Shani is NOT Shanishwara | Difference Between Shani and Shanishwara

Lord Śani (Saturn) is interestingly coined under a styled suffix Īśvara – making Him Śanīśvara, which finds no reference in any text.

Lord Śani is also known as Śanaiścara, meaning "one who moves slowly." The Navagraha Sūkta is a compilation of verses from various parts of the Yajurveda and Ṛgveda. The verses are selected based on the Adhidevatā (presiding deity) and Pratyadhidevatā (secondary or counter-deity) for a particular graha.

Image: A verse from the Navagraha Sūktam used for Lord Śani.

We end this stanza by offering our namaḥ to Lord Śani, referring to Him as Śanaiścara and not Śanīśvara. This ending verse is, of course, not part of the Vedas, but nevertheless, it shows that traditionally, Śani is referred to as Śanaiścara only.

Perhaps, Śanaiścara slowly got corrupted into Śanīśvara.

Saturday is also referred to as Śanivāra. Śanīśvara could also be a corrupted version of Śanivāra.

Śanīśvara Is Śiva?

The literal meaning for Śanīśvara is 'the lord of Śani'. So it refers to 'that' which governs Śani. In that case, it can only refer to the absolute Brahman and that is Śiva for Śaivites, Nārāyaṇa for Vaiṣṇavites, Gaṇapati for Gāṇapatyas, Sūrya for Sauras, Kārttikeya for Kaumāras and Devī for Śāktas.

The ruler for Śani cannot be Śani, unless you are viewing Śani as an embodiment of absolute consciousness too, as an Advaitist.

Damage beyond repair

The usage of the misnomer Śanīśvara has become too strong within the norm. It is perhaps too late to rectify the term when they stand scripted in places of worship and laymen conversation.

Video: My student Kum. Shravanthi and I reciting the Navagraha Sūkta ( meanings included )