Piplashraya Shani
The principal form is described as child Shani riding an elephant, preserved here as temple tradition.
Shani Dev Temple, Hathla
Hathla Village near the Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar district border, Gujarat, India
An ancient-stone Lord Shani temple at Hathla where local tradition identifies the Janmasthali and a Piplashraya child form riding an elephant, within a source-reported protected-monument setting.
Darshan Start Time
6:00 AM
Source-reported daily opening time; reconfirm the current schedule before travel.
Crowd Expectation
Busier on Saturdays
The source describes Saturday and special Shani observances as larger crowd periods, but no queue duration is promised.
Best Darshan Window
Confirm morning access
The source suggests Saturday morning, but current opening, transport, weather and crowd conditions govern the visit and peaceful darshan is not guaranteed.
Darshan Options
General entry reported
The source reports free entry but does not confirm VIP, paid special, express or online-booking options; verify current arrangements.
Official Notice / Visitor Information: Published/source-reported schedule - confirm current temple timings before travel. The supplied account lists 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all days, but festival, ritual and heritage-site arrangements may differ.
Temple research supplied for this guide reports one daily visiting window but no separate exact aarti timetable. Reconfirm every time-sensitive detail close to the visit.
Janmasthali tradition
Piplashraya child-on-elephant form
Source-reported protected monument
Navagraha shrine context
Overview
Lord Shani worship in the rural and archaeological landscape of Saurashtra
Shani Dev Temple stands at Hathla Village in Bhanvad Taluka, near the Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar district border. The source places it on GJ SH 95 in the rural Saurashtra landscape.
Local tradition identifies Hathla as the Janmasthali, or birthplace, of Lord Shani and describes the principal form as Piplashraya: child Shani riding an elephant. Claims that this depiction exists only at Hathla are retained as attributed tradition, not independently verified uniqueness.
The supplied account describes early-medieval stone fabric, separately dates the temple to the seventh-eighth century, calls it over 1,500 years old and reports Gujarat archaeological protection. The age statements are internally difficult to reconcile and all heritage claims require official current confirmation.
- Principal deityLord Shani Dev in a source-described child-on-elephant form
- Sacred identityJanmasthali belief preserved as local tradition
- Heritage contextSource-reported early-medieval stone temple and protected status
Main Deity and Sacred Form
Piplashraya child Shani with a wider Navagraha context
The presiding deity is Lord Shani Dev in the source-described Piplashraya form, shown as a child riding an elephant. The account places this among ten traditional Shani forms and vehicles, while its only-at-Hathla claim remains unverified.
The source reports Navagraha shrines within the complex. Repeated application of sindoor, oil, flowers and other offerings is offered as an explanation for the principal image appearing orange or vermilion rather than black.
Navagraha shrines
The nine-planet context is source-listed within the temple complex.
Sindoor-coloured appearance
The source relates the orange surface to repeated local applications of sindoor, oil, flowers and other offerings, subject to current conservation rules.
Meaning and Significance
Birthplace belief and unusual iconography without claims of automatic power
Janmasthali
Hathla is revered in local belief as the birthplace of Lord Shani. This is a sacred identity claim rather than independently established biography.
Piplashraya
The child-on-elephant image joins youth with the elephant as a traditional vehicle in the source account.
Responsible devotion
The tradition may encourage reflection on karma and conduct, but no visit, pairing, offering or mantra guarantees an astrological or personal result.
Sacred Tradition
Shani birth, Shiva penance and Mama-Bhanja accounts kept explicitly devotional
The source recounts Shani as the son of Surya and Chhaya and connects his dark appearance with Chhaya worshipping Shiva during pregnancy. Details about a first gaze eclipsing Surya belong to sacred narrative, not a basis for fear of people or images.
A further account describes Shani performing penance to Shiva and receiving authority connected with karma and the Navagraha. It is presented as religious tradition, not as a scientific account of planets or personal fate.
The local Mama-Bhanja tradition brings a maternal uncle and nephew together for darshan. Participation is optional and cannot guarantee removal of Sade Sati, Panoti or any other difficulty.
History
Source-attributed early-medieval age and archaeological status with explicit uncertainty
Seventh-to-eighth-century attribution
The supplied account calls the temple Maytrikalin and dates it to the seventh to eighth century without presenting a dated inscription or excavation record.
Age-claim boundary
The same source calls the temple over 1,500 years old, a figure not cleanly reconciled with its century range. This guide does not resolve the discrepancy as fact.
Protected-status report
The document says the temple is listed as a protected monument by the Gujarat archaeological authority. Confirm the current register, custodian and visitor rules directly.
Architecture
Source-described early-medieval Saurashtra stone architecture and protected fabric
Ancient stone construction
The source describes an early-medieval stone temple with carvings in a traditional Saurashtra setting.
Piplashraya image
The principal icon shows child Shani riding an elephant according to local tradition.
Offering-altered surface
Regular sindoor, oil and flower offerings are source-listed as influencing the orange or vermilion appearance.
Navagraha context
Shrines for the nine planetary deities are described within the temple complex.
Protected heritage
Any source-reported protected fabric, sculpture or ruin should be approached under current conservation, photography and direct-touch rules.
District-border setting
The temple lies at Hathla on GJ SH 95 amid rural fields near the Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar boundary.
Entrance, Direction and Sanctum
Use the current village entrance and protected-site route
Enter through the public security, footwear and queue arrangement operating on the day. The supplied source does not establish permanent accessibility, direct-touch or special-entry provisions.
Treat stonework, carvings and the principal image as protected sacred fabric. Ask before photography or applying oil, sindoor, flowers, cloth or sesame directly to any surface.
Mama-Bhanja darshan is a local family-pairing tradition, not an entry requirement or remedy. Every visitor should follow the same current queue, consent and conduct rules.
Special Features
Janmasthali, Piplashraya and archaeological traditions presented with attribution
Janmasthali belief
The source identifies Hathla as the birthplace of Lord Shani; this remains a sacred local tradition rather than verified historical fact.
Piplashraya form
Child Shani riding an elephant is the defining source-described image, while the national uniqueness claim remains unverified.
Early-medieval attribution
The document dates the temple to the seventh to eighth century and separately gives an inconsistent over-1,500-year age claim.
Protected-monument report
Gujarat archaeological protection is source-reported and should be confirmed against the current official record.
Mama-Bhanja tradition
Maternal uncle and nephew darshan is a local custom, optional and without any guaranteed Sade Sati or Panoti result.
Sindoor appearance
The orange or vermilion surface is explained through repeated local offerings, all subject to current temple and conservation permission.
Quick Decision Guide
Choose the planning path that fits your visit.
BEST FOR
Piplashraya Shani tradition
Visit for the source-described child-on-elephant form, Janmasthali belief and early-medieval heritage setting.
Understand the sacred formCROWD PLANNING
Allow more time on Saturdays
Saturday and special Shani observances may bring larger crowds, while no queue duration or peaceful window is promised.
Compare visit periodsHERITAGE AND OFFERINGS
Ask before touching or applying materials
Oil, sindoor, sesame, cloth and Mama-Bhanja darshan are local practices, not compulsory remedies; current temple and conservation rules govern them.
Review visitor safetyBEFORE YOU GO
Confirm hours and protected-site access
The daily schedule is source-reported, exact aarti times are not confirmed and photography, direct-touch or parking arrangements may change.
Review source timingsDarshan Process
A practical eight-step flow. Current on-site directions always take priority.
1
Confirm current details
Check daily hours, exact aarti times, festival programmes, protected-site controls, photography, accessibility, parking and offering procedures.
2
Plan the Hathla approach
Use the reviewed destination and allow flexibility for rural roads and the final transfer from Porbandar, Bhanvad or another Saurashtra base.
3
Enter as directed
Follow the current security, footwear and queue route rather than assuming permanent access to protected or sanctum areas.
4
Take respectful Shani darshan
Approach the source-described Piplashraya form through the public route open on the day.
5
Visit Navagraha as access allows
Include the source-listed planetary shrines according to the current internal route and available time.
6
Present materials only if permitted
Oil, sindoor, black sesame, flowers and black cloth are local offerings, not compulsory; use only the current temple-approved place and procedure.
7
Keep Mama-Bhanja optional
A maternal uncle and nephew may honour the local pairing tradition if they freely choose, but it is not required and carries no guaranteed result.
8
Leave safely
Follow the current exit and transport directions, protect the stone fabric, secure belongings and dispose of containers and other waste responsibly.
How to Reach
Use the four-part travel plan below and reconfirm current flights, rail services, roads, buses, local transport and the final Hathla approach before departure.
Porbandar and Jamnagar airports
- The source places Porbandar Airport approximately 28 km away and Jamnagar Airport approximately 110 km away. Confirm current flights, taxis, roads and travel times.
Bileshwar or Bhanvad source listing
- The source names Bileshwar (Bhanvad) Railway Station approximately 12 km away, with Porbandar around 28 km and Jamnagar around 110 km. Reconfirm station naming, trains and transfers.
GJ SH 95 and Saurashtra routes
- Source estimates place Porbandar about 28 km, Dwarka 90 km, Jamnagar 110 km, Rajkot 180 km and Ahmedabad 380 km away. Confirm current roads, buses and travel times.
Bhanvad Taluka to Hathla Village
- Use current maps and local directions on or near GJ SH 95. Recheck the village turn, drop-off, pedestrian route and source-reported paid parking before arrival.
Sacred Timings
Temple research supplied for this guide reports one daily visiting window but no separate exact aarti timetable. Reconfirm every time-sensitive detail close to the visit.
Planning status6:00 AMPublished/source-reported schedule - confirm current temple timings before travel. The supplied account lists 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all days, but festival, ritual and heritage-site arrangements may differ.
SOURCE-REPORTED DAILY TEMPLE HOURS
Source-reported daily temple hours
Opening6:00 AM
Closing8:00 PM
Open daysAll days reported; confirm current
CURRENT-CONFIRMATION NOTES
Current-confirmation notes
Aarti timetableExact times not confirmed in the supplied source
General entryReported free in the source; verify current arrangements
PhotographyOuter complex reported allowed; sanctum and heritage restrictions may apply
Schedule note
Confirm before travel
Published/source-reported daily schedule - confirm current temple timings before travel.
Visitor note
Use current local guidance
The supplied account gives no separate exact aarti timetable. No aarti time is inferred from the 6:00 AM-8:00 PM visiting window or festival-prayer references.
Festivals
Four named Shani observances plus transparent local-practice and calendar guidance
Shani Amavasya
The source uses this name for an Amavasya falling on Saturday and reports special oil worship and larger crowds. Confirm the exact date and current programme.
Weekly Saturday worship
Saturday is the main source-listed weekly Shani observance and may draw larger attendance. Current queues and offering procedures require confirmation.
Shani Jayanti
The source associates this observance with Vaishakha Amavasya and gives special Janmasthali significance. The Gregorian date changes and the current programme must be confirmed.
Shani Trayodashi
The source reports special pujas when Trayodashi falls on a Saturday. Any claim of relief from long-standing problems is not treated as a guaranteed result.
Mama-Bhanja Saturday custom
The source says the local uncle-nephew pairing is especially observed on Saturdays. It is a voluntary practice, not a separate festival or a guaranteed Sade Sati remedy.
Current festival calendar
Only four named observances are identified in the supplied account. Verify dates, hours, prayers, queues, heritage controls and offerings directly before attending.
Temple Mantras
One short Shani prayer aligned with the worship catalogue is shown in ordinary Latin letters with a clear English meaning. No corrupted script, beeja cluster, compulsory count or promised result is presented.
Shani Nama
Om Shanaishcharaya Namah
Meaning: Salutation to the slow-moving Lord Shani.
Context: A simple devotional remembrance at Hathla; no guaranteed astrological, karmic or material result is claimed.
Daily Worship and Rituals
Local oil, sesame, sindoor and Mama-Bhanja practices with heritage and remedy boundaries
The source records Tailabhishek with mustard or sesame oil. This is a local temple practice, not compulsory or universal; participate only through the currently permitted, temple-approved place, vessel and procedure.
Black sesame and black cloth are source-recorded local offerings, not required remedies. Present them only where currently accepted and avoid scattered seeds, loose material, litter or obstruction.
Sindoor, oil and flowers are described as influencing the orange appearance of the image over time. Do not touch or coat the image or protected stone unless explicitly directed under current temple and conservation rules.
Mama-Bhanja darshan is an optional local family tradition. No pairing, oil, sesame, cloth, sindoor, mantra or visit is presented as guaranteed relief from Sade Sati, Panoti or any medical, legal, employment, marriage, financial or other personal difficulty.
Explore Lord Shani Worship
Continue with five focused topics in the Lord Shani hub.
Offerings and Prasad
Confirm current arrangements before presenting any item.
Mustard or sesame oil
The source records both for local Tailabhishek. Oil is optional; use only the current temple-approved procedure, do not improvise direct pouring or disposal and do not ignite it unless explicitly permitted.
Black sesame seeds
Present seeds only if currently accepted and in the directed place. Do not scatter them across walking surfaces, drains, fields or protected fabric.
Sindoor and flowers
These are source-recorded local materials. Apply nothing directly without current permission, particularly where conservation controls protect the image or stonework.
Black cloth
The source lists black cloth among devotional offerings, but it is not compulsory. Ask whether and where it is currently accepted before bringing it.
Other offerings and donations
Use transparent, voluntary and currently authorised channels. No amount, object or ritual is a guaranteed astrological or karmic remedy.
Best Time to Visit
Season and crowd planning
October to March
The source presents these as generally more comfortable Saurashtra travel months. This is seasonal guidance, not a live weather forecast.
Morning after confirmation
The source suggests Saturday morning, but current opening, rural transport, weather and crowd conditions must be checked and peaceful darshan is not guaranteed.
Special Shani observances
Saturday, Shani Amavasya, Shani Jayanti and Shani Trayodashi may bring changing queues, protected-site controls and offering procedures.
Nearby Sacred Places
Source-listed Dwarka, Porbandar, Somnath and Saurashtra coastal places
Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka
Approximately 90 km in the source. A major and separately managed Krishna pilgrimage place requiring current darshan, security, flag, ghat and transport checks.
Open mapNageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
Approximately 80 km in the source. A source-listed Shiva Jyotirlinga pilgrimage stop with independently managed current hours, queues and access.
Open mapKirti Mandir, Porbandar
Approximately 28 km in the source. A source-listed memorial associated with the birthplace and family home of Mahatma Gandhi; confirm current museum hours and access.
Open mapSudama Temple, Porbandar
Approximately 30 km in the source. A source-listed Krishna and Sudama friendship temple requiring its own current worship and visitor checks.
Open mapSomnath Temple
Approximately 130 km in the source. A distant Shiva pilgrimage extension with separate current darshan, security, programme and transport arrangements.
Open mapBet Dwarka
Approximately 100 km including boat travel in the source. An island pilgrimage extension requiring current road, jetty, boat, sea-weather, ticket and return-service confirmation.
Open mapJamnagar
Approximately 110 km in the source. A source-listed city and travel base with heritage, wetland and marine destinations that need separate current planning.
Open mapGomti River at Dwarka
Approximately 90 km in the source. A sacred river and sea-confluence setting; use only safe, lawful access and do not assume bathing or boating conditions.
Open mapPorbandar Beach
Approximately 28 km in the source. A source-listed coastal stop requiring current weather, surf, tide, access and local-safety checks.
Open mapMadhavpur Beach
Approximately 60 km in the source. A beach and Krishna-Rukmini tradition destination requiring separate road, fair, tide and water-safety planning.
Open mapHathla, Porbandar and Dwarka Sacred-Heritage Circuit
An optional route adapted from the supplied travel sequence; it is not a compulsory ritual order or a guaranteed one-day itinerary, and every stop requires current access and timing checks.
- Shani Dev Temple, Hathla
Begin with respectful Shani darshan through the current public and protected-site route. - Kirti Mandir, Porbandar
Continue to the source-listed memorial only with current museum hours and access confirmed. - Sudama Temple
Visit the separately managed Porbandar temple according to its own current worship schedule. - Dwarkadhish Temple
Plan the Krishna pilgrimage centre around current security, queues, darshan periods and city traffic. - Gomti River and Ghat
Approach only through safe, lawful access and do not treat a dip as required or automatically safe. - Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
Add the source-listed Shiva temple with independently confirmed hours and route. - Okha transfer
Use the current road and jetty arrangements only if a safe, operating island connection is confirmed. - Bet Dwarka
Complete the optional island extension only with current boat, weather, sea, ticket and return-service confirmation.
This is a suggested visitor route, not an official compulsory pilgrimage order. Reorder stops according to current access, weather and personal mobility.
Visitor Information and Safety
Before you enter
- Current scheduleReconfirm daily hours, exact aarti times, festival programmes, entry and sanctum photography rules before travel.
- Protected heritageTreat all stonework, carvings and images as protected sacred fabric. Follow current barriers, direct-touch, photography and conservation instructions.
- Oil and fire safetyMustard or sesame oil is an optional local practice. Use only the current temple-approved place, vessel and procedure; prevent spills and do not ignite oil unless explicitly permitted.
- Sindoor and flowersApply nothing directly to an image or historic surface without current temple and conservation permission. Avoid eye contact, stains, loose material and waste.
- Sesame and clothPresent black sesame or cloth only where currently accepted; do not scatter seeds or leave loose material on paths, drains, fields or protected fabric.
- Mama-Bhanja traditionThe uncle-nephew custom is optional and requires willing participation. It does not guarantee removal of Sade Sati, Panoti or any other difficulty.
- No guaranteed remedyDo not rely on promises of karmic, astrological, legal, medical, financial, employment, marriage or other personal outcomes.
- Astrology boundaryGeneral Shani tradition is not a diagnosis or prediction. Seek appropriately qualified help for consequential decisions and never pay under fear or pressure.
- Crowds and belongingsSaturday and special observances may be busier. Follow current queues, keep companions together and secure valuables.
- Rural and coastal travelConfirm roads, rail and local transport, use reputable operators and separately check weather, tides and boats for coastal extensions.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is at Hathla Village in Bhanvad Taluka, Devbhoomi Dwarka District, Gujarat 360590, near the Porbandar district border. The source coordinates are 21.6300, 69.6200.
The principal deity is Lord Shani Dev in the source-described Piplashraya form, shown as a child riding an elephant.
No historical proof is established here. Janmasthali is the sacred local belief recorded in the supplied account.
The source makes that uniqueness claim, but this page does not present it as independently verified. Piplashraya remains the defining local iconographic tradition.
The source dates it to the seventh to eighth century and separately calls it over 1,500 years old. Because those statements are difficult to reconcile and unverified here, both remain attributed claims.
The supplied account says it is listed by the Gujarat archaeological authority. Confirm the current official register, custodian and visitor rules directly.
The source reports 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all days. This is not a permanent guarantee; confirm the current schedule and protected-site controls.
No exact aarti timetable is confirmed in the supplied source. Do not infer it from opening hours or special-prayer references; verify directly.
No. These are local offerings and remain optional. Use only the currently permitted, temple-approved and conservation-safe procedure.
No result is guaranteed. It is a local maternal-uncle-and-nephew tradition, not an astrology diagnosis, required pairing or substitute for practical and professional help.
Reference Notes
Supplied temple research and approved public references used for careful framing.
Supplied Shani Dev Temple Hathla research document
Primary offline source for temple identity, Janmasthali and Piplashraya traditions, reported age and protection, schedule, worship, travel and nearby places.
Devbhoomi Dwarka District page recorded in the source
The source records a district page for the Hathla temple and protected-heritage context. It was not independently checked during this offline rollout.
Yappe listing recorded in the source
The supplied research records Yappe.in for local temple listing material. It is not proof of current timings, access, administration or protection.
Temples of India reference recorded in the source
The document records a Temples of India page for Hathla. It remains a source note rather than independent verification of birthplace, uniqueness, age, ritual outcome or current visitor arrangements.
Opening hours, access rules, local transport and festival arrangements can change. Reconfirm time-sensitive details close to your visit.