There is a popular story in Tamil folklore, which narrate about King Dashrath, father of Bhagavan Sri Ram in Ramayana, stopping Shani from causing problems to living beings on earth. Once, King Dashrath learned from Sage Vasishta that Shani was about to move from Karthigai Star (Krittika or Karthika birth star) to Rohini birth star.
This transition was to cause devastation and havoc on earth.
There will be famine, earthquakes, flood and numerous other life-threatening problems.
King Dashrath immediately boarded his chariot and arrived at
Rohini Nakshatra. As he had fought for Devas (the demigods), King Dashrath had
the boon to fly around the universe.
He saw Shani approaching Rohini Nakshatra in his chariot
driven by a crow.
King Dashrath
forcibly stopped Shani from proceeding towards Rohini.
The king was protected by the power of Dharma and therefore
the looks of Shani (Shani Drishti) had no effect on him.
King Dashrath requested Shani to not to harm the people on
earth.
Impressed with the courage, valor and kingly duty of
Dashrath, Shani agreed to not to harm the living beings on earth.
To avoid the bad effects of his movement, Shani asked King
Dashrath to take holy dip in the temple tank at Thirunaraiyur, Kumbhakonam, Tamil
Nadu. There is a famous Shani Temple here (inside Shiva Temple known as Ramanathaswamy
Temple). It later came to be known as Shani Parihara Sthalam. Bhagavan Sri Ram
and Hanuman is believed to have prayed here.
It is believed that King Dashrath composed a Shani Stotram as
a thanksgiving to Sani Bhagavan and it came to be known as Dashratha Shani
Stotram.
A Decade Ago We Wrote on Another Topic about a South Indian Temple:
Trichambaram Temple – First Food to Sri Krishna Then Puja – No Elephants
A Decade Ago We Wrote on Another Topic about a South Indian Temple:
Trichambaram Temple – First Food to Sri Krishna Then Puja – No Elephants