Vrindavan 2016.06.06 (VT): Hundreds of thousands of devotees thronged the Shanidev temple in Kokilavan on Sunday on the occasion of Shanidev Jayanti.
The temple organized a grand phool bangla (flower castle) for the occasion. The Mahant of the temple, Premdas Maharaj, did the abhishek on Saturday night and maha-aarti on Sunday morning. Apart from that, many devotees, who visited from various corners of the country, performed special rituals to please Lord Shani.
Premdas Maharaj said that the Shanidev temple in Kokilavan is the only temple of the Lord where aarti is done right in front of the deity. He said that the temple is old and the Lord relieves his devotees from pain whenever they visit here. This is one of the most important Shani temples in northern India.
Shanidev came to Vrindavan by the mercy of Lord Krishna and the devotees get the benefit of blessings from Lord Krishna as well by visiting this temple.
Shandidev temple and Kokilavan
When Lord Krishna was born, all the gods visited the home of Nanda Maharaj, to see the lila of the lord. But Yashoda stopped Shanidev as he might frighten the baby. Hearing this, Shanidev felt disappointed that he was seen as a frightening figure who could not come into Krishna’s presence. So he exiled himself to the forest and started to do penance.
After some time Lord Krishna appeared in front of him and asked why he was doing such austerities. Shani cried out to him, “Oh Lord! Why do people think I am malignant and cruel? I am only doing my dharma and giving them the results of their own karma. But people are so afraid of me they avoid even my shadow. And so I was refused your darshan because of it.”
Krishna smiled and comforted him by giving him the boon that whosoever will visit this holy place will be freed from all worries and afflictions and would also be turned to bhakti.
Then Lord started playing his divine flute and turned himself in the form of a cuckoo (Koyal or Kokila in Hindi) bird, before the gopis could find him. Since then the forest is known as Kokilavan and the place where Shanidev did penance is the site of the current temple.
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