Saturn and Asceticism by R. Lakshmanan

The lower grade of the Yoga is perhaps due to the lesser strength of exalted Jupiter diluted by debilitated Mars. According to Mr. Y. Keshava Menon, this chart assures longevity upto over 87 years and sathabhishekam; and it is a Moksha-Jathakam as Saturn is in a Jovian house (Pisces) and in a Jovian Navamsha (of Kodanda or Dhanus) and Ketu is in the 9^th in Sagittarius in Moola 4 and hence in Cancer Navamsha whose lord, the full Moon, is dignified in the 10^th. But Sanyasa yoga may not materialise, despite the existence of the factors, for virakti or vairagya. However, I have given in these columns the horoscope of Sri Trivikrama Ramananda Bharathi, Swami of Sri Sri Siddeshwari Peetam at Courtallam, an Aries native, with Jupiter and Saturn in the 9^th (thapas-sthana) in Sagittarius. He took to sanyasa, on losing his wife, when he was a lawyer in Machilipatnam in Krishna District; and he was nominated by famous Mounaswamy (credited with performance of many miracles) as his successor to Sri Siddheshwari Peetam. Sri Trivikrama Ramananda Bharathi Swamy has completed 25 years as the peetadhipathi and is nearing his sathabhishekam on 81^st birthday.

The point is : Saturn is an inherent malefic, who is well placed in 3^rd or the 6^th or the 11^th, especially in the 3^rd or the 11^th and more especially in the 11^th and more especially in the 11^th (dhana upachayasthana) as rightly recognized by Mr. Damodaran Nair, who has referred to Saturn in the 11^th , stretching his legs into 12^th and being crippled as “Pangu” (lame) by Ravana, in the horoscope of Indrajit. So normally Saturn in the 8^th or the 12^th is a grave defect causing frequent and much expenditure. Saturn in the 12^th generally may cause expenses on another woman, on litigation and worries due to secret enemies. But when Saturn is in Pisces in the 12^th and aspected by Jupiter from Cancer, he gets transformed and even “sublimated”. According to classical works even if a planet is ill-placed in the 6^th or the 8^th or the 12^th (especially in the 8^th or the 12^th), if the planet is in own or exaltation or friendly sign and Amsa and aspected by a benefic, it becomes auspicious.

If the Sun’s son, viz., Saturn is in a house of Jupiter and aspected by Jupiter, the native becomes a chief, a kingly person or a military commander of police superintendent, etc.

For Aries Lagna, Saturn is the excellent lord of the 10^th and also baneful badhaka, as the lord of the 11^th. Aquarius being the Moolatrikona house of Saturn, his lordship of 11^th or bhadhaka dominates. According to an ancient dictum as “the Sun’s son Saturn is a naisargika or inherent malefic, his evil tendencies prevail over his good (even where the good lordship is of his Moolatrikona house as in the case of Gemini ascendant)”. Even if karma bhadaka may be in the 12^th, he becomes auspicious and fortunate only if the said the Saturn in the 12^th in Pisces is blessed, controlled and transformed by exalted Jupiter, the lord of that 12^th house and of the 9^th (fortune). Saturn in the 12^th may make one ascetic at heart who does not care money. But Jupiter and the Moon will give a native a princely position and life. For actual renunciation or sanyasa yoga there must be a strong pravrajya yoga due to four planets, including the lord of the 10^th being together in a good place or Jupiter and Saturn being in thapo-mood and not in mundane position and prosperity. I, however, fully agree with Mr. Damodaran Nair that if Venus is Saturn’s bosom friend, (so that Venus-Saturn yoga is good for worldly prosperity) Jupiter is Saturn’s venerable preceptor so that sage Garga praises Saturn in a Jovian house Sagittarius or Pisces (more especially the former). If a good and powerful Jupiter blesses such a Saturn by his aspect, he transforms iron into gold.