Shani Sade Sati : Good or Bad?

Srejal Agrawal

The term Sade Sati is a Hindi word which means ‘seven and a half”, wherein “sade” stands for “half” and “sati” stands for “seven”.  The term has been used to explain a particular phase of Saturn transit in the moon-chart of an individual. When the planet Saturn enters the twelfth house of a moon-chart, the sadesati is said to begin and continues till it remains in the second house. This means that the day Saturn leaves the second house from the moon, the sadesati of a person comes to an end.  Saturn remains in one sign for approximately two and a half years. That is why to transit through the three signs it takes a total of seven and a half years, when it transits through the sign previous to one’s moon sign, the moon sign itself, and the sign next to the moonsign.

It is a basic astrological common knowledge that a chart has twelve houses and every planet passes through all of these houses one by one in their own time period. This means that Saturn also passes through all twelve houses. Then why has its transit through the twelfth, first and second houses from moon has been given extra consideration and labeled as “sade sati”. I may say that there are two reasons for that—one which is a technical reason is that it is a CONVENIENCE CONCEPT, that is, to segment one part of study of Saturn transit out of its entire journey through the twelve houses, thus, to make it more simplified and understandable. Another reason is more substantial, which is, that a rashi or moonsign of a native is one of the most important influences in his life, and on the other hand, Saturn transit is also crucial as it is for a very long time that this planet remains in a particular sign and house. So if we combine these two considerations, that is, the significant duration and role of the planet Saturn in a person’s life and the significance of the moonsign, then we would realize the need of this treating this phase as a special transit. Apart from the moonsign, the previous and the subsequent signs have been involved because they are the closest to the moonsign and thus Saturn being close to moonsign from these two positions influence it significantly.

As an Astrologer, I always try to take an objective and non-scary way of interpretations. So, before delving into the hardships which sadesati brings, I would like to mention as to what exactly leads to this general PHOBIA of sadesati and five topmost reasons that sadesati can even be extraordinarily beneficial.

People are scared of the planet Saturn because it is a hard taskmaster. It makes them work hard and bring discipline in their lives which means the person under its influence has to now grow up and stop being a playful kid. However, once the person is already mature enough or attains maturity, the benefits of this planet can be reaped of and enjoyed which are very permanent and stable. Following are the topmost five reasons how and why this phase may be enjoyed rather than be scared of :

#1) FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SATURN AS A BENEFIC PLANET

Although Saturn has been designated as a natural malefic, for a few ascendants or lagnas, it becomes benefic and even a raj-yog-karaka. These are those who have Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Capricorn and Aquarius as their ascendants. For these people, Saturn brings good results in some phase of sade-sati and thus the entire seven and a half year period is not bad for them and in fact, as I said, a part of it can be even beneficial. It could be the first dhaiyya (the first two and a half years), the second dhaiyya and/or the third dhaiyya.

#2) EFFECTS OF SADESATI ALSO DEPEND ON THE SIGN THROUGH WHICH SATURN IS TRANSITING

Mercury and Venus are permanent friends of Saturn’s. If it is passing through signs owned be these planets, then the chances are high that the results shall be very beneficial for the native. Thus, if Saturn is transiting through Virgo, Gemini, Taurus, and Libra signs, then it will give very beneficial results. In fact, Saturn at the present time, that is in February/March 2010 is in Virgo which is generally good for all people as it is in its friendly sign. Also, if any hardships are to be brought for those under sadesati influence during these days, they shall be mitigated to a large extent. Also if Saturn is transiting through its own signs, that is, Capricorn and Aquarius, the benefits shall be more positive than negative.

#3) PLACEMENT OF SATURN IN THE LAGNA CHART AND/OR NAVAMANSH

If Saturn is beneficially disposed in the birth chart or the D-9 chart, that is, if it is placed in the third, sixth, eighth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth house, then it will lead to overall good influences in the native’s life, although some exceptions may come under this category, depending upon all the combinations.

#4) IF SATURN IS VARGOTTAM

Saturn also becomes a beneficial influence if it occupies the same sign in the birth chart and in navamansh.

#5) TIME TO LEARN

Despite all the adversities that are brought forward with sadesati, it is a phase which leads to permanent changes in the person’s personality as the tribulations and the rewards it brings are of a permanent nature. The gains and losses in the native’s life lead to a permanent impact on the psyche of the person. The period of sadesati takes away the natural support system of the person, leaving him on his own and thus leads to the maturity of the person as he learns to survive in the world.

To remove the fear of sadesati, was the main object of my write-up and I hope I have been able to do that for all of my readers. To add to these, I would now mention certain results which occur during this phase so that the person can prepare himself to face these.

POSITIVE RESULTS may include rewards paid for hard-work, wider social acceptance and help, good family life, career advancement, overcoming obstacles and sound health.

NEGATIVE RESULTS may include public humiliation, result of hard-work delayed or compromised, failures in enterprises and efforts, disturbed family life, greater challenges and health problems

Apart from this, it may be noted that the first dhaiyaa is beneficial for the following moonsigns-Gemini, Cancer, Libra, Scorpio, Aquarius and Pisces and it is bad for the following moonsigns- Taurus, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius and give neutral or mixed results for Aries and Capricorn moons. The second dhaiyya is good for following moonsigns-Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra Capricorn and Aquarius, and is bad for Aries, Cancer, Leo and Scorpio moons. It gives neutral or mixed results for Sagittarius and Pisces moons. The third dhaiyya is good for Aries, Taurus, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius and Capricorn moons, bad for Gemini, Cancer, Libra and Pisces moons, and mixed and neutral for Scorpio and Aquarius moons.