In the early 1990’s, the Indian government began transitioning from a planned socialist economy to one that embraced global markets.  Twenty-five years later, the increased availability of products that have become markers of middle class status has fostered a feeling of possibility and an enhanced belief in the efficacy of individual agency.  At the same time, widespread frustration with government corruption has engendered a loss of faith in the Indian state’s ability to support entrepreneurism and, consequently, a rejection of the secular state in favor of “Hindu” values.  While changes in economies, political movements, and new religious forms are not necessarily linked, in this talk I will explore connections between these three phenomena in the context of the meteoric rise of the cult of the Hindu deity Shani.  Until the early 1990’s, Shani, a planetary deity, was understood to be malevolent and dangerous; as such he was feared and without a significant cult or temple presence.  Now, however, Shani is widely worshiped in temples throughout northern India as a god of justice – one who presides over the workings of karma. In this talk I will explore the ways in which the modern cult of Shani provides members of the emergent Hindu Indian middle classes with a sense that they are capable of negotiating the brave new world of post-liberalization India. Specifically, though facilitating the creation of new notions of individuality, community, and morality, Shani gives Hindus hope that they can negotiate a world of insecurity.  There are also significant political implications to Shani’s transformation.  I will conclude by discussing several ways in which Shani veneration is shaping a new type of Hindu identity that differs from the politically engaged Hinduism of the 80’s and early 90’s, which was primarily reliant upon notions of defending Mother India, restoring the righteous rule of the Hindu god-King Rama, and devotion to Hanuman, the loyal servant of Rama.