Why Shani Deva Spares Hanumanji's Devotees

Hanumanji crossed the sea and reached Lanka. Ravana’s capital was on top of Trikuta Parvata. Trikuta had three peaks. Ravana’s capital was on top of the central peak. If you look at the geography of Lanka, these three peaks were along its length — meaning one peak to the north, one below that, and one to the south.

Hanumanji landed on the northern peak, which was the closest since he was coming from the Indian subcontinent. Hanumanji also started thinking — soon the Lord will have to come here. His camp should be set up. What would be a good place for this?

The southern peak — to access that, they will have to go around the central peak, which is risky. They will expose themselves to the Rakshasa army which is on top of the central peak. It can’t be in the valleys also, between the peaks. The enemy at a height always has advantage.

It has to be a peak — and this one, the northern peak of Trikuta. The southern — Ravana had made this into his wrestling ring. The northern peak that Hanumanji chose was called Subela.

On top of Subela, Hanumanji saw Mrityu Deva. Mrityu Deva was held captive by Ravana. There was a chain around Mrityu Deva’s waist which was charged with Rudra mantra. Mrityu Deva was supposed to kill anyone who comes to that peak — this was Ravana’s order.

Mrityu Deva is the one who actually takes life — not Yama Raja. Mrityu Deva acts upon Yama Raja’s instruction and takes life. But Mrityu Deva told Hanumanji, 'I will not harm you. You are already under Yama Raja’s, Dharma Raja’s, protection.'

See how Ravana had guarded his Lanka. Simhika was placed mid-sea — anyone coming towards Lanka would be destroyed by her. Even then, if someone manages to reach, then Mrityu Deva himself, at the very place where he would land.

Mrityu Deva was expecting Hanumanji to help. He was not doing this willingly. He was bound by Rudra mantras. And he knew — Rudra himself was standing in front of him. Hanumanji just touched the chain around Mrityu Deva’s waist and it fell off.

Mrityu Deva became very happy. He promised two things: 'Your devotees — I will not cause them apa mrityu or akala mrityu — bad death or untimely death. And also in the war ahead, on whomsoever you set your eyes, I will take away his prana.'

Subela was virtually empty. There was no living being on top of Subela. Obviously, Mrityu Deva was there. Who would dare to go there?

Hanumanji decided that he would enter the capital only in the night. So he started roaming around. Suddenly, he heard a call from inside a cave:

'Will you not help me?'

Hanumanji went inside. It was really sad. Shani Deva was chained and kept hanging upside down inside that cave.

Ravana had good knowledge in astrology. He knew that his Shani period — the seven and a half — was coming up, and Shani Deva would catch him. One look by Shani Deva is enough to destroy anyone — even Ravana. But Ravana knew that if Shani Deva is passing through the 6th and 11th houses in the horoscope, then he will not cause any harm. On one such occasion, he caught Shani Deva and tied him up in that cave.

Powerful people don’t become powerful just like that. They are proactive, see?

Hanumanji released Shani Deva from bondage and said, 'Now you better leave. I don’t want your drishti to fall on my Lord when He comes here.'

Shani Deva said, 'People are protected from me when they keep a small blue sapphire — Indra Neela stone — with them. And see Lord Rama’s color — His color is that of Indra Neela. What fear will He have from me? He is Indra Neela gem — the size of His own body. Those who have Him in their heart — Lord Rama in their heart — I will not trouble them ever. And because of what you have done for me, now, I will also not trouble your devotees.'

This is why you worship Lord Hanuman during the tough periods of Shani. This is a promise that Shani Deva had made to Hanumanji.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi