Pathankot Shani Dev Temple

Pathankot Shani Dev Temple

Shani Dev Mandir is a well-known shrine, situated in Pathankot, Punjab. It is one of the most famous temples of the region and is dedicated to Shanidev. This is the one and only famous shani mandir in whole Pathankot district.

Shani deva is the son of Surya and his wife Chaya, hence also known as Chayaputra. Yama, the Hindu god of death, is the elder brother of lord Shani.
Shani a Hindu deity in the Puranas, whose iconography consists of a black figure carrying a sword or danda (sceptre) and sitting on a crow

Baba Shyam Giri Ji Maharaj, who has been in service in the temple for the last many years, tells that this place is a Tapobhoomi.There used to be a lot of snakes etc. at this place. Here both brothers Mahatma Bhaktaram Giri and Nikka Ram Giri did penance and got absorbed there. After that he took over the service of this place. He explains that this place was earlier a forest and is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. After this, the temple of Lord Shani Dev was built by the city’s philanthropist Virendra Sahdev in the memory of his revered father Late Rai Chandra and mother Late Shanti Devi. He says that the mother of Virendra Sahdev, Shanti Devi was a great devotee of Lord Shani Dev. After his death, Lord Shanidev appeared to his son Virendra Sahdev and inspired him to build the temple. After this, Virendra Sahdev got the temple constructed on January 2003 by investing all his capital in this noble cause.

A huge Bhandara is organized in this temple every Saturday. Every Saturday there are long queues of devotees who bow their heads in the temple.

It is believed that tying Mouli (sacred threads) on the pillar of your zodiac in this temple fulfills your wishes. Columns of 12 zodiacs have been made in the temple, whoever ties Mouli on the pillar according to his zodiac, then his wish gets fulfilled. Religious programs are organized from time to time in this temple.