Shani Shingnapur temple has shown the way howto move with the times and go technical! This could be a model for othertemples as well.
The offering to Lord Shani is mustard oilamong other things.
The shrine for Shani consists of a five and ahalf feet high black rock installed on an open-air platform, which symbolizesthe God Shani. However, because of mustard oil offering “ the floor around theidol “ used to be slippery. But that is not the case now. Earlier, oil used tobe offered at the shrine itself. Now a huge can has been set up where peopleoffer the mustard oil. This oil is pumped to a height “ in a vessel above theshrine “ from where it drips. This is collected in a tank and then storedseparately. Through a tender process, the oil is sold which is later used forsoap and grease manufacturing.
“We wanted maximum convenience for thedevotees and this was the aim,” Prof Shivajirao Darandake, president of ShriShanaishwar Devasthan Shani Shingnapur-Newasa, said.
“Technology must be used and we are forit…..we have also constructed a hospital and gaushala,” adds RajabhauDarandale, a trustee. “Our efforts have been appreciated by one and all,” addedAdvocate Sayavam Bankar, another trustee.
On a day 10,000 to 40,000 people visit here,but on Saturdays and special occasions more than 1.5 lakh people visit thetemple. On an average, 2,000 litres of mustard oil is offered in the temple andwhich goes up on Saturdays.
