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Shani Vajra Panjara Stotram

The Shani Vajra Panjara Stotram - a protective "diamond-cage" hymn invoking the grace and shield of Lord Shani (Saturn).

नीलाम्बरो नीलवपुः किरीटी गृध्रस्थितस्त्रासकरो धनुष्मान्।
चतुर्भुजः सूर्यसुतः प्रसन्नः सदा ममस्याद्वरदः प्रशान्तः॥

ब्रह्मा उवाच

शृणुध्वम् ऋषयः सर्वे शनिपीडाहरं महत्।
कवचं शनिराजस्य सौरेरिदमनुत्तमम्॥

कवचं देवतावासं वज्रपञ्जरसंज्ञकम्।
शनैश्चरप्रीतिकरं सर्वसौभाग्यदायकम्॥

अथ श्री शनि वज्रपञ्जर कवचम्

ॐ श्रीशनैश्चरः पातु भालं मे सूर्यनन्दनः।
नेत्रे छायात्मजः पातु पातु कर्णौ यमानुजः॥१॥

नासां वैवस्वतः पातु मुखं मे भास्करः सदा।
स्निग्धकण्ठश्च मे कण्ठं भुजौ पातु महाभुजः॥२॥

स्कन्धौ पातु शनिश्चैव करौ पातु शुभप्रदः।
वक्षः पातु यमभ्राता कुक्षिं पात्वसितस्तथा॥३॥

नाभिं ग्रहपतिः पातु मन्दः पातु कटिं तथा।
ऊरू ममान्तकः पातु यमो जानुयुगं तथा॥४॥

पादौ मन्दगतिः पातु सर्वाङ्गं पातु पिप्पलः।
अङ्गोपाङ्गानि सर्वाणि रक्षेन्मे सूर्यनन्दनः॥५॥

इत्येतत्कवचं दिव्यं पठेत्सूर्यसुतस्य यः।
न तस्य जायते पीडा प्रीतो भवति सूर्यजः॥

व्ययजन्मद्वितीयस्थो मृत्युस्थानगतोऽपि वा।
कलत्रस्थो गतो वापि सुप्रीतस्तु सदा शनिः॥

अष्टमस्थे सूर्यसुते व्यये जन्मद्वितीयगे।
कवचं पठते नित्यं न पीडा जायते क्वचित्॥

इत्येतत्कवचं दिव्यं सौरेर्यन्निर्मितं पुरा।
द्वादशाष्टमजन्मस्थदोषान्नाशयते सदा॥
जन्मलग्नस्थितान् दोषान् सर्वान्नाशयते प्रभुः॥

इति श्रीब्रह्माण्डपुराणे ब्रह्मनारदसंवादे शनिवज्रपञ्जरकवचं सम्पूर्णम्॥

nilambaro nilavapuh kiriti gridhrasthitastrasakaro dhanushman।
chaturbhujah suryasutah prasannah sada mamasyadvaradah prashantah॥

brahma uvacha

shrinudhvam rishayah sarve shanipidaharam mahat।
kavacham shanirajasya saureridamanuttamam॥

kavacham devatavasam vajrapanjarasamjnakam।
shanaishcharapritikaram sarvasaubhagyadayakam॥

atha shri shani vajrapanjara kavacham

om shrishanaishcharah patu bhalam me suryanandanah।
netre chhayatmajah patu patu karnau yamanujah॥1॥

nasam vaivasvatah patu mukham me bhaskarah sada।
snigdhakanthashcha me kantham bhujau patu mahabhujah॥2॥

skandhau patu shanishchaiva karau patu shubhapradah।
vakshah patu yamabhrata kukshim patvasitastatha॥3॥

nabhim grahapatih patu mandah patu katim tatha।
uru mamantakah patu yamo januyugam tatha॥4॥

padau mandagatih patu sarvangam patu pippalah।
angopangani sarvani rakshenme suryanandanah॥5॥

ityetatkavacham divyam pathetsuryasutasya yah।
na tasya jayate pida prito bhavati suryajah॥

vyayajanmadvitiyastho mrityusthanagato'pi va।
kalatrastho gato vapi supritastu sada shanih॥

ashtamasthe suryasute vyaye janmadvitiyage।
kavacham pathate nityam na pida jayate kvachit॥

ityetatkavacham divyam saureryannirmitam pura।
dvadashashtamajanmasthadoshannashayate sada॥
janmalagnasthitan doshan sarvannashayate prabhuh॥

iti shribrahmandapurane brahmanaradasamvade shanivajrapanjarakavacham sampurnam॥

Frequently asked questions about Shani Vajra Panjara Stotram

What does vajra panjara mean?

A diamond cage - a kavacha, an armour hymn that encloses the reciter. It describes Shani in blue robes, crowned, mounted on the vulture, four-armed and calm, and asks for that protection.

When is it recited?

Saturday after sunset, which is Shani's own time, and on Shani Amavasya and Shani Jayanti. Those in Sade Sati or a Shani dasha recite it daily as a sankalpa.

How is it different from the Dasharatha Shani Stotram?

This is a protective kavacha; the Dasharatha Shani Stotram is a plea that pacified Shani in a specific Puranic episode. Many recite both, this one for shelter and that one for grace.

What is offered with it?

A til-oil or mustard-oil lamp rather than ghee, black til, urad, iron and a blue or black flower. The lamp is traditionally lit at his shrine or under a peepal and not carried home.

Does it shorten Sade Sati?

No - the tradition offers Shani upasana, the Saturday vrat, oil and til daan and service to the poor as a way of passing through with less damage, not of cutting it short. Check whether you are in it on the Sade Sati calculator.

About the Shani Vajra Panjara Stotram

The Shani Vajra Panjara Stotram - a protective "diamond-cage" hymn invoking the grace and shield of Lord Shani (Saturn).

Meaning

The hymn describes Lord Shani's form and many names and raises a "vajra panjara" (diamond cage) of protection around the devotee against Saturn's harsh effects.

Benefits

Recited on Saturdays and during Sade Sati, Dhaiya or Shani dasha to reduce Saturn's difficulties and gain his protection, patience and grace.

The Shani Vajra Panjara Stotram above is given in both Devanagari (Sanskrit) and Roman transliteration so you can read it in whichever script you are comfortable with - switch between the two using the buttons above, share the link, or download a PDF.

A stotram is a longer Sanskrit hymn of praise, not a forty-verse chalisa and not the lamp-song of an aarti. Browse every stotra on the Stotram index. For japa of a short formula use a mantra. The steps of worship around the recitation are in Puja Vidhi.