Sade-Sati or SADay Sathi or Saadaa Sathi?

March 10, 2010

Sir,

I should have used the words " common jyotish parlance " instead of Parashari.

I revere THE GREATNESS OF SATURN by Dr. Robert E. Svoboda, a translation of

Shani Mahatamya written by Pranjivan Harihar Shastri published in 1950 by

Natvarlal I. Desai.

BUT

This tale's protagonist is King Vikramaditya.

Regards

Kulbir Bains.

On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 6:17 AM, rohinicrystal <jyotish_vaniwrote:

>

> Kulbir praaji,

>

> Aisa mat sochnaa ki aaj main tumharay peechay padh gaya hoon :-) Rather

> think of this exchange as me saying, " I missed you brother... " :-)

>

> Aajkaal Jyotish Hospital main saab ko bukhaar chadhaa hua hai aur sab kaa

> PAARA chadhaa huaa sa hai! Isiliyay dar dar kay paaon raakraha hoon. Jaisaa

> kay angrezi kahawat hai naa: Aandon kay chilkon par Shanaih Shanaih paaon

> raakh kay chal rahaa hoon!

>

> Magar bhi-saheb, is posting quoted below from you is creating a bit of

> problem for me :-( This implies that BPHS has mentioned about Sadesathi of

> Shani. Aisaa kya, sachmuch?

>

> This is one of the mysterious things about Jyotish. Leaving aside Shani

> Mahatmay, a more recent text than BPHS, I have been told about Raja

> Harishchandra and his encounter with Mand(a), is there one of the

> traditional texts in Jyotish that describes and elaborates on this enigma

> about Sadhe-sati, dhaiyaa, kantaka shani, etc?

>

> Others are welcome to add their observations, notes and teachings too ...

>

> Rohiniranjan

>

> <%40>,

> Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb wrote:

> >

> > Some Observations -2.

> >

> > Point numbered 1….. Concept of Sadhesati according to Parashari System

> > is not to be confused herewith. It has been used here merely as a

> > SIMILE to convey that practical events are to be given paramount

> > importance to adjudicate the nature of planets instead of guesswork.

> >

> > ...

>

March 10, 2010

SiRR ji,

page 198 THE GREATNESS OF SATURN by Dr. Robert E. Svoboda " The Seers of

Vedas, who relied more on intutive precision than on mathematical precision

in their observations of the sky, expressed what they SAW of the nine

planets in terms which were incomprehensible to anyone who approaches them

without the internal keys to interpretation that were handed down from Guru

to Disciple. Deprived of these keys, most modern researchers conclude that

Jyotish has progressed from simplistic Vedic conceptions to

better-structured classical speculations, and that because these later

theories are more complex they are more advanced. The view from within

Jyotish suggests instead that profundity is a function of simplicity, and

that real evolutionary advancement in Jyotish occurred on those occasions

when the multiplicity of manifested myths has found new ways, though a

process of attribution inspired by the Jyotir vidya, to coalesce around

the center. " WHEREAS FOR US [ IN THE WEST], KNOWLEDGE IS SOMETHING TO BE

DISCOVERED,FOR THE INDIAN KNOWLEDGE IS TO BE RECOVERED. " [ J.A.B vab

Buitenen, qoted in Coburn, p. 17] India's genius continually shows its

savants how to locate the ONE in the midst of all.

Regards

Kulbir Bains

On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 11:24 AM, Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb wrote:

> Sir,

> I should have used the words " common jyotish parlance " instead of

> Parashari.

> I revere THE GREATNESS OF SATURN by Dr. Robert E. Svoboda, a translation

> of Shani Mahatamya written by Pranjivan Harihar Shastri published in 1950 by

> Natvarlal I. Desai.

> BUT

> This tale's protagonist is King Vikramaditya.

> Regards

> Kulbir Bains.

>

> On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 6:17 AM, rohinicrystal

<jyotish_vaniwrote:

>

>>

>> Kulbir praaji,

>>

>> Aisa mat sochnaa ki aaj main tumharay peechay padh gaya hoon :-) Rather

>> think of this exchange as me saying, " I missed you brother... " :-)

>>

>> Aajkaal Jyotish Hospital main saab ko bukhaar chadhaa hua hai aur sab kaa

>> PAARA chadhaa huaa sa hai! Isiliyay dar dar kay paaon raakraha hoon. Jaisaa

>> kay angrezi kahawat hai naa: Aandon kay chilkon par Shanaih Shanaih paaon

>> raakh kay chal rahaa hoon!

>>

>> Magar bhi-saheb, is posting quoted below from you is creating a bit of

>> problem for me :-( This implies that BPHS has mentioned about Sadesathi of

>> Shani. Aisaa kya, sachmuch?

>>

>> This is one of the mysterious things about Jyotish. Leaving aside Shani

>> Mahatmay, a more recent text than BPHS, I have been told about Raja

>> Harishchandra and his encounter with Mand(a), is there one of the

>> traditional texts in Jyotish that describes and elaborates on this enigma

>> about Sadhe-sati, dhaiyaa, kantaka shani, etc?

>>

>> Others are welcome to add their observations, notes and teachings too ...

>>

>> Rohiniranjan

>>

>> <%40>,

>> Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb wrote:

>> >

>> > Some Observations -2.

>> >

>> > Point numbered 1….. Concept of Sadhesati according to Parashari System

>> > is not to be confused herewith. It has been used here merely as a

>> > SIMILE to convey that practical events are to be given paramount

>> > importance to adjudicate the nature of planets instead of guesswork.

>> >

>> > ...

>>

>

March 10, 2010

AN ARTICLE BY Sir RR ji,

Nothing strikes greater fear in many hearts than the mention of an impending

sade-sati of Shani maharaj as Saturn is `affectionately' known in India! Through

the tireless efforts of `modern' jyotishis, judging from the number of questions

I receive through web-portals, kalasarpa yoga, sarpa yoga, mangal dosha are

gaining a lot of ground and rapidly in the arena of fear-causing astrological

indicators! I am not trying to minimize the potential negative influence of

these factors when these are in full sway, but it would be equally reckless not

to point out that the negativity is not unconditional and must not be applied

blindly in any and all charts. While I am not in favor of sugar-coating and

pussy-footing around negative indications (as is done by some modern astrologers

who turn their noses at any and all forms of arcane `gloom and doom' astrology),

but I am even more strongly against amplifying and over-reacting to all that is

potentially-negative but challenging in ones life. With this principle guiding

me, I hope to focus in a balanced manner on the phenomenon of sade-sati in this

article.

Saturn is the outermost of the three superior (outside the orbit of earth)

planets (Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) planets that are considered in traditional

jyotish. Saturn takes on an average a little over 29 months to traverse through

each constellation or sign or rashi of the zodiac. This can be rounded up to 2.5

years per sign or 30 years for one revolution around the zodiac. Saturn is the

outermost planet that describes more than one revolution around the zodiac

during the lifetime of most human beings. Now, the sign in which the moon is

placed in the birth chart of an individual is considered to be of a very

significant factor in jyotish. Moon is the indicator of the mind and is

considered to be especially sensitive to astrological influences. The moon-sign

or janma-rashi, then, becomes the astrological i.d. of an individual,

particularly to influences that are of an ongoing nature as one progresses in

life. The moonsign, understandably, plays a significant role in judging the

influence of transiting planets during ones lifetime and forms the basis of

gochara or transit readings in jyotish.

When Saturn arrives in the sign that is in the 12th house from the natal moon

(that is, just previous to the moonsign) one understandably enters into a new

phase in life. This period lasts till Saturn exits from the sign that is after

the moonsign. Its transit through these three signs, namely, the sign in 12th

from the natal moon, the moon sign itself and the sign next to the moonsign,

takes about 7.5 years and the term for 7.5 in hindi is `sade-saat'. Hence, the

sade-sati of Saturn refers to its transit through the trio of the two signs

flanking the natal moon and the moonsign itself. This phase of 7.5 years repeats

again in about 30 years and so, many individuals may experience 2 to 3 such

periods during their lifetime. To a somewhat smaller extent, the `influence' is

also believed to occur when Saturn transits the signs that is fourth and eighth

from natal moon. These 2.5 year periods are known as panoti, dhayia or adhayia

in folklore jyotish. As a matter of fact, none of these periods, and for that

matter sade-sati itself are mentioned prominently in most of the standard

classic texts in jyotish; it is remarkable that their impact in the jyotish

framework is so deep-rooted and known to even beginners.

To give an example of the periods described above, if we assume that one was

born in the Mesha or Aries rashi, in other words, with the natal moon in Aries

rashi in the birth chart; when Saturn transits the signs of Pisces, Aries and

Taurus, the individual will experience sade-sati. When Saturn transits the sign

of Karka or Cancer and again when it crosses Scorpio or Vrischik, the individual

will experience the panoti or adhayia of Saturn.

Nit-pickers may immediately wonder – what if the natal moon is in the last

degree of a sign? Will Saturn then have a different influence than if the natal

moon were in the first degree of a sign? In the former case, Saturn will have to

travel almost 5 years before it meets up with the natal moon but will only spend

2.5 years of the sade-sati after it has crossed the moon. Could the

effects/influences of this be different from that experienced by an individual

who has the moon in the first degree of a sign and who therefore experiences a

longer proportion of the period of sade-sati after transit Saturn has contacted

the natal moon? On a related but different note one also wonders with some

trepidation, " Is the entire period of 7.5 years going to be an encounter with

hell or only certain months during these 7.5 years? "

Saturn invokes the image of an emaciated, irritable, cold-hearted, curmudgeonly

old man with a very stern way of making his presence felt. He is unforgiving,

treacherous, negative, sans emotions or flexibility and represents chronic and

debilitating illness; is lame, of poor eyesight and the giver of worries placing

obstacles in ones path. Imagine seven and a half years of problems, failures,

frustrations, illnesses and deaths surrounding you and who would not cringe in

fear as ones sade-sati approaches which ones net-jyotishi menacingly warns one

about. But is the picture always so gloomy and hopeless?

Saturn's association with Saturday, blue sapphire and mustard (oil) are

exploited within the similia similibus framework employed by some jyotishis for

recommending the remedial procedures associated with these and others

Saturn-related factors and devices. If only life were magically simple and

antidotes so effective! Give a horoscope to five different astrologers and you

may walk away with more than one recommendation and different diagnoses.

Interpretations can be so very different.

There is also a bigger picture view of Saturn which is a product of experience,

imagination and a different way of looking at life. This provides one with a

slightly different take on Saturn and what it is supposed to represent and do to

us in our human experience of a lifetime. Saturn is about removal or all that is

unnecessary, all that is old and in need for an overhaul. The deathly winter of

Saturn can only be followed by the spring of regeneration. This kind of

optimistic thinking gives one some hope, that if we can only cling to the root

that is sticking out in the river, we would be able to survive the rapids, the

twister that sade-sati is.

We also see Saturn as the teacher whose sole purpose in our life is to make us

realize our mistakes, our moments of laziness and inaction that landed us in the

deplorable state, today and which we need to address and reverse now so that we

fare better during the next encounter with Saturn. The accounts of karma need to

be paid now and the piper is at our door beckoning for that which is now due.

Such is the powerful imagery of that which is negative and painful in astrology

that the benefic planets really do not stand a fighting chance in claiming a

lion's share in our discussion of jyotish principles. We remember the negatives

more vividly as we complain about and curse our fates and God, while

conveniently forgetting our escapes and all the grace that we have enjoyed in

past. Saturn, mars, Rahu and Ketu, particularly the first three are generally

regarded as evil planets at a basic and somewhat crude level of jyotish, with

afflicted sun, waning moon and mercury with evil associations also being

attributed with malefic properties. Saturn, of course, takes the cake in terms

of its ability to wreak havoc upon the human soul and according to orthodox

view, must be held in esteem and at a distance if possible.

Sade-sati in such a framework is believed to expose one to the distilled and

fully concentrated vitriol that Saturn is capable of inflicting on someone.

Hence the need for fear, prevention and remedies galore! But, does that work? Is

undoing of ones karma that simple and capable of being brought about by the mere

act of buying and wearing a gemstone or footing the bill for doing a pooja for

appeasing Saturn, a worship to appease the gods, or for that matter even an act

of self-discipline through fasting, denying oneself of some joy or luxury and

volunteer service offered to the needy? The latter procedures of self-denial,

self-discipline intuitively do make sense but perhaps more so when done without

any ulterior motives. If the charity or sacrifice begins with the incentive and

intent to seek pardon for ones undesirable actions of the past, then

understandably, its efficacy is rightly of a diminutive nature when compared

with the similar activities done with no `selfish' intent behind such practices.

But, practical and ideal are often two different sides of reality.

Twins and others with the moon in the same sign often do not experience the same

degree of negative effects in life while concurrently going through a period of

sade-sati. This is very commonly seen and is frequent enough to raise doubts

about the uniformity of negative experiences during sade-sati in the life of a

nativity, thus bringing to the fore the same thing that many jyotishis keep

repeating. One swallow does not indicate the arrival of summer! As one sifts

through writings, mostly in modern texts as opposed to scriptural texts which

are generally silent about sade-sati (though not about Saturn and its negative

impact on most humans) – one comes across references to the strength and

beneficences of Saturn and of moon resulting in a mollifying effect on the

sade-sati influences. In other words, if one is born with moon in strength and

in benefic combinations and/or if Saturn is also likewise disposed, then the

individual will not experience drastic effects during sade-sati. When moon is

beneficially disposed, this is like saying that the person has a stable and

well-disposed mental ability. The mind is not driven by ego and is

compassionate, kind, fair and even-keeled; not given to impulse and selfish

gratification. On the other hand, if Saturn is similarly disposed, the

individual is aware of the need for justice and fairness, is hard-working and

aware of ones duties and limits. During sade-sati, these qualities are expected

to make one endure duress and to avoid taking steps that would make life more

miserable than it should. The sense of fairness is the more important trait, I

think and is what reduces ones entanglement in the illusions of human

experience: the maya. Expectations and ambitions beyond the scope of ones

efforts are what often cause problems when they encounter the Saturnine

framework and frustration and anguish ensue.

A chart with such a situation where the two primary astro-indicators, namely,

moon and Saturn are well-fortified indicates one who has been working at what

gives power to sade-sati and has the karmic balance which is more `black' than

" red " as ledgers go. Yet, no one is perfect and sade-sati will bring such

situations and opportunities when negative influences can operate and surface in

ones life and one can experience defeat and distress or experience a degree of

helplessness that is associated with negative destiny. Mahatma Gandhi was born

in Tula lagna (Libra ascendant) and was assassinated when transit Saturn was

very close to natal moon and transit moon was close to the ascendant. Saturn is

considered a benefic and yogakarak for Libra ascendants. In other charts, people

have experienced rise and gains during sade-sati, though often with some degree

of mental turmoil or uncertainties that plagued ones mind and disturbed if not

destroyed mental peace. If sade-sati is beginning to sound like a factor to be

taken into account but not expected to override everything else at a given

moment, then that is indeed what is observed. With approaching sade-sati, if one

can adopt a certain degree of mental detachment towards the outcome and goals

and can take the opportunity to exercise some self-discipline and a sense of

fairness, the better one will be prepared to withstand what the period has to

offer. On the one hand, this smacks of astrological opportunism, but on the

other hand, this can be taken as an opportunity for one to practice certain ways

of living and reacting to life, ways that are in tune with and harmonious with

what the astrological rhythms and signatures signify.

A karmayogi, one who carries out ones duties without excessive attachment to the

goals and fruits of such actions will be less affected during sade-sati than

another who continues to cling to a goal-oriented life and has difficulty in

letting go of control. While such a perspective of living throughout life is

very welcome, we are all creatures of desires and passions and cannot be `good'

all the time. But, if we can live as we should and as we are supposed to in

order to attain spiritual growth, even for short periods of time, then we do

come out that much better in life.

As they say, there is a time to sow, a time to care for the crop and a time for

harvesting – then this is exactly what the astrological periods and rhythms of

life are indicating to us. When we do manage to work with astrological cycles,

life seems to be smoother and more wholesome than otherwise. The emphasis is

obviously on right action (and right speech and thought as well) at the proper

time. Approached thus, sade-sati takes on a different form and Saturn can almost

become an ally, a teacher and not the menacing destroyer that it is often made

out to be. However, the best time to act is `now' and not necessarily when the

piper begins knocking on the door. Even so, I hasten to add, that proper action

never goes to waste in the long run, so those who awaken late may not reap

immediate benefits, but eventually will, if they go through their tests with a

certain degree of detachment. This, though difficult to do, is basically what a

devotee does. The surest form of detachment is through spiritual surrender.

Surrender is what Bhakti or devotion is all about. Surrender is not the same as

shirking ones responsibilities or assumption of passivity. One never surrenders

actions, one surrenders the goals, or more specifically the desire and

expectation of the fruits, the outcome of proper action. This is the primary

lesson that Saturn in our charts is supposed to provide us to the degree that we

require, in the manner that is necessary to get our attention.

Sade-sati is about ones duties and proper discharge of those and it is about

ones dharma. It often makes its influence known through its impact on our `luck'

or our escape buffer. This is the benefic reserve that we enjoy through our past

good actions. The navamsha chart which provides an important background of our

destiny (9th house) has rightfully been recommended as the secondary chart by

many jyotishis, ancient and subsequent. It holds an important role in the

determination of the influences during the sade-sati of Saturn. In fact it

defines the bounds of sade-sati. Though it is nominally considered to stretch

over 7.5 years while Saturn transits the three houses around ones natal moon

(12th, 1st and 2nd from natal moon), the critical focus is when it makes two

cycles around the navamsha chart, and contacts the natal moon in navamsha,

thrice. Sade-sati, in this scheme begins when Saturn enters the navamsha

occupied by the natal moon while it is behind the moon (generally about 40-43

degrees behind the natal moon in rashi). Over the next several years, it goes

around the 12 signs in navamsha and contacts the moon again, and then another

cycle and it leaves the moon-navamsha. Saturn's influence begins with the first

contact and ends with the third contact with natal moon in navamsha. Saturn

stays in one navamsha sign for approximately 3.3 months. During the two cycles,

it travels through 24 navamshas in approximately 6.5 years. This is the core

duration of the period during which the `sade-sati' influence is experienced.

During its transit through the navamshas, it contacts other planets and

influences the areas and attributes represented by those. These must be

considered when determining the course of sade-sati in a horoscope and during a

reading. During this period, if transit Saturn makes contact with natal Saturn,

natal mars or natal rahu, the negative influences if unchecked can be

experienced and these are also the periods when ones clarity of vision and

thinking may be compromised. Conversely, when transit Saturn comes across natal

benefics, a certain degree of relief may be experienced with a change in

perception and insight. These are times for initiating spiritual activities with

an aim for improved spiritual understanding and not merely for escaping from

pain and troubles. As always, it is necessary to gauge the benefic state of

those planet in individual charts and one must not go with a look-up table like

approach. One must not blindly associate readings with a given combination as

unfortunately is also done in otherwise revered and valuable ancient texts in

jyotish. Without keeping into context the rest of the specific horoscope, advice

rendered based on nascent interpretation of combinations (yogas and arishtas)

can be less than useful and even misleading.

December 22, 2000

, Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb wrote:

>

> SiRR ji,

> page 198 THE GREATNESS OF SATURN by Dr. Robert E. Svoboda " The Seers of

> Vedas, who relied more on intutive precision than on mathematical precision

> in their observations of the sky, expressed what they SAW of the nine

> planets in terms which were incomprehensible to anyone who approaches them

> without the internal keys to interpretation that were handed down from Guru

> to Disciple. Deprived of these keys, most modern researchers conclude that

> Jyotish has progressed from simplistic Vedic conceptions to

> better-structured classical speculations, and that because these later

> theories are more complex they are more advanced. The view from within

> Jyotish suggests instead that profundity is a function of simplicity, and

> that real evolutionary advancement in Jyotish occurred on those occasions

> when the multiplicity of manifested myths has found new ways, though a

> process of attribution inspired by the Jyotir vidya, to coalesce around

> the center. " WHEREAS FOR US [ IN THE WEST], KNOWLEDGE IS SOMETHING TO BE

> DISCOVERED,FOR THE INDIAN KNOWLEDGE IS TO BE RECOVERED. " [ J.A.B vab

> Buitenen, qoted in Coburn, p. 17] India's genius continually shows its

> savants how to locate the ONE in the midst of all.

> Regards

> Kulbir Bains

>

> On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 11:24 AM, Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb wrote:

>

> > Sir,

> > I should have used the words " common jyotish parlance " instead of

> > Parashari.

> > I revere THE GREATNESS OF SATURN by Dr. Robert E. Svoboda, a translation

> > of Shani Mahatamya written by Pranjivan Harihar Shastri published in 1950 by

> > Natvarlal I. Desai.

> > BUT

> > This tale's protagonist is King Vikramaditya.

> > Regards

> > Kulbir Bains.

> >

> > On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 6:17 AM, rohinicrystal <jyotish_vaniwrote:

> >

> >>

> >> Kulbir praaji,

> >>

> >> Aisa mat sochnaa ki aaj main tumharay peechay padh gaya hoon :-) Rather

> >> think of this exchange as me saying, " I missed you brother... " :-)

> >>

> >> Aajkaal Jyotish Hospital main saab ko bukhaar chadhaa hua hai aur sab kaa

> >> PAARA chadhaa huaa sa hai! Isiliyay dar dar kay paaon raakraha hoon. Jaisaa

> >> kay angrezi kahawat hai naa: Aandon kay chilkon par Shanaih Shanaih paaon

> >> raakh kay chal rahaa hoon!

> >>

> >> Magar bhi-saheb, is posting quoted below from you is creating a bit of

> >> problem for me :-( This implies that BPHS has mentioned about Sadesathi of

> >> Shani. Aisaa kya, sachmuch?

> >>

> >> This is one of the mysterious things about Jyotish. Leaving aside Shani

> >> Mahatmay, a more recent text than BPHS, I have been told about Raja

> >> Harishchandra and his encounter with Mand(a), is there one of the

> >> traditional texts in Jyotish that describes and elaborates on this enigma

> >> about Sadhe-sati, dhaiyaa, kantaka shani, etc?

> >>

> >> Others are welcome to add their observations, notes and teachings too ...

> >>

> >> Rohiniranjan

> >>

> >> --- In

<%40>,

> >> Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb@> wrote:

> >> >

> >> > Some Observations -2.

> >> >

> >> > Point numbered 1….. Concept of Sadhesati according to Parashari System

> >> > is not to be confused herewith. It has been used here merely as a

> >> > SIMILE to convey that practical events are to be given paramount

> >> > importance to adjudicate the nature of planets instead of guesswork.

> >> >

> >> > ...

> >>

> >

>

March 10, 2010

Saturn Blessings

by Rohini Ranjan <http://www.boloji.com/writers/ranjan.htm>

Few references strike so much terror and anxiety in hearts as those relating

to Saturn; ominous terms such as; *sade-sati, ashtam-shani, panoti *and *

dhaiyaa*. Eastern and western astrological lore has generally treated Saturn

with awe and fear. Described as uncouth, ugly, defective in body

(particularly lower limbs), old, unforgiving, cold-hearted and stern, Saturn

has generally epitomized punishment and karmic reprimand, reprieve from

which is difficult to obtain.

And, yet, one runs into descriptions that extol the strengths of Saturn and

how the influence represented by it can shape our lives and destiny through

imposed limitations and through boundaries sometimes set by oneself but

mostly by others or by society in general. While generally believed to be a

'taker' of life, peace, health and all that is beautiful and comforting,

Saturn has also been associated with a *Mahapurusha* yoga, known as

*Sasha*yoga when the planet is placed in an angle from the ascendant

(and some

consider from the moon as well) in a sign which is its own,

*moolatrikona*or its seat of exaltation, in other words, Capricorn,

Aquarius or Libra,

respectively.

Of special significance, thanks primarily to propaganda generated by

devotees of the temple of Gloom and Doom, is the phenomenon of *sade-sati*,

a period during Saturn's transit which extends from the time it enters the

12th sign from the lunar sign in a chart until it leaves the 2nd sign from

the natal moon. When Saturn enters Taurus soon, the *sade-sati* for those

with moon in Gemini would begin and this would last until such time when

Saturn leaves cancer, the second sign from Gemini. Saturn transits each sign

in about 29.5 months and crosses three signs in about 7 and a half years,

hence the reference to *sade-sati* (7 and a half). It is almost as if during

such a transit, the natal moon is in the grip of the taskmaster, Saturn. The

moon represents ones mind, the primary stage where one plays with reality,

where one perceives it and where expressions emerge. In many ways, Saturn is

opposite to the moon. It has been described as dry, devoid of light and

unemotional, lazy and slow, deliberate and unkind. Its influence is

malignant, unrelenting and dreadful.

Astrologers are a curious bunch and love to harbor diversity of opinions,

often backed by information coming down to us through tradition, and

sometimes through other means, as well. Some jyotishis insist that it is not

the sign but the house that matters. There is, depending on which drummer

one follows, a difference in the houses and signs in a chart, with far fewer

choices usually utilized by jyotishis (compared to their western

colleagues). For determining the boundaries of a house in a horoscope, one

may use the entire sign as a house, or utilize the rising degree as the

mid-point of a house and then choose the equal house division (each house

extending 15 degrees on each side of the degree in each sign that is

corresponding to the rising degree. To simplify the example, if the 15th

degree rises in the east at birth, then each house will extend from 0

degrees to 30 degrees of each sign, consequently, in this case the whole

sign would represent the house. Other choices are also available. Those

using the *Sripati* variant (very similar to the Porphyry division used in

tropical astrology) would erect slightly different houses because this

system takes two points into account, namely, the rising degree and the

degree that is at the apex (right overhead) at the place of birth, also

known as the medium coeli or M.C. In this system, houses can vary in size

depending on the latitude of birth and, some signs may not rise at all at

extreme latitudes. These are known as intercepted signs in western

astrological terminology.

A minority group of astrologers, notably the famous Marathi astrologer,

Katveji recommended using tighter orbs when examining *sade-sati*. According

to him, *sade sati* starts when Saturn is 45 degrees behind the exact degree

of the natal moon and ends when Saturn crosses the point that is 45 degrees

ahead of the natal moon. This 90-degree wide zone is followed by many and

shows up as an option in software that is commonly used by jyotishis, as

well. By shaving off 5 degrees on each side of this orb, one notices another

interesting phenomenon emerging. The way *navamsha* charts are defined; each

*navamsha* is 3d 20m wide and planets cycle within a 40-degree zone (this

encompasses 12 *navamshas*, one cycle of the *navamsha* micro zodiac, in

other words). It follows that planets that are 40 degree apart are in

conjunction in *navamsha*. When Saturn comes to the sign that is 12th from

natal moon and when it is 40 degrees behind the natal moon, in *navamsha*,

it would conjoin the moon in *navamsha* (in transit). As Saturn moves

through the next 40 degrees, it would make one complete revolution of the *

navamsha* chart and conjoin the moon again (in *navamsha* and in *rashi*).

Then by the time it makes another revolution and yet again joins the moon in

*navamsha*, it would have gone ahead of the natal moon by another 40

degrees. This 80-degree zone is when the *sade-sati* influence is

experienced strongly. Actually, the zone can start a bit earlier or later

(and leave a bit earlier or later accordingly) depending on whether the

natal moon is in early or later part of the 3d 20m zone in the

*navamsha*sign. Now Saturn takes a little over 6 and a half years to

transit this

80-degree zone (and not 7 and a half as is traditionally described for *

sade-sati*). This is not a clever ploy to shave off a sometimes

well-deserved one year off Saturn's grip over the moon, but an empirical

observation that bears promise. In all fairness, not everyone is slated to

experience the harsh whiplash of Saturn, nor is the grip something that

would be constant throughout the period. So, readers may take heart!

Ominous, though it might have sounded to some, this description of *sade-

sati* as being a state where " Saturn is gripping the moon " indeed jives with

what many people actually experience during their *sade-sati* periods. The

level at which it would manifest and be experienced would depend on many

other factors, such as, the role of Saturn in the chart, in terms of its

natural and temporal significance, its strength and associations with other

factors in the horoscope, etc.

While on one hand Saturn claims our attention to learn to work hard at

ourselves and to avoid short cuts, on the other hand it also requires us to

work in a detached manner, like a karma-yogi. One tends to get lazy, or

discouraged and begins to skip on efforts when the efforts seem to far

exceed the goal. This 'attachment' to the goal and tailoring of ones work to

match the outcome is worshipped in our modern society as efficiency, but

this may not be what Saturn's message to us necessarily is. Although we talk

of and readily accept the concept of timelessness of spirit and of lifetimes

affecting other lifetimes, we often tend to lose that 'lofty' perspective

when misfortunes strike! This is very natural because we are created and

cultivated in a manner that seems to emphasize our focus on the moment that

is here now and the timeframes surrounding it, and yet, the theme of karma

and destiny makes complete sense only when the full album, rather than a few

photographs from the travelogue of the incarnating soul are taken into

consideration.

Through continually reminding ourselves, and through having faith in a

Greater Wisdom that guides us fully only after we throw ourselves at Its

feet, not out of a need to appease some Divine Ego that demands total

subservience, but so that our receptiveness to this Supreme Energy and what

it bestows upon our soul can open up fully only when we manage to efface our

'selves' completely. Unless we realize this in the depth of our inner

sanctum, all the clever words in the universe would not help us rationalize

and work ourselves into that state of experiencing divinity. In fact, quite

the contrary may be generally true! And, some days will be harder than

others, but that is why we have been granted the boon of timeless existence

and endless lifetimes (although the karmic 'tuition' tends to increase, they

say, the longer one takes to complete the curriculum!).

Paradoxically, Saturn initially creates within us the faculty of

discrimination, the separation, between the self and the rest of the Whole,

and this may actually lead to a setting for so called saturnine lessons.

When the schism is dissolved, and oneness restored, through our own efforts

and attitudinal changes, the higher resonance of Saturn can be tapped into.

Increasingly, there seems to be a growing impatience in the world. There is

so much emphasis on vicarious learning, of learning by proxy! Easier ways,

short cut techniques, efficient gateways to spirituality, paved highways of

spirituality cut through the mountains of spiritual rigour that 'guarantee'

to carry one in style straight to the Other Side! These have nothing to do

with Saturn. When Saturn is the companion, the journey tends to be slow and

plodding. One may choose to be anguished by the slowness and harder climb,

or may utilize the extra time gained by indulging in introspection, and in

gaining trust in a Greater Wisdom that looks after one. One may choose also

to utilize the extra time gained due to the slowness of progress in pursuits

which have an added measure of conservatism, carefulness and working on ones

accuracy. These represent the traits and attributes of the astrological

Saturn.

Limiting any desire for gains that always dissipate before the desire does,

is a sure fire way to get on the good side of Saturn. Greed arises from

insecurity and an overwhelming sense of impermanence, of their being not

enough time or opportunities to gain something or gain it back or gain it

eventually. The soul grows restless and the stage gets set for Saturn's

scythe to land on ones castle of dreams. Paradoxically, what one desires to

gain must first be given away, freely, without any shrewd games and selfish

motives. But, one must act proactively if one wishes to avoid the darkness

that Saturn is often infamous for casting on ones psyche. Rushing to the

remedial temple after the blow has been received is already too late.

In a chart, each planet represents some symbolic feature, an icon of

awareness or focusing of ones consciousness and energy. Saturn represents

the points where our focus must be in a practical, earthy way, a zone or

area where our selfishness and immediate needs must be put aside. Likewise,

areas which fall under Saturn's signs in a chart would tend to be ones which

we might shy away from, or be too lazy to work on, but areas that need our

attention and step by step work so that our karmic script is fulfilled.

Areas (or houses) from which Saturn is placed in the 6th, 8th or 12th from,

are also areas of work and which deserve our care and attention. If Saturn

is a functional malefic in the chart, then lessons are harder and more

difficult to accept and to begin working on. If Saturn is benefic or

neutral, then opportunities arise for learning in a milder fashion.

The harder that ones grip is on materialistic pursuits and the stronger that

ones desires are, the firmer is the grip of Saturn on such a soul. Working

towards experiencing a greater sense of being united with and being part of

the creation is good for spiritual growth and as one grows, one can indeed

outgrow Saturn!

*

*April 21, 2000

On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 12:14 PM, Kulbir Bains <lalkitabkb wrote: