Transit Saturn

Saturn, like all other planets, revolves around the Sun but takes about 30 years to go around the Sun. With 12 Signs Since there are 12 Signs in the astrological system, it takes about 2½ years to go through one sign or house. This means that, the effect of Saturn transiting through a Sign will last for 2½ years. That is why it is very important to know Transit Saturn and its effect.

Transit Saturn is also known as "Gochara Shani". It indicates the real time movement of Saturn. When Saturn is say at 275⁰, that means it is transiting through Capricorn because > 270⁰ and <= 300⁰ represents Capricorn sign in the Horoscope.

Transit Saturn will affect a person's life differently depending upon the house it transits from natal chart Moon.

Now, let us take an example to understand it. Consider a person born with Aquarius Sign which means Moon will be in Aquarius in the Natal Chart.

When Saturn is transiting through

1. Capricorn or 12th house, it is known as Viraya Shani
2. Aquarius or 1st house, it is known as Janma Shani
3. Pisces or 2nd house, it is known as Kudumba Shani
4. Taurus or 4th house, it is known as Kantaka Shani or Ardhashtama Shani
5. Leo or 7th house, it is known as Kantaka Shani
6. Virgo or 8th house, it is known as Ashtama Shani
7. Scorpio or 10th house, it is known as Kantaka Shani

Kantaka Shani : When Saturn transits through 4th, 7th or 10th house from Moon, it is known as Kantaka Shani. कण्टक (Kantaka) in Sanskrit means "Thorn". A person with thorn in the sole (bottom of the foot) will experience difficult in walking and will limp. Likewise, one's life becomes difficult during Kantaka Saturn.

The impact will be more when Saturn is transiting through 10th house as it will affect Job and Pride. It will impact Marital life, business partners when it is transiting through 7th house. It will throw a person out of comfort zone when it transits through 4th house.

Ashtama Shani : When Saturn transits through 8th house from Moon, it is known as Ashtama Shani. The effect of Ashtama Shani will be very severe because from 8th house, Saturn aspects 2nd house, 5th house and 10th house. So, it will impact Income, Relationship with Family, Children and Work. During this period most people will be forced to quit their jobs or feel job insecurity. There will be contempt, humiliation at work and personal life. Life will be very bad during this period.

Ardhashtama Shani : When Saturn transits through 4th house from Moon, it is known as Ardhashtama Shani. It is also known as Kantaka Shani. Ardha means half. Ardhashtama means Half of Ashtama. So, the effect of Ardhashtama Shani will be almost half of Ashtama Shani.

7½ Years Shani : When Saturn transits through 12th, 1st and 2nd house continuously it is known as 7½ Years Shani. Thus, 7½ Years Transition comprises of 3 legs viz., 1st leg, 2nd leg and last leg. As its duration is 7½ years, it is the most terrible Shani.

1st leg of 7½ Years Shani - It starts when Saturn transits through the 12th house to Moon or Birth Sign. This is also known as Viraya Shani as Saturn transits through "House of Expense". From here, Saturn aspects 2nd, 6th and 9th house. So, during 1st leg, a person will have impact on one or more of the followings

1. Incur unnecessary expenses (12th house)
2. Income and relationship with family members (2nd house)
3. Debt or health problem or problem with enemies, competitors (6th house)
4. Loss of Father, Ancestral property, problem with higher education (9th house)

In some cases, it will be combined. For example, a person spends a lot of money on his father who is in a critical condition in the hospital. The other impact such as humiliation, Insult, spoiled relationship with family members and colleagues, problem at work, Junior getting promoted, reporting to junior, change of job, business loss, problem with business competitors and employees, lack of focus on studies, strained relationship with Spouse and children etc., can be observed during this period.

2nd leg of 7½ Years Shani - It starts when Saturn transits through the 1st house or conjuncts with natal chart Moon. This is also known as Janma Shani as Saturn transits through "Birth Sign or Janma Rasi". From here, Saturn aspects 3rd, 7th and 10th house. So, during 2nd leg, a person will have impact on one or more of the followings

1. Health issue, Problem with Studies (1st house)
2. Problem with younger siblings (3rd house)
3. Problem with Spouse / Business partners (7th house)
4. Problem with Job / Pride (10th house)

Janma Shani for a student will affect the Academic performance. We know Moon represents mind. As the Saturn conjuncts natal Moon during Janma Shani, the student's ability to read and retain will be seriously impacted and their academic performance will fall down steeply.

Last leg of 7½ Years Shani- It starts when Saturn transits through the 2nd house to Moon or Birth Sign. This is also known as Kudumba Shani as Saturn transits through 2nd house which represents "Family". From here, Saturn aspects 4th, 8th and 11th house. So, during final leg, a person will have impact on one or more of the followings

1. Family, Income issue (2nd house)
2. Problem with Mother health, property and well-being (4th house)
3. Problem with court cases (8th house)
4. Loss in business, poor return on investment (11th house)

This phase is also known as Pada Shani. Pada in Sanskrit means Foot. During this period, a person may face minor or major accidents and end up with a broken leg.

The result pronounced by the Saturn during Ashtama Shani or 7½ Years Shani may become worst if Saturn happens to be functionally malefic in the horoscope such as Badhakathipathi. If the ruling Dasha Bhukthi or Planetary Period is also Saturn during this period, then result will be very worst.

As Saturn takes 30 years to orbit around the Sun, usually a person may experience the 7½ Years Saturn Transition thrice in life time. Depending upon the age of the person, Transit Saturn may affect Education, Job/Business or invoke spirituality / self realization. In fact, Saturn being the Master of Karmic retribution, it helps to burn our Karmic imprints of the past life through categorical hardships during this 7½ Years period.