Shanichara Temple, Morena, Madhya Pradesh India

Shanichara temple is one of the most famous temples in the district of Morena in Madhya Pradesh state. The Hindus consider Shani or Saturn in great awe and respect. In fact, Saturn is the only deity whose benign glance is believed to bestow prosperity, while a fierce look can cause unparalleled misfortune on the object of its attention. Thus devotees flock to appease the God every Saturday. The Shanichara temple in the district of Morena district at Aeti is rather special, though it doesn`t appear so from the outside. It houses the original black idol of Shani brought from Lanka (now known as Sri Lanka). The Shanichara temple is about thirty seven kilometers from Morena en route to Banmore Aiti Village. The Shanichara temple is about eighteen kilometers from Gwalior en route to Padhavali, Mitaoli and Bateshwar.

According to the legend, Shanideva was held prisoner by the demon-king Ravana (the king of Lanka), in the great Hindu epic of Ramayana. The dusty village of Aeti came into being only after the establishment of the Shanichara temple. Earlier it was just a barren hilltop filled with some trees.

A grand prayer is organized on every Saturday at this temple and devotees in large numbers take part in this prayer. A grand puja or prayer is held here every Amavasya Shanivar (moonless Saturday night), which attracts a large number of devotees from different parts of the district as well as from various other parts of the state and outside. It is believed that Parikrama of `Shani Parvat`, a mountain of 14 kilometres perimeter, relieved people from the curse of Shanideva. Special narrow gauge trains operate from Agra, Gwalior, Jaipur, Vadodara and some other cities to bring devotees to this temple.