Did You Know?
Indian village that defies conventional notions of security and trust
From the time the Black Idol has been installed, the village has been free from theft and crime
Can you imagine a house that has no doors? Absolutely not. At least not in this day and age. We all know what will happen if there is no main door. It is inviting a thief and asking him/her to rob you blind. But what if you came to know that there is a village in India that is known for its unique custom of having no locks or doors? Yes, this is correct!
No locks or doors!
Shani Shingnapur is a village in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra known for this unique custom. The people believe that their village is protected by Lord Shani, the Hindu god of Saturn. It is said that any attempt at theft or dishonesty in the village will result in severe punishment from Lord Shani himself. This belief has led residents to have a strong sense of trust and security, allowing them to live without the need for locks on their doors.
The village’s commitment to this tradition has drawn attention from various sources, both domestically and internationally, as it challenges conventional notions of security and trust. The practice has also become a symbolic representation of the strong faith that people have in the protective powers of Lord Shani.
What the legend says
The legend of Shani Shingnapur dates back 400 years. A shepherd was grazing his cattle near the village when he saw a black rock. He hit the rock with his stick, but blood started to flow from it. The shepherd was scared and ran away.
That night, the shepherd had a dream. In the dream, Lord Shani appeared to him and told him that the rock was his idol. He asked the shepherd to install the idol in the village and promised to protect the village from harm.
The shepherd woke up and told the villagers about his dream. The villagers built a temple for the idol and installed it in the village square. Since then, the village has been free from theft and crime.
A strong belief
The villagers say that the thief will suffer from a period of seven years of bad luck, known as ‘sade-sati’. This belief is so strong that even the police station in Shani Shingnapur does not have a door! The villagers believe that the police are there to protect them and that Lord Shani will protect the police station from any harm.
Fun-facts
· The village has a population of about 5,000 people.
· The villagers are mainly farmers and weavers.
· The village is located about 200 km from Mumbai.
· The temple of Lord Shani does not have a roof. This is because the villagers believe that the entire sky is Lord Shani’s roof.
· The villagers believe that touching the black stone idol can cure diseases and bring good luck.
