Ritual of the Nine Planets 24

The Invocation of Saturn (Shanishchara)

Om. May the fire be auspicious through the fires; may the Sun shine with peace upon us; may the wind blow with auspiciousness; and may the waters drive away our distress. original: "śaṃ agnir agnibhiḥ..." This is a traditional Vedic prayer for peace and cosmic balance. O Lord Shanaishchara literally "The Slow-Mover," the name for the planet Saturn, son of the Sun-god Bhaskara, born of the Kashyapa lineage, and ruler of the Saurashtra region Modern-day Gujarat. Your complexion is as dark as collyrium black eye-liner or soot; you possess four arms and carry a bow, a quiver, and arrows. You are dressed in dark blue garments that inspire awe, adorned with garlands, ointments, and ornaments of blue sapphire. To all the worlds, your form appears fierce and terrible in its anger.

Salutations to you! O you who are graced by a blue flag and banner, arriving on your vehicle, the blue vulture, as you circumambulate Mount Meru—come now! Along with the deities Prajapati and Yama, please take your place for worship upon the iron image original: "kālāy-pratimāṃ" facing westward, situated on the western petal of the lotus-shaped altar.

To the right side of Saturn: Om Bhuh, I invoke Prajapati, the presiding deity term: adhidevată (the primary deity overseeing the planet) of Saturn. Om Bhuvah, I invoke Prajapati... Om Swah, I invoke Prajapati... Om Bhur-Bhuvah-Swah, I invoke Prajapati.

For the mantra "O Prajapati, none other than you" original: "prajāpate na tvad etad", the Sage is Hiranyagarbha, the deity is Prajapati, and the meter is Trishtup.

Om. O Prajapati! None other than you has encompassed all these created beings. May that for which we offer these oblations be ours; may we become masters of riches. This is Rigveda 10.121.10, used to invoke the Creator-god.

I invoke Prajapati, the presiding deity of Saturn, who wears the sacred thread, possesses four arms, and carries a rosary and a water-pot in his hands.

To the left side of Saturn: Om Bhuh, I invoke Yama, the opposing deity term: pratyadhidevatā (the secondary or balancing deity) of Saturn. Om Bhuvah, I invoke Yama... Om Swah, I invoke Yama... Om Bhur-Bhuvah-Swah, I invoke Yama.

For the mantra "Press the Soma for Yama," the Sage is Yama, the deity is Yama, and the meter is Anushtup.

Om. Press the Soma for Yama; offer the oblation to Yama. To the sacrifice which is well-prepared and led by the fire-messenger, Yama approaches. This is Rigveda 10.14.13, invoking the God of Death and Justice.

I invoke Yama, the opposing deity of Saturn, who has a slightly stout body, a black complexion, carries a noose that resembles the color of blood, is mounted upon a buffalo, and is decorated with all manner of ornaments.

At the tip of the southwest petal: Om Bhuh, I invoke Rahu... Om Bhuvah, I invoke Rahu... Om Swah, I invoke Rahu... Om Bhur-Bhuvah-Swah, I invoke Rahu. For the mantra "By what sign..." original: "kayā naścitra"