Saturn Rahu conjunction in Indian scenario. By Jayasree Saranathan.

. (Published in The Astrological Magazine, Aug, 2013) A rare conjunction of Saturn and Rahu is taking place in Libra on 25th September 2013. It is rare because the previous conjunction in Libra occurred more than 140 years ago, on August 3rd in the year 1865. Though these two planets meet once in 11 years, the implication of their meeting differs from sign to sign and also depends on the ascendant and the moon sign of the native. Libra being the sign of Justice where Saturn exalts, the outcome will be more towards victory for peoples power in the case of Nations chart. But then the bhava significance of Libra and the effect of other planets on this meeting in Libra would modify the effect. Following are some of basics to check while deducing their effect in a particular sign. Planets have been divided as Poura, Yaayi and Akranda. Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn are Poura planets. Mars, Venus, Rahu and Ketu are Yaayi planets. The Sun and the Moon are Arkanda planets, but Sun in the East (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) is a Poura planet and in the West (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) is considered as a Yaayi planet. The permutation of these 3 types of planets in a sign is variously interpreted to deduce the effect. Such permutations are of 6 types.

(1) When 4 or 5 planets from both Yaayi and Poura group meet together in a sign, it is called Samvarta. This combination ensures neither much prosperity nor much adversity.

(2) If Rahu or Ketu joins this group of Samvarta, then it is known as Sammoha. In other words one of the planets in Samvarta can either be Rahu or Ketu both being Yayi planets. If Sammoha combination occurs, that foretells disaster and suffering for the people. (3) In only Yaayi planets meet in a sign or if only Poura planets meet in a sign, then such a combination is known as Samaaja. The effect is equal degree of prosperity and equal degree of adversity. (4) If Saturn and Jupiter meet together in a sign and joined by other planets, then it is known as Kosa. The effect is disastrous. (5) If a planet that reappears in the West (after sunset) conjuncts a planet that reappears in the east (before sunrise) in the same sign, then it is known as Sannipaata. These planets would be combust on either side of the Sun, due to close proximity with the Sun. When they continue to be together in the same sign Sannipaata occurs which would result in mankind in war with one another. (6) If in the above types of conjunctions, the planets appear bright and of large size, such a combination is known as Samaagama. The effect is prosperity to the land.

Having said these, let us examine the conjunction of Saturn and Rahu on September 25, 2013. Saturn is a Poura planet and Rahu is a Yaayi planet. They would be crossing each other after conjunction. In planetary conjunctions, the defeated planet would indicate the negative effect caused to the people or factors that the defeated planet signifies. In the case of all planets except the nodes, the defeat would be judged from the distance of one degree between the planets. To cite an example, the flash floods that devastated Kedarnath and caused immense havoc to life and property occurred at a time when Venus and Mercury were crossing each other. On the day of flash floods (June 17, 2013) Venus was trailing behind Mercury within 2 degrees. If Venus suffers a defeat in conjunction with Mercury, then the people in mountainous regions would suffer. (Brihad Samhita 17-23). But then, by 22nd June Venus had crossed Mercury by which Mercury suffered a planetary defeat. When mercury is defeated in planetary conjunction with Venus, it results in fear of injury from fire, crops and clouds and the travellers would suffer (Brihad samhita 17- 17). Since the first defeat impacted the people in mountain regions, the second defeat that followed fitted with sufferings to travellers. The two planets transiting Punarvasu at the time of planetary defeats locate the region in North East Mountains in the Kurma Chakra. A degree by degree follow up of the planetary transit and conjunction would reveal these effects. At that time, two more planets have also joined Venus and Mercury. Sun in the west as Yaayi planet and Jupiter as Poura planet had joined the conjunction. This makes it Samvarta which gives neither prosperity nor adversity. The mountain region and travellers alone bore the brunt. Taking this revelation to the conjunction of Saturn and Rahu on September 25, 2013, they would be crossing each other in opposite direction in Swati, the star of Rahu. Rahu is a Yaayi planet and Saturn is a Poura planet. On that day Mercury just enters Libra while Venus would be far ahead in Vishaka. Mercury is a Poura planet and Venus is a Yaayi planet. This makes four planets to be in conjunction in Libra on that day making it Samvarta. In samvarta there is neither much suffering nor much prosperity. The location is ascertained from the star dispositors of the planets in conjunction. On that day Mercury will be in Chitra, Rahu and Saturn will be in Swati and Venus will be in Vishaka. In Kurma chakra Chitra signifies south India and Swati and Vishaka signify Southwest India which covers most of peninsular India. There is no planetary defeat except the crossing over between Saturn and Rahu. But Rahu being present in that combination makes it Sammoha that signifies sufferings to people.

The transit of Saturn in Swati shows that those in the film and art field, ministers and media people would suffer. The electrical and electronic industry would suffer as the sign pertains to business and star dispositor Rahu signifies electrical factors. The lordship being Venus and Venus suffering planetary defeat by Saturn on 18th September, the significances of Venus also would suffer. According to Brihad Samhita, Chiefs of tribes (in

todays parlance political or caste leaders), kshatriyas (army men) and creatures of water would suffer. Women and artists also would suffer. Ever since Rahu and Saturn came within 10 degrees of each other, art and film industry had suffered losses in the form of death of famous art and film personalities. Legendary violinists namely Lalgudi Jayaraman and M.S. Gopalakrishnan, film singers like Shamshad Begum and T.M.Soundar rajan and painter Shanu Lahiri passed away during the period of close planetary orbs of Saturn and Rahu. The trend continues for sometime till they cross each other and move away. The planetary conjunction becoming Sammoha with the presence of Rahu heightens the probability of suffering to the people. The sign of Libra being the 4th bhava from the Indian Moon sign gives rise to the suffering in domestic front by air (air borne diseases as Libra is the 6th house form Indian natal lagna and cyclones and air crashes), electricity and to those in service sector. The planetary aspects on this combination must also be taken into consideration. Both Jupiter and a debilitated Mars cast their aspect on Libra at the time of Saturn- Rahu conjunction. Jupiter is the 8th lord from Indian natal lagna and 6th lord from Indian Moon sign. It is in transit in12th from the Indian Moon sign. It is aspecting the 6th house from Moon sign and 6th house from natal lagna thereby reducing the distress caused by this conjunction. Mars is the 12th lord from Indian natal lagna, in debility in transit in the Indian Moon sign. It has exchanged the star dispositor with Mercury which is entering Libra at the time of conjunction. It is casting its 4th aspect on Libra besides being in mutual aspect with Saturn. In the Indian natal chart it is in the 12th lord in the 2nd house which happens to be the 12th house to the Moon sign. This signifies trade losses and price rise. It also signifies accidents and accidents caused by short circuit. The time that comes after this conjunction sees Sun joining them. A similar conjunction of Satrun and Sun when Rahu was transiting Suns asterism (Krittika) in 1984 saw the death of Indira Gandhi. At that time India was running Ketu dasa and Moon bhukthi and Indira Gandhi also was running an adverse Saturn Rahu period. But in the present conjunction, the running dasa for India would be Sun- Mercury which is not bad. Therefore it is deduced that though domestic unrest and troubles to ministers and political leaders are seen, no loss of drastic nature can happen. But this does not rule out the loss of leaders who also have connection to art field. Such leaders hailing from South and South west India come under focus.

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