Saturday 19 September 2015

Shani dev : from astrological point of view

Shani is one of the three children of Sun and Chhaya Devi. From the Vedic texts, we can learn a lot about Shani. Many times the power of his gaze has been mentioned in the classics. We learn that right after Shani was born, his gaze caused Sun’s charioteer to fall down and break his thigh. Sun’s horses to get blind and Sun himself caught slowed down because of Shani’s powerful gaze on him. They were healed only when Shani moved his gaze away and looked somewhere else.

In Jyotish, Shani is considered a very malefic planet. The nine planets are the incarnation of Lord to bestow on us the result of our Karma, which are the lessons we need to learn. And most of the times, the toughest lessons are taught by Shani. In our school, we always have different teachers for different subjects like Maths, Physics, Language etc. Just like that, different planets teach us different kinds of lessons and most of the times Shani the teacher teaches us very painful lessons. This is not something to be doubted when we learn from Parashar's Hora Shastra that Shani is the natural giver of grief.

In general, Shani is considered the most malefic planet, and the most painful, stressful Yogas involve Shani most of the times. When Shani maleficaly affect something, it slows the matter down and causes obstructions and delays in it’s fruitfulness. Shani also rules separation. It hurts us by taking things away from us. When we face a painful separation from our parents, spouse, friends, or anyone we care for, Shani is always a possibile cause for that. Ketu also causes separation as it rules non-attachment, but separations and delays are among the main significations of Shani. It’s association with Venus / 7th lord causes separation from spouse most of the time. Though the final comment should be made seeing Shani’s strength, placement and lordship, as for Taurus and Libra natives, Shani is a functional benefic being a Yoga Karaka. But even then Shani will not forget to remind his nature sometimes. That is my personal view on this.

Shani is a planet of Tamasik quality. It is a planet of extreme nature. When it favours someone, it gives very favourable effects. On the other hand, when anyone receives it’s curse, he or she faces indescribable pain and miseries in life. Shani purifies a person by giving immense sorrow and pain, like fire purifies the gold.

Favourable effects of Shani on one’s nature include in-depth knowledge, sensibility, wisdom, justice, broadness of mind, honesty, patience, ability to work hard etc. In life, he may give wealth, fortune, long life etc. when auspicious and well placed.

On the other hand, when badly afflicting a person’s nature, Shani can make one sadistic, greedy, lazy, dishonest, fearful, irresponsible and even addicted to drugs. Shani causes obstruction, delay, grief, poverty, short life etc. It makes a person totally lonely, helpless and can make one suffer from enmity, theft, lawsuits etc. Shani can also give imprisonment, since it rules obstruction, loneliness and grief.

When causing diseases, Shani generally gives chronic diseases, which the person suffers for a long time. By this it shows again it's nature of slowness and delays.

When badly affecting one’s profession, Shani makes one work very hard, but does not give proper reward he deserves. That is why social servants and people, who earn their living by physical labour, are ruled by Shani. For the same reason Shani rules the Shudras (4th caste) and abodes in filthy places.

For the power of his gaze, Shani has tremendous afflicting ability by it's mere aspects, which it casts on 3rd, 7th and 10th houses from his own position.

Among other planets used in Vedic astrology, Saturn is the last one counted from Sun’s position. That is why Shani Dev rules ‘The last’ or ‘the end’ of anything. It is the ‘Last answer’ in anything. In our material world, death is the end of everything and that is why, Shani rules death and longevity issues. It is the natural significator of 8th house in Astrology. We know that 8th house deals with sorrows, shock, pain, depressions and also occult. That is why Shani also deals with magic, Tantra Jyotish etc.

Shani was lamed by another son of the Sun, named Yama (God of death) when he hit Shani's leg. So Shani is always very slow in it's movement. One name of Shani, as already mentioned, is ‘Shanaischaram’, which means the slow mover. It takes around 2.5 years to pass through a sign. Thus it takes around 30 years to complete it's travel over the whole zodiac. So it rules slowness and delays and it teaches us how to tolerate slowness and delays, by patience. It is generally pleased with people having patience.

The great phase (Mahadasha) of Shani lasts for 19 years. Even during Mahadasha, Shani gets the strong hold of a person by his transit over the 12th, 1st and 2nd signs from it's or her natal Moon. This is called ‘Sade Sati’, since it lasts for about 7.5 years.

Shani lords over the signs Capricorn (Makara) and Aquarius (Kumbha) with Aquarius being his Mool Trikona sign. It is exalted in Libra and debilitated in Aries. It's natural friends are Mercury, Venus and Rahu, while enemies are Sun, Moon, Mars and Ketu. It has neutral relationship with Deva Guru Jupiter. It is ruler of the three Nakshatras named Pushya (8) Anuradha (17) and Uttara Bhadrapada (26). It rules 8 in the numbers, saturday in the weekdays and aqua blue and black in colours. It's favourite gemstone is blue sapphire, strengthens Shani’s effect on a person.

To pecify Shani Dev donate black clothes, mustard oil, black gram, sesame etc. to the poor and help and serve the old and needy people, since Shani signifies all these. Maharishi Parashara suggests donating a black cow, or feeding Brahmins with rice cooked with powder of sesame seeds to appease Shani Dev. Shani Dev is a great devotee of Lord Krishna. That is why it has been said that Shani Dev does not create problems for people who worships Lord Krishna (especially on Saturdays)

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