Vakra drishti of Shani Maharaj

OM SHAMM SHANISHCHARAYA NAMAH!

When you visit the Shani dham in Maharashtra, you must have noticed that people are given black idols. These are the idols of Lord Shani Dev.Some people take them along to their homes, where as some others simply give it back to the temple, not knowing what to do with them. It is said that you do not worship the idol of Shani Maharaj at your homes, like you do the puja of other Goddesses and Gods. Hence, the reluctance on the part of the people, to take the idols home. However, the blessings of Shani Maharaj are a must. So one should take the idol home and hang it upside down at the main entrance of the house. This is done in order to avoid the vakra-drishti of Lord Shani. All planets, other than Sun and Moon, are changing their normal motion through the Zodiac periodically and thus appear to move backwards too. Such a retrograde (Vakra) planet becomes very powerful and hence the fear for its effects. ‘Drishti’ refers to ‘look’ and the effect of the look; and hence it means how the planet aspects other houses and planets, which are aspected and hence influenced by the vakra- planet. To appease Shani Maharaj, iron diyas/ lamps ( or Clay) should be lit on Saturdays at dusk, with Til (Sesame) oil.