Chalisa.
- 5 verses
- 3 min
- Traditional
- Best on Saturday
Jai Jai Shri Shanidev Bhaktan Hitkariजय जय श्री शनिदेव भक्तन हितकारी।
Suraj Ke Putra Prabhu Chhaya Mahatariसूरज के पुत्र प्रभु छाया महतारी॥
Glory, glory to Shri Shani Dev, who works for the good of his devotees. Lord, you are the son of the Sun, and Chhaya is your mother.
In homes this refrain is sung first and again after each stanza.
Shyam Ank Vakra Drisht Chaturbhuja Dhariश्याम अंक वक्र दृष्ट चतुर्भुजा धारी।
Neelambar Dhar Nath Gaj Ki Asvariनीलाम्बर धार नाथ गज की असवारी॥
Your body is dark, your gaze is slanting, and you bear four arms. Lord, you wear blue garments and ride an elephant.
Shani is most often shown on a crow, but the elephant is also one of the seven mounts named in the Shani Chalisa.
Jai Jai Shri Shanidev Bhaktan Hitkariजय जय श्री शनिदेव भक्तन हितकारी।
Suraj Ke Putra Prabhu Chhaya Mahatariसूरज के पुत्र प्रभु छाया महतारी॥
Kreet Mukut Sheesh Rajit Dipat Hai Lilariक्रीट मुकुट शीश रजित दिपत है लिलारी।
Muktan Ki Mala Gale Shobhit Balihariमुक्तन की माला गले शोभित बलिहारी॥
A crown adorns your head and your forehead glows. A string of pearls shines at your throat; I offer my whole self to you.
"क्रीट" and "रजित" are the popular sung forms of किरीट (crown) and राजित (adorned); sanskritdocuments.org prints "किरिट".
Jai Jai Shri Shanidev Bhaktan Hitkariजय जय श्री शनिदेव भक्तन हितकारी।
Suraj Ke Putra Prabhu Chhaya Mahatariसूरज के पुत्र प्रभु छाया महतारी॥
Modak Mishthan Paan Chadhat Hain Supariमोदक मिष्ठान पान चढ़त हैं सुपारी।
Loha Til Tel Udad Mahishi Ati Pyariलोहा तिल तेल उड़द महिषी अति प्यारी॥
Modaks, sweets, paan and betel nut are offered to you. Iron, sesame, oil, urad dal and the buffalo are very dear to you.
Iron, sesame, sesame oil and urad dal are the things traditionally given in Shani's name. In older practice a buffalo was also among such gifts.
Jai Jai Shri Shanidev Bhaktan Hitkariजय जय श्री शनिदेव भक्तन हितकारी।
Suraj Ke Putra Prabhu Chhaya Mahatariसूरज के पुत्र प्रभु छाया महतारी॥
Dev Danuj Rishi Muni Sumirin Nar Nariदेव दनुज ऋषि मुनि सुमरिन नर नारी।
Vishwanath Dharat Dhyan Sharan Hain Tumhariविश्वनाथ धरत ध्यान शरण हैं तुम्हारी॥
Gods, demons, rishis, munis, men and women all remember you. Vishwanath meditates on you; we have come to your shelter.
Some read "Vishwanath" as the poet's name, placed in the last stanza as aartis often do. Others read it as Shiva, Lord of Kashi.
Jai Jai Shri Shanidev Bhaktan Hitkariजय जय श्री शनिदेव भक्तन हितकारी।
Suraj Ke Putra Prabhu Chhaya Mahatariसूरज के पुत्र प्रभु छाया महतारी॥
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Questions
When is the Shani Dev aarti sung?
On Saturdays, at the end of Shani puja, usually after the Shani Chalisa. Many people sing it in the evening with a sesame oil lamp, and on Shani Jayanti and Shani Amavasya.
Is it OK to recite on Saturday evening?
Yes. Evening is when most people sing it. Light the lamp, sing the refrain, then each stanza with the refrain after it.
What is offered to Shani Dev?
The aarti itself names the usual offerings: sesame, sesame oil, urad dal and iron, along with sweets and paan. At home a sesame oil lamp and a few black sesame seeds are enough.
Do I need to be afraid of Shani Dev?
No. Tradition sees him as a just lord of karma who returns the fruit of our own actions. This aarti is a song of praise and shelter, and families sing it the way they sing any other aarti.
How long does the aarti take?
About three minutes, singing the refrain after each stanza.
Source and review
Source: Traditional Hindi aarti as given by BhaktiBharat.com (aarti/shri-shani-dev-ji) and Bharat Discovery / Bharatkosh (शनिदेव जी की आरती), cross-checked with the copy printed after the Shani Chalisa on sanskritdocuments.org (doc_z_otherlang_hindi/shani40)
BhaktiBharat and Bharat Discovery agree word for word, and we follow them. sanskritdocuments.org differs only in spelling: "प्रभू" (refrain), "किरिट" for "क्रीट" (stanza 2) and "ऋषी मुनी" (stanza 4). We print the refrain in full once; in homes it is repeated after every stanza.
We checked the text line by line against the sources named here. The meanings are an AI-assisted draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.
Key facts
- Author
- Traditional
- Verses
- 5
- Original language
- Hindi
- Source edition
- Traditional Hindi aarti as given by BhaktiBharat.com (aarti/shri-shani-dev-ji) and Bharat Discovery / Bharatkosh (शनिदेव जी की आरती), cross-checked with the copy printed after the Shani Chalisa on sanskritdocuments.org (doc_z_otherlang_hindi/shani40)
- Last checked
- Review status
- Script verified
Cite this page
“Shani Dev Aarti”. Nitya, updated 2026-10-04. https://getnitya.com/en/shani/shani-aarti/