The Real Story of Lord Shingnapur: Village without Doors
Have you ever imagined living in a village with no doors and locks?
Shani Shingnapur is a village known for its no-doors houses, and no-lock shops, where locals never feel unsafe. In this village, the villagers shun security because of their undying faith in Lord Shani (the God of Saturn), who is known as a Guardian of Shani Shingnapur Village. Daily more than 40,000 devotees visit this village.
Table of Contents:
1. About Shani Shingnapur Village
2. History of Shani Shingnapur Village
3. Story of Shani Shingnapur Village
4. Prasad and offering for Shani Dev temple
5. Entry of Women
6. How to reach Shani Shingnapur Village
7. Best month to visit the Shani Shingnapur Village
8. Things to know before Shani Shingnapur Village
About Shani Shingnapur Village
Shani Shingnapur or Shani Shinganapur or Shingnapur is a village in Maharashtra and the Village is located in Nevasa Taluka in Ahmednagar district, the village is 35 km from Ahmednagar. This village is popular for the God of Saturn and its temple of Shani. Shingnapur is also popular for its no-door houses and shops, the houses usually have a door frame on the doors. The Shani Temple in the village is believed to be a "jagrut devasthan" which means Alive Temple. The villagers have the faith that the God Shani still resides in the Temple.
Why there are no doors in this village?
Legends say that about 300 years ago, the village was flooded by the river. Later the villagers discover a huge black rock which is known as a form of Shani Dev. A shepherd also tries to poke and scratch in the rock with his stick but the rock starts bleeding. Upon this, the shepherd got very frightened and called all the people of the village. A few days later, Shanidev himself appeared in the dream villagers and said, “I am Shani, the Karmaphala Daat” and I have manifested on the earth in the form of Black rock that was drawn to your villages with the flood. Upon this, the villagers wanted to build a temple for the Shani God but he refused the temple and stated that he did not need a roof, the sky was the roof for me and instructed the villagers how to do the puja and Tailabhishekam every Saturday to worship Shani Dev. He also promised the villagers that the village would not suffer from any theft and loot. Since then, Shani Dev has resided in the village under the clear sky and people worship him as their guardian and deity.
Prasad and offering for Shani Dev temple
In the Shani Temple, devotees can offer sarso ka tel, mustard oil, urad dal, black cloth, iron articles, blue flowers, black sesame ladoos, and a Navagraha oil lamp. All these offerings are also used as prasad for the devotees.
Entry of Women in the Temple
The Shani temple is very auspicious and ancient, which is why the temple is very important to the villagers. According to tradition, women were not allowed to enter the temple and offer oil to Shani Dev. However in 2016, after a public debate and legal intervention, traditions were changed and women are now allowed in the Shani Dev temple as this promotes gender equality in the society.
Best month to visit the Shani temple in Shani Shingnapur Village
The best month to visit the Shani temple in Shani Shingnapur is between October to March as the weather will be cooler and comfortable which makes it easy to visit all the places in Shani Shingnapur village. Other than this, Saturdays and Amavasya are considered very auspicious to visit the Shani temple to worship Shani Dev.