Saturn is a very important planet in the Solar System. It is the sixth planet from the Sun.
Saturn has got 61 moons. Enceladus, Rhea, Titan, Dione, Thetis, Mimas, Hyperion etc. Named after the Roman God Saturnus, the equivalent of the Vedic Shani, the Greek Cronos and the Babylonian Ninurtha, Saturn is composed of hydrogen, with small amounts of Helium and trace elements.
Saturn is enveloped by rings. Along with Jupiter Neptune and Uranus Saturn is classified as a gaseous giant. Its Aphelion is 1513325783 kms, Perihelion 1353572956 kms, Semi Major Axis 1433449370 kms , Sidereal Period is 10832327 days and Synodic Period 37809 days. Astronomers call Saturn, the Jewel in the Solar System.
Titan is Saturn’s largest moon and the second largest moon in the Solar System. It is larger than the planet Mercury. The largest is Ganymede, one of Jupiter’s moons.
In Grecian Mythology he is Father Time. He is Kronos ( from which we have the word Chronology ), the father of Zeus. Rhea, his wife, gave birth to Jupiter or Zeus. His symbol is God’s sickle. Kronos used to devour his offsprings but Zeus was protected by his mother. Zeus faced his father and Kronos’ fears ended in death. An indication that if we clamp down on what we fear most, it will eventually destroy us !
He is also known as the Roman God of Agriculture and he introduced Agriculture and Viniculture and heralded a Golden Age. In memory of this Golden Age, the Saturnalia was observed on December 17. Saturnalia was seven days and during this time business was suspended, moral restrictions were loosened and gifts were exchanged.
Saturday was consecrated to Saturn. Saturday derives from the Latin Dies Saturni and the Sanskrit Shanivar
Western Astrology has it that The Age of Aquarius or New Age is His Age, he owning Aquarius. He will uplift the consciousness of humanity through Scientific Enlightenment.
In Vedic Astrology, Saturn is the Moksha Karaka or the significator of Liberation. He is a hard Taskmaster, who makes man bear the cross. He symbolises the principle ” No cross, no Heaven” and ” no thorns, no roses”!
He causes Sasa Maha Yoga, one of the best yogas in Astrology. If he be powerfully posited in angles, in his own houses or in exaltation, Sasa Yoga is caused. Sasa Yoga gives enjoyments and makes the native blase or fed up with pleasure, granting Vairagya or detachment to the native, which will pave the way for Liberation.
He has a satellite called Gulika. Gulika’s birth is described thus. The King of the demons, Ravana, asked Saturn to come and stay in the 11th house, the best house for Saturn, when his son Indrajith was born. Saturn, with his customary guile and came and stayed in the 11th house, but put his feet in the 12th ( the worst house for Saturn ). Indrajith was defeated when he was born !
Saturn crossing the constellation of Rohini ( Rohini Sakata Bheda ) is considered very inauspicious and can cause draughts for twelve years.
He is known as Evil eyed ( Kroora lochana ). His evil eye is from a curse he received from his wife, Manda Devi. His wife went to him with the objective of having a son when he was meditating on the Lord. She became tired and angry and cursed him that whatever he gazes at ( aspects in the horoscope ) will be destroyed. He therefore looks downward all the time, not wanting to destroy whatever he looks at.
There is another interesting story about him. Parvathi, the Sacred Feminine, the Mother of the Universe, asked him to bless Ganesh when he was born. ( He was looking downward then ). Due to compulsion from the Universal Mother, he looked at the infant Ganesh and the newborn’s head got blown off and it was replaced with an elephant’s head !
Fasting on his days, Saturdays will please him. Also chanting his mantra Om Shanaischarayai Namah. Performing a Saturn Homa and wearing a Saturn Talisman or Yantra will reduce the negative energies of Saturn.
His Gayatri is this
Om Kaka dhwajaya Vidhmahe Khadga Hasthaya Dheemahi
His stotra is this
Neelanjana Samabhasam
Ravi putram Yamagrajam
Chaya Marthanda Sambhootham
Pranathosmi Shaneeswaram
His Peeda Hara Stotra is this
Soorya Putra Deergha Deho
Vishalaksha Shiva Priyah
Manda chara prasannatma
Peedam Harathu Me Shanih
Saturn in Hindu Mythology
Why is Saturn
considered lame in Indian Mythology ?
The story is like this.
Sun ( Surya ) has many consorts. The first one is Dawn ( Usha ). The second
one is Lotus ( Padmini ). Third one is clouds ( Sanjana ). Fourth is Chaya.
The third wife, Sanjana could not live with her husband because of his
intense heat. So she created a shadow of her, Chaya or Sanvarna. Sanjana went to
Himalayas to do penance.
Sanvarna gave brith to five sons and two daughters. One of them was Saturn
or Shani.
One day Saturn was hungry and asked his mother for food. His foster mother
told him she will first offer food to God. Shani got angry and kicked her.
She cursed that his leg would break !
Shani reported this to his father, Sun or Surya. Surya said an actual mother
would not curse like this and found out that Sanvarna was not his mother.
Surya said that since Sanvarna officiated as his mother, her curse would not
go in. Hence Shani is said to be pangu, lame !
Because of his lameness, he is sluggish. But his sluggishness is an alibi
for slow, deliberate movement, shanai shanai gachati iti shaniswaraha !
He takes 30 years to make a circuit of the Zodiac.
