History

There is a Shani temple in Deonar, in Mumbai. The temple is situated east of the Shivaji statue at the junction of Chembur, Deonar, Govandi on (Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore) Eastern Express Highway. The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Shaneeswara: a beautiful, mighty, and imposing seven-foot-tall black statue. Many devotees who have Shani Dosham, or people who are passing through Shani Mahar Dasa throng the temple, for doing Tailabhishekam. Nuvvula Nune and Ellenne is poured with utmost devotion on the head in a manner such that the oil covers the entire idol while flowing down. The pooja done with this oil is believed to please Shaneeswara. A very strange incident occurs in the temple every Saturday evening after the completion of the Aarti. It is believed that during this time Lord Shani himself descends upon the main priest of the temple who then sits on a chair with long and sharp iron nails that are pointed upwards without any discomfort at all. He then listens to the problems and sufferings of the followers and relieves them of their pain. There are also idols of Jestha Devi, Saibaba, Hanuman and Jagadeeswara Swami within the premises of the temple.