Capricorn is the sign of Saturn. It is female, char (mobile), Vat (wind)-natured, yellowish red in colour and is the lord of the southern direction. Capricorn affects the knees. It is a ‘sama-rashi’. Aquarius is the second sign ruled by Saturn. It affects the feet. It is supposed to be ‘visham’. It is a male rashi, stable, wind-bile-phlegm natured, powerful during the day in comparison to the night and also the lord of the western direction. Apart from being religious and thoughtful this sign is both cruel and peaceful in nature.

Saturday is associated with Saturn. Black is its color and blue sapphire is the gem of Saturn. Saturn rules the number 8 in Indian numerology. The special metals related to Saturn are iron and lead. Saturn is gender-neutral. It is cold dry, and tamasic (lethargic) in nature. . Diseases related to VATA disorders like madness, fistula, spondylitis, nervous disorders etcetera are caused by the influence of Saturn. Its sight is bad and is said to be ‘malefic amongst the malefic’. Blue Sapphire (Neelam) is worn at midnight to pacify Saturn Saturn’s angular speed is (8 kala, 5 vikala) or 10 hours 16 minutes per day. It is 85 crore miles away from the earth. The diameter of Saturn is 250000 miles. The long diameter of Saturn is 75000 miles and the polar diameter is 67000 miles. It is 880060000 miles away from sun. It completes a rotation on its own axis within 10 hours and 16 minutes.

Saturn completes one round of the sun in 29 years, 5 months, 17 days, 12 ghadi and 30 palas. Saturn spends 19 years in Vinshottari Maha Dasha and 10 years in Ashtottari Maha Dasha.

If Saturn comes into one’s 3rd, 6th or 11th house then the result is positive otherwise all results are negative, especially when Saturn comes to rest in the Chandra lagan or moon sign. This makes the person full of doubts and worries

The position of Saturn in the horoscope signifies age, death, theft, work, loss of wealth, jail, court cases, hanging, enmity, fear from government, resignation, pain in arms, smuggling, bad work, work in darkness etc.It is best in Taurus and Libra and it gives best result in Ashwini, Magha, Mula, Visakha, Punarvasu Nakshtra and bad result in Anuradha, Margshira, Ghanista and Bharini Nakshtra.

Positioning of Saturn plays a very important role in the shaping of the destiny of the person. Although, one’s fate is not solely dependent on Saturn, it has a very strong impact on the fate. Placing of Saturn plays a pivotal role in Sanyas yoga. Without a well placed Saturn, it is impossible for a person to be a saint or monk. Saturn gives the lesson of penance, wisdom (not knowledge), detachment and spirituality.

It represents one’s career and longevity and is also the harbinger of bad luck and hardship. If Saturn is in a good position then the person becomes well-organized, practical, hard working, serious and a good orator. He becomes full of self confidence and high on will power, extravagant, prudent and work oriented. He also becomes capable of knowing the internal views of others. He lives like a social and economic. Such people have few friends. Being the Brother of Yama, (lord of death) Saturn is indicator of death also.

People ruled by Saturn are fearful, suspicious, clever, cunning and revengeful. They do not give away their ideas to anyone else. Such people are jealous without any reason and also behave monopolistically even as they do not brook any kind of criticism of their actions.

The effect of Saturn is conspicuous in daily life. Those who are affected by Saturn are tall, thin and round-shouldered. Their complexion is yellowish and the eyes are small, deep and black. Their eyebrows are dark while their nose is pointed and long like that of a parrot. Their habits are dirty and they really do not set much store by personal appearance. They have a serious disposition and a vivid imagination. These people are also blest with oodles of patience. However, they are prone to wind and bile related ailments. They are often involved in conspiracy and also like to wear dark clothes. Saturn continues to affect them even in their old age and these traits become all the more discernible.

The following matters come under the impact of Saturn—tin, lead, high grains, women, business, slaves, old age, initiation, death, wealth and sorrow, poverty, ghost, theft, joints pain, fear, worry, destruction, family quarrels, hair, operation, oily seeds, roaming and residing in forest, snake charming, magic and magicians, etc.

Saturn represents discipline, responsibility, ambitions, restriction, limitation, and delays. It also rules older people, tradition, authority, structure, patience, and age.

Saadhe Saati

In Indian astrology, Shani is considered most dreaded planets because seven and half years called Saadhe Saati, when Saturn supposedly creates havoc in a person’s life. Saturn takes two and half year in one sign, thus in the time of seven and half year it moves in three signs.
 
The Chandra kundali or lunar horoscope is primarily used to calculate the sadhe sati. When Saturn is in the moon sign of person, those two and half years are the middle of Sadhe Sati. For example if your moon sign is Libra, in this case Sadhe Sati starts when Saturn enters in Virgo and it last till it moves out of Scorpio. Moon governs the mind for that reason when Saturn comes in the moon sign of a person; it strongly and adversely affects his moods, thoughts, and decision making capacity and resultantly makes his life difficult. But it is said that the ending of sade sati brings purity of soul and good fortune in one’s life, as fire destroys all impurities and tarnish in gold.
 It is a separate subject and will be dealt in some other article.