Shani Shingnapur or Shani Shinganapur or Shingnapur or Sonai is a village in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated in Nevasa taluka in Ahmednagar district, the village is known for its popular temple of Shani, the Hindu god associated with the planet (graha) Saturn. Shingnapur is 35 km from Ahmednagar city.
Shingnapur is also famous for the fact that no house in the village has doors, only door frames. Despite this, officially no theft was reported in the village although there were reports of theft in 2010 and 2011.
The temple is believed to be a “jagrut devasthan” (lit. “alive temple”), meaning that a deity still resides in the temple icon. Villagers believe that god Shani punishes anyone attempting theft. The deity here is “Swayambhu” (Sanskrit: self-evolved deity) that is self emerged from earth in form of black, imposing stone. Though no one knows the exact period, it is believed that the Swayambhu Shanaishwara statue was found by shepherds of the then local hamlet. It is believed to be in existence at least since the start of Kali yuga.
The village has a post office and a high school known as Shri Shanishwar Vidya Mandir besides the primary schools run by the Zilla Parishad. The chief source of water supply in the village is wells.
The presiding deity of Shani Shingnapur is Lord Shanidev. The small village has a beautiful temple of Lord Shanideva.
The place is unique in respect that no house, shop, or even bank has doors or locks. The legend goes that anybody who tries to steal, shall be punished by Lord Shanideva. Thus, no one commits theft. Interestingly, the UCO bank has opened its branch which has no locks. The region is crime-free and it does not even house a Police Staion. Shani Shingnapur Temple known as “Shani Shingnapur” houses the deity of Lord Shani and is the most revered temple of Shani Dev in the India. Its not a conventional temple architecture, but a single 5 feet stone mounted on a raised platform of 3-4 feet in an open environment. Probably, this is the only Shani Dev temple in the India where he resides in the form of stone instead as a sculpt. Shani Puja is performed in order to calm down the effect of planet Saturn. Shani Shingnapur is the appropriate place to worship Lord Shani.