Ancient Shani Mandir, Usavaad, Chaandavad, Nashik

When the malefic gaze of Shani Dev fell upon King Vikramaditya of Ujjain, he was afflicted by Sade Sati. He spent this difficult period of Sade Sati in the forests of Varadadi near Chandwad. Thereafter, Shani Dev was pleased and granted him his divine vision. It is said that the place where Shani Dev appeared before Vikramaditya is the present-day Shani Temple at Usgaon-Varadadi. Devotees firmly believe that seeking the blessings of Shani Dev in this ancient temple mitigates the hardships caused by Sade Sati.

The legend of the temple is that a discussion on the nine planets was underway among the great scholars in the court of the noble Emperor King Vikramaditya. When the significance of the planet Saturn was being explained, Vikramaditya mocked Lord Shani. Lord Shani, who was traveling through the sky, heard this and, filled with rage, arrived at the court along with his celestial chariot. Saying, “You shall have to endure the seven-and-a-half-year cycle of Saturn,” he He departed from there. From that moment, the period of Sade Sati began for Vikramaditya. During this time, Vikramaditya once came to the market in Ujjain to purchase horses. At that time, Shani Dev appeared before him in the guise of a horse trader. Having liked a horse from the trader, he asked for the price. The trader then told him to first sit on the horse and then pay the price. As soon as Vikramaditya sat on it, the horse sped away like the wind, brought the King to the dense forest of Varadadi near Chandwad, and vanished. Consequently, Vikramaditya had to spend the night in that terrifying forest. At that moment, he realized that the wrath of Shani Dev had begun.

After somehow carving a path through the dense forest, Vikramaditya arrived at a village and reached the house of a wealthy merchant. There too, he was falsely accused of stealing a pearl necklace belonging to the merchant’s daughter. Consequently, the local King Chandrasena sentenced Vikramaditya to have his hands and feet severed. After his hands and feet were severed, Vikramaditya began working at an oil press. Vikramaditya was highly skilled in music. Once, Vikramaditya sang the Deep Raga, which caused the lamps in the village to ignite. During that same time, as the period of Vikramaditya’s Sade Sati was nearing its end, Shani Dev was pleased and asked Vikramaditya to seek a boon. At that moment, Vikramaditya requested that he should never inflict such suffering upon any devotee in the future as he had inflicted upon him. He requested that He stay here so that he could have His darshan. Shani Dev restored the King’s body to its original state and returned his glory to him. Accepting Vikramaditya’s request, Shani Dev agreed to reside here. It is said that since then, along with Shani Dev, Rahu and Ketu have been situated at Varadadi. Over time, a Shani temple was built at this place.

Situated in lush green surroundings, this modest Shani temple is simple in its appearance. A newly constructed assembly hall (Sabhamandap) stands in front of the temple. The original sanctum houses the idols of Lord Shani along with Rahu and Ketu. Beside them is an idol of Lord Ganesha adorned with vermilion. In front of the temple entrance lies the Shila (sacred stone) of Lord Shani, upon which devotees offer oil. Behind this stone stands a symbolic statue of King Vikramaditya mounted on a horse. It is said that the hoofprints of the horse can still be seen at the very spot where it left King Vikramaditya. The temple premises also feature shrines dedicated to Lord Maruti and Lord Balaji. Descending the steps adjacent to the temple leads to the new Shani temple.

It is the firm belief of devotees that those who visit this place and seek the blessings of Lord Shanidev during the period of Sade Sati find the intensity of their hardships diminished. Thousands of devotees flock to this temple for darshan on Shani Amavasya (the day when Amavasya falls on a Saturday) and Deep Amavasya (Ashadhi Amavasya). During these times, the entire premises take on the appearance of a fair. On Shani Amavasya, programs such as bhajans and kirtans are held at the temple. On such occasions, Mahaprasad is distributed to the visiting devotees by the Temple Trust. Apart from this, there is a large crowd of devotees for darshan at this temple every Saturday.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery