Ascendant OR Lagna Is The King

One of the most often asked question by my students of Vedic Astrology includes

Is Saade Saati really very bad?

My answer is – Who decides? A situation is good or bad depends on how the experiencer looks at it. Let me share a very interesting story here to illustrate.

My Jyotish Guru was once explaining to us the importance of the 10^th house in the chart. This house being the karmasthana carries extraordinary importance for a human. Yet my guru placed the Lagna or the Ascendant above it. To help us understand how to compare the importance of these 2 houses while delineating the chart, he shared with us one of the most popular and engaging episodes about Shiva and Shakti or goddess Parvati.

During one of his dances Parvati challenged Shiva to a dance competition.  Shiva would perform a dance and then Parvati would recreate the dance just as gracefully as the lord of dance.  For one pose Shiva lifted his right leg above his head exposing his genitals in a pose known as urdhva-nataraja or urdhva-tandavam.  Parvati modestly declined to repeat the action and Shiva won the competition. At this goddess nagged Shiva saying that she could compete with him in dance but not in audacity. Our guru likened the Lagna to Shiva’s win in this episode. Lagna wins or prevails over all other senses. Hence depending on how powerful and well aspected the Lagna is, the native will receive destiny and react. What Lagna perceives, the rest of the senses follow.

That’s the reason why it is extremely important to understand the native, their perspective, their evolution in life, their dreams & motivations, their fears and above all their strength & ability to resurrect after every dip in life before deciding how an event will effect them. It’s exactly like deciding how an individual will recover from an illness or react to medication. Each one’s body immunity, mental strength and reaction to medication is different.

Coming back to the question at the beginning, a saade saati, which is an almost 7.5 years period when Shanidev or Saturn moves in certain proximity to the native’s moon in the birthchart, for sure throws challenges. It demands of us to rise to tough situations and it doesn’t spare anyone. In fact, Saturn gives us huge power and opportunities in multiple facets of life during this period and then watches us how we use it. Do we become corrupt and arrogant or work hard and benefit maximum people? Do we use every possible opportunity, evaluate options or sit and crib? Many of our Indian Prime Ministers have come to the high office during their saade sati.

Never forget, every taskmaster loves us and by throwing us challenges helps us to rise to our maximum potential. Shanidev is impartial and gives this chance to take a tough test to everyone. . Let’s make the lord proud of us. Embrace the period with preparedness and peace, not with dread and confusion. If we choose to work doubly hard, be disciplined, ignore setbacks, overcome problems and be humble during this period, Shanidev showers us generously with lifelong rewards.