Saturn: the karmic taskmaster

 Hari Aum.

As you know, I have an interest in Vedic astrology and I continue to read and study this subject as it fascinates me. More than anything, I find it to be a wonderful spiritual tool; it provides valuable insights into one's own karma and that of others. The karmic map revealed by Vedic astrology helps us to understand why we are the way we are, and why others are the way they are. It helps us recognise that human personalities are often a result of deep-rooted habits formed over many lifetimes and it is not easy to change these overnight. We therefore learn to accept ourselves and others. Importantly, we also learn the tools of transformation needed to overcome our karma. That of course is the whole purpose of spiritual life-- to transcend karma and recognise our unity with God and all beings. As the yogis say, we are all essentially one in Spirit.

Today I would like to discuss an important indicator of karma in the Vedic astrology chart. That indicator is the planet Saturn.

There are two broad categories of planets in Vedic astrology-- the natural benefics and the natural malefics. Each of them represents something specific in our chart (based on their positions) and they take turns in giving us the results of our karma (based on mathematical calculations, they dominate specific time periods of our lives during which they give us the results of certain karmas).

The natural benefics are planets whose nature is sweet, gentle and forgiving. These include Venus (the planet of pleasure and romance), Jupiter (the planet of wisdom and blessings), the Moon (the planet representing the emotional aspect of the mind). These planets usually give us the results of our karma more gently than the natural malefics. 

In contrast, the natural malefics are planets whose nature is harsh, tough and unforgiving. They punish the slightest mistake and so, there is no room for error with them. These planets are Saturn, Mars, Sun, Rahu and Ketu. 

(I will refer to Saturn here by the pronoun 'him', rather than 'it', as I am talking about the being Saturn/Shanidev not merely the large planetary mass of our solar system. Also, for those unfamilar with astrology, please note that the word 'planet' is being used very loosely here as a popular but simplistic/inadequate translation of the Sanskrit word 'graha' which means 'that which grasps or seizes'. The sun and moon are obviously not planets but this term is applied to them in English; in Sanskrit the correct word for all nine celestial beings/bodies is 'graha'). 

Saturn is famously associated with deep-rooted past karmas. He gives us the results of our own actions firmly and directly; there is no sugar-coating, he is very blunt.

During the periods of our lives ruled by Saturn, we experience some of our more challenging karmas. Even if Saturn is well-placed in our chart and 'friendly' (based on our ascendant), he still provides tough circumstances and opportunities for growth. He is a planet who expects hard work, discipline, self-control and strict adherence to the law (both human and divine laws). Any trangression on our part leads to brutal repercussions. 

Saturn is a planet associated with serious deprivation. During Saturn phases of our lives, he can take away many things as a form of retribution for our past negative actions. These include health, wealth, relations, job, social standing, happiness. He comes to teach us the lesson of humility, of submission to the Divine. To help us recognise that we are servants of the Divine, not masters of the universe. And, until we learn this lesson well, he can be very tough indeed.

Vedic astrology also describes a blending of our birthchart with the current positions of the planets in the sky (known as transits). Put simply, our birthchart is a snapshot of the planets as they were in the sky at our time of birth. This broadly represents our karma for this lifetime. However, the planets of course are continually on the move. And as they move, they travel through the different signs of the zodiac, and thus through our individual charts. This motion has its own meaning and interpretation in Vedic astrology.

The motion of Saturn, the tough taskmaster, through the sky is of particular  interest to Vedic astrologers. Saturn spends around 2.5 years in a single zodiac sign (it is one of the slowest moving planets). When it enters the zodiac sign representing our moon sign (the sign in which the moon was present when we were born), that is said to be a particularly difficult karmic period. Not only this, when Saturn is present in the zodiac signs before and after our moon sign, that is also very challenging. 

As Saturn takes 2.5 years on average to traverse a zodiac sign, he takes roughly 7.5 years to travel over our moon sign as well as the sign before and after. This period is popularly known in Vedic astrology as Sade Sati (the Hindi term for 7.5). 

This Sade Sati is regarded as a particularly challenging period in one's life (it can occur once or more depending on one's birthchart and lifespan). During this time, a number of challenges usually manifest one after the other or even all at once. These include health problems, family and societal issues and  financial and work-related difficulties. 

One may find that one's relatively smooth sailing existence has suddenly becomes chaotic and full of upheaval. One may feel bewildered and unable to understand why this is all happening at once. The answer is often clearly seen in the Vedic chart.

During the Sade sati phase, one often encounters such a concentration of the challenges and problems that one will either sink or swim. Those who swim often do so as a result of seeking the grace of God, as one rapidly realises there is no other way to handle this situation. 

Thus Saturn, while a tough teacher, ultimately helps us to draw closer to God which, according to the yogis, is the true purpose of human life. Through pain and suffering, Saturn causes us to realise the emphemeral and empty nature of worldly pleasures and turn to God Himself for solace and refuge. And when this happens, we find the spiritual path, the path that takes us to the experience of our true, immortal, blissful nature.

So while many of us fear the karmas associated with Saturn periods and Sade sati, ultimately we need to recognise that he is our friend and well-wisher. It may not always seem that way (particularly when we are in the midst of all the karmic upheaval) but we will realise it in the end, once things improve as they eventually will.

The most important thing to help us cope with Saturn-related (or any other) negative karmas, is spiritual practice. Anything, be it selfless service, meditation, worship, study of spiritual books will help us. The practice of mantra recitation is particularly recommended by Vedic astrologers as a potent and powerful method to overcome challenging karmas. 

Any mantra of God that appeals to us can be recited to reduce the negative karmas and help us cope with the Saturn periods and transits/Sade Sati (traditionally, the higher deity associated with Saturn is Vishnu/Narayana, but any form of God that we like can be worshipped). Some people like to chant the mantra of Saturn himself (this can be done, but I personally prefer to chant the mantra of God. As some yogis say, when you approach the Prime Minister/God directly, then the other ministers/planets are automatically dealt with and need not be approached separately).

Based on my chart, I have been undergoing Sade Sati since the end of 2014 (this will finally end in early 2023; it's taken over 7.5 years due to Saturn dancing in and out of some zodiac signs which can happen). Not only this, I started Rahu Mahadasha in mid-2019 (and recently came out of a Rahu-Rahu phase which was dreadful; am currently in Rahu-Jupiter which is somewhat better).

The combination of Saturn and Rahu has been extraordinary in terms of challenges. I will not say that it has been all bad though. There have been good times and many opportunities for growth and spiritual development. But there have been some phenomenally tough times. And I can honestly say that it is my spiritual practice alone that has helped me to swim rather than sink. 

Frankly, spiritual practice is not easy during the upheaval generated by Rahu and Saturn. When faced with multiple challenges, our minds naturally feel agitated.  And it is not easy to sit peacefully and contemplate upon God at such times. Yet, this is when we need Him the most and so we cannot give up.

I sit and do the mantra practice daily (by the grace of God) regardless of whether I am in the mood or not, whether I am peaceful or not, whether I am happy or stressed, whether I am well or unwell, whether or not I am able to concentrate, whether or not I feel any devotion. 

In fact, during the past few years of the pandemic, there have been many days when my mantra practice has not at all been how I would have wished it. I have said His names with a wandering mind, feeling stressed about lots of things and generally feeling fed-up. However, there have also been days when I have had good concentration and felt great love for Him and I am grateful for these.

The point is that spiritual life is not all smooth sailing, as we all know. There are ups and downs. And when we need God the most is sometimes when it is hardest to concentrate upon Him. Yet the mantra works even when we cannot concentrate too well. That is a great blessing.

Sivananda says in his book 'Japa yoga':

"The name of God, chanted correctly or incorrectly, knowingly or unknowingly, carefully or carelessly, is sure to give the desired result. The Glory of the Name of God cannot be established through reasoning and intellect. It can certainly be experienced or realised only through devotion, faith and constant repetition of the Name."

"Every Name is filled with countless potencies or Saktis. The power of the Name is ineffable. Its Glory is indescribable. The efficacy and inherent Sakti of the Name of God is unfathomable."

"Just as fire has the natural property of burning inflammable things, so also the Name of God has teh power of burning sins, Samkaras and Vasanas and bestowing Eternal bliss and everlasting peace on those who repeat it. Just as burning quality is natural to and inherent in fire, so also the power of destroying sins with their very root and brance, and bringing the aspirant into blissful union with the Lord through Bhava-Samadhi is natural to and inherent in the Name of God".

When the grace of God in the form of the mantra is available to us, all we need to do is repeat it, even just a little, every single day. That will help us cope with all the challenges represented in our birth charts and far more. 

So, whether the mind wanders or not, whether we feel devotion or not, whatever mood we may be in (whether spiritual or worldly), let us daily chant the names and mantras of God for our own welfare and that of others.

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.

P.S. My fifth purascharana is slowly progressing at the rate of 7 malas a day (takes me around 35 minutes to do this) and God-willing, it will be completed sometime in November this year. Due to many responsibilities related to home and work, I have had to stick to this amount for now. In the future, if things improve, I would like to increase back to 11 malas a day but that remains to be seen. I am also doing some kirtan, homam and puja occasionally as time permits and like the variety that this provides in my spiritual life.

P.P.S My apologies for the delay in replying to those who have emailed me for Vedic astrology readings last month (I have been delayed due to work/travel). I am making my way through your requests currently and will hopefully be able complete my replies within the next week. I would like to say that it is a privilege to see some wonderful spiritual charts and to learn about the sadhana that you are doing; this is most inspiring for me too.