The ritual of offering oil to Shani Deva, the deity representing the planet Saturn, has its roots in both mythology and astrological tradition. One of the most popular legends appears in certain retellings of the Ramayana and later folk traditions, where Lord Hanuman, during his quest to find Sita in Lanka, discovered that Ravana had imprisoned Shani Deva to prevent any adverse planetary influence on himself. Moved by Shani’s plea, Hanuman freed him from captivity and flung him far from Lanka so that he could escape safely.
As the story goes, Shani was injured in the process. Hanuman applied oil to soothe his pain in an act of compassion, which deeply moved the celestial deity. Grateful for the rescue and care, Shani is said to have declared that those who offer oil to him with devotion would receive his blessings and find relief from his harsher astrological effects. This symbolic act of applying oil became the origin of the ritual practiced by devotees even today.
It is important to note that this account belongs to popular lore and temple tradition, rather than the original Valmiki Ramayana. Variations exist across regions, and some traditions emphasize that oil is offered primarily to calm Shani’s naturally austere and challenging temperament, even beyond the Hanuman story.
The choice of oil, usually sesame (til) or mustard, carries symbolic meaning. Sesame oil is traditionally recommended for its association with grounding, healing, and absorbing negative influences, while mustard oil is also widely used. Lighting lamps with sesame oil or offering it to Shani on Saturdays, his sacred day, is considered an effective way to reduce the intensity of periods like Shani Sade Sati or Shani Mahadasha.
Pilgrimage sites such as Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra and Kokilavan in Uttar Pradesh witness grand offerings every Saturday. Devotees often chant the Hanuman Chalisa or Shani mantras while performing the ritual, seeking protection and relief. Spiritually, the practice conveys a message: even the most feared planetary influence can be softened through devotion, humility, and acts of kindness.
