Shri Shani Shingnapur temple - only town in the world with no doors and locks

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.

- James Michener

Shani Shingnapur is a small village located in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra. The village is known for its popular temple of Shani, the Hindu god of the planet (graha) Saturn.

This is an interesting village as none of the houses have doors. The belief of the villagers is that their Lord Shaneshwara will protect them from all evil. This includes robbery and theft.

This interesting hamlet is about 65 km from Shirdi and 35 km from Ahmednagar .

HISTORY:

The ancient temple of Shani Shingnapur is said to exist from atleast the start of Kalyug, but could also be from before that.

About 350 years ago, there was heavy rain in this area, and in the rain water this huge black slab (5 1/2 feet high and 1 1/2 feet wide) came floating. As the water flowed, the stone got stuck in the roots of a large berry tree. Once the water drained, some cattle grazers saw the stone, When they tried to dislodge it from the roots by prodding the stone, blood started oozing from it. The shocked cattle grazers ran away. That night Shanidev appeared in the dream of a villager and told him that he had decided to stay in that form in Shinganapur and that he could only be lifted out by those who were uncle and nephew in relation and carried in a bullock cart with black bullocks. When the villagers tried to get the stone idol out,they could not carry it any further and so decided to install it where it stood.

SHRINE OF SHANI MAHARAJ:

The shrine for Shani consists of a five and a half feet high black rock installed on an open-air platform, which symbolizes the god Shani. A Trishula (trident) is placed along the side of the image and a Nandi (bull) image is on the south side. In front are the small images of Shiva and Hanuman.

Only male devotees are permitted to worship in the temple. The devotees should first take bath in the public bathrooms and then pray with wet dhotis without any upper garment.

UNIQUE FEATURES OF SHINGANAPUR:

No doors or locks in houses:

The most unique feature and interesting thing about this temple is that there is such faith in Shani Dev and his wrath such that this is the only town in the world with no doors and locks (curtains in place of doors).

Theft is said to incur god's wrath and thieves don't dare steal here.There are several stories narrated by local villagers about how nobody in the village would dare to make an attempt to steal other's property and also about how when some outsiders have made an attempt to steal they have been punished by Shani Maharaj.

Recently, in January 2011, UCO Bank opened a branch in Shani Shingnapur - the bank has no locks! However, due to RBI rules in India, the bank is forced to have doors (which it always leaves open).

No shelter over Shani Maharaj:

There is no roof above the divine idol of God Shani dev. God Shani is omnipresent here. Whether it is a time of rain, sun, cold or storm, without a roof, God Shani stands here all the time and protects the people and visitors of Shingnapur. Many time people tried to make roof at this place but they could not succeed. This place of worship is open all the time.

No branches grow over the Moolasthan:

There was a neem tree that grew near the Moolasthan but everytime a branch grew near Shani Maharaj it would automatically break and fall down. Few years ago, this tree fell and another fig tree has grown there. This too does not extend its branches upto the idol.

Water poured over the idol is cure for snakebite:

In case of any incident of snakebite in the village, all that the villagers do is to bring the person in white clothes to the temple. A male relative in wet clothes performes abhishekam to the idol and the water is given to the person to drink. In a couple of hours, the person regains consciousness and is not affected by the poison.

Shani Maharaj's palanquin:

Devotees worship Shani Maharaj's palanquin placed closed to the Moolasthan which has a huge wooden slipper in it. Several shops sell miniatures of this wooden slipper that people buy and take home as talisman.

Lamp that burns 24 hours:

There is a lamp that burns through day and night in front of the moolasthan.

Samadhi of Udasi Baba:

The temple also has the Samadhi of Udasi Baba who stayed in Shingnapur for many years and worshipped Shani Maharaj.

Shivaji statue:

Maharashtra still shows a lot of love and respect for Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj that can well be seen from the statues and idols found in several places. The temple too has a large idol of Shivaji Maharaj outside it.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

This Shani Shingnapur is visited daily by thousands of devotees praying for Lord Shaneswara's favour. The place is busiest on Saturdays. Shani Trayodasi is considered to be a fourite day for the lord. Similarly Saturday falling on 'Amavasya'(new moon day in Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam) is considered to be a favorites day for the Lord Shaneeswara. Thousands of devotees seeking his blessings throng this temple in thousands.

Pooja at Shani Shingnapur or Shani Shingnapur darshan is said to please Shani Dev and remove any obstacles that one may be facing. Similarly, people facing astrological effects of Shani are also advised to offer pooja at Shani Shingnapur.

The temple is open for worship from 5 am to 10 pm.

ACCOMMODATION:

• There are budget hotels available in Shinganapur.

HOW TO REACH?

• Shani Shingapur is linked with Aurangabad (68 km) and Shirdi (70 km) by road.
• Ahmednagar and Srirampur Railway Stations are the nearest railhead.
• The nearest airport is at Aurangabad which is 90 kilometres from Shani Shingnapur.