What is a shani graha and how long it last?  

Shani is known more for its wicked effects than its benevolent ones. Shani can be a great provider. Shani is a Deity who is nothing like the Indian Judiciary, waiting for a long procedure, it flashes its judgement in moments.
The bad term can stretch for the maximum period of seven and a half year, that is called the Sadhe Saati. But, it can be as short as a few minutes or days, and he can create havoc in that period. But, ibn fact he is more kind to those who leave a disciplined life, pays him occasional tributes. He can give you more than any other Deoty.

Answered by Vijay Kayal at 6:34 PM on December 23, 2008

Shani is a grih or planete,and it it has mythological value,shani is the son of SURYA DEV and sadhe saati and dhaiya r his servant to control the whole world,s KARAMA .

Answered by Riti at 3:11 PM on December 23, 2008

When Saturn is not in a favorable position in birth chart or in Transits especially sadesathi (Saturn Transit in 12th, 1st and 2nd house from Moon) or ashtama shani (8th House from Moon) will have lot of troubles like delays in takings, health problems, loss in Business etc... Performing remedies to saturn like chanting of Shani mantra, giving black cloths to charities or old people performing shani Graha shanti yagya will reduce the evil effects of Saturn. Retrograde and Weak: The number 8 people will generally have a weak period during the first 20 days of days of Jan, and the last weak of Feb, and the months

Answered by Sachin Samy at 7:44 AM on December 23, 2008

Shani graha is embodied in the planet Saturn. It is one of the nine primary celestial beings (Navagraha) in the Hindua astrology (Jyotisa).
Shani is the Lord of Saturday; the word Shani also denotes the seventh day (Saturday) in most Indian languages.
The planet Saturn is called Shanaiswara in the Vedic astrology. Shanaiswara means, "slow mover" (shanaichara in Sanskrit) as Saturn takes about 30 years to rotate around the Sun. Shani is also known as Shani Deva, Shanaiscarya, Shani Bhagavan, and Shaneesvara.
Shani is the son of Surya (the Hindu Sun God) and his wife Chhaya (Shadow goddess) and hence also known as Chayyaputra. He is the cousin of Yama, the Hindu God of death.
Shani is known as the greatest teacher. Shani dev is said to be very harmful to those who follow the path of betrayal, backstabbing and unjust revenge. He is known in Hindu scriptures as the greatest trouble giver as well as the greatest well wisher. He is depicted dark in colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and variously mounted on a black vulture or a raven.
Here Saturn indicates the ascetic, rich with inner spirituality, and lost to this material plane of existence. Saturn is a malefic graha. He rules over the two sidereal signs of Capricorn and Aquarius. He is exalted in Libra, and fallen in the opposite sign of Aries.
The Shani Deva is generally known to affect one adversely for Seven and a half years when he occupies Saade Sati in one's horoscope and when he enters Ashtama Shanaiswara (Saturn in 8th house) it effects two and a half years. He is the Lord of Makaram and Kumbam.

To pacify Shani Deva one can chant the following Shani Mantras taken from the 'Purana'. the Saturn.

NILANJANA SAMA BHASAM RAVIPUTRAM YAMA GRAJAM ||
CHHAAYA MARTANDA SAMBHOOTAM TAM NAMAMI SHANAISHCHARAM ||

Cryptic Mantra:
OM PRAM PRIM PRAUM SAH SHANAISHCHARAYA NAMAH ||

General mantra:
OM SHAM SHANAISHCHARAYA NAMAH ||

Any of the above given three mantras can be chanted for the pacification of Saturn.

Total numbers of chanting = 23,000 times
Time for chanting the mantra = Evening.

Answered by Ramcharan at 6:54 AM on December 23, 2008