Saturn in Timing of Marriage

CHAPTER FOURTEEN Saturn·in Timing of Marriage Marriage is a biological need as well as a social obligation. In Hindu society, it is a sacrament, which entails the union of two souls for the furtherance of four Purusharthas. Prasna Marg puts the necessity of marriage as ti~t4t4'q(f: ltmfff f.hHidlftt fQ:rai•t:tt t

Most oftheparents in India are often frenzied when their daughters are not married even when in their late twenties. In such situations timing of marriage is most sought for advice from the astrologers. These days when marriages are settled on the basis of many factors in addition to astrological ones, the task of an astrologer becomes more tedious. However, even then successful predictions can be made. The 7'h house in a nativity, its lord and occupants thereof as well as the planets aspecting them play a pivotal role in determining all matters pertaining to marriage including its timing. The 5th and gth houses also help in the prognostication. The Ascendant and its lord are inevitable in any astrological analysis. The Moon, Venus, Mars and Jupiter and their transits on the above vulnerable houses and natal Venus play a significant role in such determinations. Some have suggested the use of Saturnine transits too. Let us have a look at what our classical texts say in this context. Jataka Parijata (XIV-27 to 3 I) mentions transit of Jupiter over the Rasi arrived at by adding longitudes ofthe lords oftheAscendant and the 7th house as a marriage giving condition. Such reckoning may also be made from the Moon and the 7'h lord therefrom. Jupiter's transit over the second place from the Navamsa sign dispositor of the Lagna lord, Venus or/ and the 7'h lord in the radical chart could also solemnize marriage. Phaladeepika (X-12) holds the transit of Venus or the 7th lord in trine to natal Rasi or Navamsa oftheLagna lord as a marriage giving disposition.

209

210 Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs The text further says (SI. 13) that transit of the Lagna lord over the 7th house during 'Dasa' periods of the seventh lord, occupant or aspecting planet may materialize the event. Transit of Jupiter in a Trikona ofthe radical 7th lord, in Rasi or Navamsa, in favorable Dasa may also bring opportunity. Parashara in his Brihat Parashara Hora (VII- 22 to 34), however, points out certain ages for marriage in accordance with the position of Venus, the lords oftheLagna, 7th, 2"d and 8th houses, and their association with malefics in the radical chart. According to the sage the maximum delay is restricted to 33 years of age only. The results can be tailored to the present context because the age for marriage has advanced in all cases. Sarwarth Chintamani (VI- 59 to 61) gives some dispositions for early marriage in Balyawastha i.e. childhood. The Lagna and the 7th lords together and benefics with them and the 2"d lord give marriage in adolescence or childhood. It, thus, becomes obvious that radical dispositions as enumerated by Parashara and Venkatesha give an idea of marriage timing according to age, while the transitory positions advocated by Vaidyanatha and Mantreswara give appropriate time of marriage. Favorable dasa is important in all the cases. The Editor of the Astrological Magazine Smt. G .D. Vasudev has dealt with the topic with emphasis on Dasa periods as well as transits (The AM; April, 1995). The exposition is quite revealing. The erudite author has given importance to Jupiter's transit of Venus. The Dasa periods of the Moon, Venus, the 2nd, 7th, 8th and 1Qthlords, or the planets in association with the 7th lord in the 7th house may give marriage. Position of these significators in benefic or malefic signs affects the timing. Benefics in benefic signs give results early but those in malefic signs delay itupto middle ofthe Dasa period. Malefics in malefic signs give results at the end of Dasa but when in benefic signs they give results throughout the Dasa periods. A team of research workers had worked, sometime in mid-eighties, on transits only in timing of a marriage. They relied on Saturnine transit also for broad timing although close timing was assessed on the basis of Jupiterian and Martian transits and aspects on some sensitive points in the natal charts. Coming to the theme of this exposition, we may consider the qualities and attributes of Saturn. Being the significator of Philosophy and Spirituality, Saturn also rules over humanism, discipline, bondage and confinement. These are the factors, which bring two individuals of

Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs 211 opposite sex together to live according to the values and norms set by a society. The couple has to have a sense of devotion to human interests (procreation), chaste relationship with the partner, compatibility with each other and maintaining themselves within bounds. All such commitments are governed by Saturn. Contracts and legitimacy being the components of justice as well as a conjugal life come under the regime of Saturn. The planet also gives perseverance, dutifulness and restraint in conjugal life. Other planets, particularly Jupiter and Venus, give opportunity and inclination for fulfillment of these compromises. Mars ruling passion and desire helps in culmination of the relationship. In other words, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars are the forces who materialize the promises of Venus through planning, regulation and maturation. Timing is a part of such planning. Verification of these causal situations may be undertaken with the help of some married cases with particular reference to timing of marriage. As an established norm, all the malefics including Saturn fare well in the 3'd, 6th and I I thhouses. Saturn is good in the I O'hhoJ.!Se too. Before switching on to verification, we may have acursory glance over Saturn's disposition in marital houses, viz. the Lagna, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th. In the Lagna is good only if occupies its exaltation or own sign. In the second he gives mixed results but very bad results in the remaining houses. We may discuss some female charts and deduce the factors responsible for timing of marriage. Planetary configuration, in Rasi, Navamsa and Transitatthetime of marriage, in respect of20 female nativities are given in the Appendix. Most of the charts are from my own collection and some have been taken from the pages of the Astrological Magazine. The sample under study consists of twenty female nativities from middle class Indian families with average to higher education. Most of them are earning hands too. The criterion for selection of the cases has been only married status with known birth details and dates of marriage. The sample is quite random involving I I Zodiacal signs (barring Capricorn) on the Lagna and same number (barring Cancer) with the disposition of Saturn. The Moon's occupancy involves 8 signs (barring Aries, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius). Three cases got married in their later teens, four in the beginning of their thirties and 13 nativities had the occasion in their twenties, may be early, mid or late. Saturn happens to be the lord of Dasa (Main period) and Bhukti (Sub period) at marriage in 4 cases each. In I I cases Saturn is dispositor ofthe lords of Dasa, Bhukti and/or Antara (sub-sub-period) periods. He

212 Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs occupies own house in Rasi in 5 cases (Charts 3 ,9, 14, 15 and 17) and Navamsa in 2 cases (Charts 10 and 17)only. With regard to house position in Rasi charts Saturn dwells in the 7th house in 3 cases (Charts 6, 16 and 20) only, and in 2 cases it aspects on the house (Charts 8 and 12). Saturn joins Venus in the radical chart in 3 cases (Charts 7, 13 and 15) while in same number it has aspect on Venus (Charts 4, 9 and 14). The Moon-Saturn combine is disposed in 7 cases (Charts 4, 5, 6, 9, I 0, IS and 17)whi lethe latter aspects the former in 3 cases (Charts 3, 7 and 18). The Sun-Saturn combination occurs in 3 cases (Charts I, II and IS) while they are in opposition in Charts 6 and 8. The Sun is aspected by Saturn in 2 cases (Charts 12 and 17). These factors have a say in the marital affairs ofthenatives. Saturn happens to be the 7th lord in 5 cases (Charts 10, 11,14, 17and 18). If we correlate Saturn's Dasa/Bhukti with the time of marriage, we find that in 85.71% (6 out of7) cases the marriage took place in teens or twenties. Only one case (Chart 7) was married in her 30* year. Similar was the case with Saturn in or aspecting the 7th house where four cases (Charts 6, 8, 12 and 16) got married in their mid twenties, while one (Chart 20) could avail this opportunity in her 31 "year. Ofthe 5 cases of Saturn's occupancy or aspect on the 7'h house only one case (Chart 20) was married in 31 styearwhi le others got married in their24'h to 27th year.

Saturn enjoysdispositorship ofDasa lords in 3 cases (Charts 3, 13 and 20), Bhukti lords in 4 cases (Charts 2, I 0, 17 and 18) and of An tara lords in 4 cases (Charts 8, 13, 15 and 18). Of these lords Rahu covers 5 cases while Ketu, Saturn, Mars and Mercury cover one instance each. The remaining two cases are of Jupiter. It is an established norm that Rahu and Ketu behave like their dispositors. Here it is Saturn. As such, contribution of Saturn as Dasa lord in timing of marriage is widened to 13 cases(Chart2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, I 0 13, 15, 17, 18, 19and 20) which account for 65% cases ofthesample. Before proceeding further we may have a glance on the added longitudes oftheLagna lord and 7th lord, and similar reckoning from the Moon and 7th lord therefrom. This will enable the readers to verify the effect of transit (Gochara) Jupiter on these signs. The following table gives the signs arrived at by adding such longitudes. We may now discuss the charts under study briefly along with transit effects and Dasa/ Bhukti/An tara prevailing at the time of marriage. Here we may not analyse other factors as to why the earlier Dasa

Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs 213 and transits failed to deliver the goods, or the quality of marriage, i.e., the conjugal felicity after marriage or the longevity of marital life. We may discuss these factors in some future exposition. Here we may restrict ourselves to the timing of marriage only.

Table 1 Added Longitudes of the Lagna Lord/ the Moon and their 7th lords (in Degrees and Minutes) Chart No. Lagna Lord +7th Lord

The Moon+ Its 7th Lord

Chart No

Lagna Lord +7th Lord

The Moon + its +7th Lord .

1.

30-26

65-23

II.

151-12

152-30

2.

261-52

258-13

12.

87-14

6-11

3.

15-23

118-57

13.

348-19

226-00

4.

59-52

86-52

14.

47-50

47-50

5.

250-37

325-59

15.

211-07

187-46

6.

195-27

8-48

16.

68-13

180-03

7.

187-34

199-17

17.

91-58

228-26

8.

62-05

233-27

18.

138-21

138-21

9.

26-23

317-33

19.

294-48

359-38

10.

356-13

102-09

20.

44-05

158-11

Chart 1 pertains to a lady who was married in her 17'hyear with the onset of Rahu dasa. The 7'h house occupied by its lord Mars, with Venus and the 9'h lord Mercury, solemnised marriage early. This confirms the doctrine ofParashara Dasa, Bhukti and An tara lord Rahu occupies the 7th from the Moon in natal chart. From the Gochara (transit) point of view, Jupiter along with Venus occupies Gemini, the sign arrived at by adding the longitudes oftheradical Moon and the 7th lord therefrom. Association ofthe lords oftheLagna and the 7th, through opposition, in Gochara has also lent support. An exalted Saturn aspects the 7'h lord as well as Dasa lord. He influences the Lagna, 7th house and their lords, Venus and Mars, as well as the 9th and 12th lords of the natal chart. The 7th lord Mars occupies a Trikona of natal Venus and the 7th lord. The native of chart 2 was married in her ]8th year in Saturn/Rahu/ Sun period. The 7th lord Sun joins the Moon and Venus in a benefic sign Cancer, all in own Navamsas which gave early marriage. Dasa lord Saturn is the 7'h lord from the Moon sign, while Bhukti lord Rahu occupies the 7th from the Moon, which is the 12'h (bed pleasure) from the Lagna.

214 Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs In transit, Jupiter occupies Libra, the Navamsa of Venus and aspects the lords oftheLagna and the 7th house, Saturn and the Sun ofthenatal chart. The debilitated Saturn influences the 5'h, 9th and 12th houses and the Bhukti lord in natal chart. Mars joins the Moon and Venus, and also influences the 7'h house and the 5th lord of the natal chart. Transit Mars aspects the sign arrived at by adding the longitudes of the lords of Lagna and the 7'h house as well as those oftheMoon and 7th therefrom. Saturn transits the natal position of the 2nd lord Jupiter. The lady of chart 3 was married in her 22nd year in Saturn/Jupiter/ Rahu period. Dasa lord Saturn aspects the Moon, the 2nd and 5th lord Jupiter and the Lagna lord in natal chart. The Bhukti lord retrograde Jupiter joined the Moon in the 5'h house Pisces under aspects of neechabhanga Venus and own house Saturn. The Antara lord Rahu aspects the Lagna lord Mars. Venus in the 7th from the Moon occupying the 11th in radical chart hastened the marriage and Jupiter solemnized it. Transit-wise, Jupiter in Capricorn is in Trikona ofthenatal 7th lord which corroborates Phaladeepika (XV-32) for such events. Jupiter aspects Rasi arrived at by adding longitudes of the radical Moon and the 7th lord therefrom. Venus on natal Moon also helps in the event. Retrograde Saturn in Scorpio influences radical positions oftheLagna, 7th house and Saturn. Mutual aspects between Mars and Saturn in natal and transit charts have their quota of disturbance in marital affairs. Kuja Dosha is also present in radical chart. Transit Saturn occupies Lagna sign from where he is aspecting its own position of natal chart. The native of Chart 4 was also married in her mid twenties in Mercury/Saturn/Venus Dasa. Mercury is the 7th lord from the Moon as well as the dispositor of the 7th lord the Sun. Bhukti lord Saturn conjoins with the Moon in the 2nd house Pisces. Venus in Kendra with Rahu under the aspect of Saturn could have given marriage in 19'"year of age. Transit Jupiter occupies he 7'h house and Navamsa of the Lagna lord of the radical chart. As such, in view of the customary enhancemenfin marriageable age the event took place as indicated by Parashara. Transit (gochara) Saturn aspects its natal position with the Moon, the 5'h lord and the 9* house of the radical chart. The native of Chart 5 married in her 31 "year in Rahu/Venus/Rahu Dasa. Exalted Venus aspects the 7th house while Rahu Poorvashada aspects the second (family) house. Kala Sarpa Dosha is also present. An exalted but combust Venus in the Lagna failed to confer marriage earlier. Saturn 'sconj unction with the Moon and aspect on the 7'11 lord also helped

Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs 215 in this delay. In transit, Jupiter occupies the 7th ofNavamsa of Venus and Rasi of natal Lagna-lord. Transit Saturn in Gemini influences the Lagna and Venus positions oftheradical chart. Chart 6 belongs to a lady getting married in her 26th year running Saturn/Mercury/Moon periods. Saturnjoins the Moon and Ketu in the 7th under aspect of its dispositor, while Bhukti lord Mercury occupies the Lagna with the Sun and Rahu. Venusjoins a debilitated Jupiter, the Lagna lord, in the 2"d house. At marriage Jupiterjoinsthe Moon and Venus while Saturn transits Aries (Moon+ 7th) exerting influence over the natal Moon, Saturn, Venus and lords oftheLagna, 5th and 7th houses. Venus in the 2nd house with the Lagna lord in Capricorn, in natal chart, failed to confer early marriage owing to the affliction to the Moon and mutual aspect between the Sun and Saturn. Rahu in the Lagna also caused hindrances and delay. The teacher, native of Chart 7 had a love marriage with a colleague in her 30th year when she was running Sun /Saturn /Mars periods. The Sun, the JOth]ord,is in exchange of signs with the 9th lord Moon who joins Mars, the Lagna lord. Saturn, the 7th lord from the Moon sign, accompanies Venus, the 7th lord in the 8th house under aspect of retrograde Jupiter. The Moon-Mars combination is aspected by Jupiter and Saturn as well. Rahu in the Lagna afflicts the 5th, 7th and 9th houses and the Sun. Degreewise association of the Moon and Mars in Makha and Saturnine influences on Venus in Rasi and Navamsa along with the position ofRahu afflicting the Sun and the 7th house gave an inclination for sexual aberrations. Position ofthe2nct lord in the 4th in a Saturnine sign under aspect of Mars lent support to such propensity. In transit, Jupiter occupies the radical Moon sign which happens to be Trikona of amsa sign of Venus. Saturn transits natal Saturn influencing the 2nd and 5th houses as well as the Moon, the Lagna lord Mars and the 7th lord Venus ofthenatal chart. The Bhukti and transit of Saturn played a major role in materializing the marnage. Chart 8 pertains to a dental surgeon who married in her 26th year in Jupiter/Saturn/Mercury period. Jupiter and Saturn aspect the 7th house from the 3rd and 5th house respectively. Mercury also indirectly influences the 7th house through Saturn. The Moon in Chitra is aspected by Vargottama Mars and Rahu. The 7th lord Venus is exalted but afflictedby association of Ketu. The Sun-Saturn opposition and sign exchange is also there. In transit chart, Saturn occupies Gemini with the Moon and influences the Lagna lord, 5t\ 9th and 12th houses, 9th and 12th lords and

216

Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs Venus of radical chart. Jupiter in Leo influences the Lagna, 5th aud 9th houses as well as the 5th lord positions ofthe natal chart. The MoonSaturn combine transits over the Rasi arrived at by adding the longitudes of the Lagna aud 7th lords.

The native of Chart 9 married in her 23'd year with onset of Mercury Bhukti in Jupiter Dasa. Jupiter occupies 3'd house with Rahu in birth chtrt while Mercury in Papakartari is positioned in the Lagna Pisces under gth aspect of Mars. The Moon joins Saturn in the 12'h in direct opposition to Mars. All the 3 Dasa lords have aspect on the 7* house. The Sun in close association with Venus in the 2nd house is also aspected by Saturn. In transit, Jupiter has lately passed over the sign and degrees arrived at by adding longitudes oftheLagna aud 7* lords. Saturn transiting Scorpio influences the 9th house aud lords oftheLagna aud the 9th of the radical chart. Another lady marrying in her 23'dyear in Rahu/Jupiter/Rahu Dasa pertains to the Chart I 0. Here Rahu is 7th to the Moon while Jupiter is disposed in the 7th house. Venus occupies own house in exalted Navamsa aud aspected by Jupiter. So is the Lagna lord Sun in Neechabhanga in Rasi. The gth house is, however, affi ictedby Saturn, Mars aud the Nodes. The Moon with the 7th lord Saturn is also suffering from the nodal affliction. Transit chart has Jupiter in Capricorn aud Saturn in Gemini. The rasis arrived at by the addition of the longitudes of the Lagna and the Moon to their respective 7'h lords are aspected by Saturn aud Jupiter respectively. Transit Saturn influences the Lagna, 5th aud the 9th lord of radical chart. Chart II belongs to a lady who had au inter-caste love marriage in her 21" year in Jupiter/Sun/Rahu dasa. Jupiter is exalted in the Lagna aspects the 7u. house, while the Sun is the 7th lord from the Moon sign aud Rahu aspects this house. Three exalted planets forming Ham sa, Ruchaka and Shasha Yoga made the lady charming aud affluent, but an afflicted 4'h house with close conjunction of Saturn with the Sun caused aberration in animal instincts. Jupiter is also maligned by Martian aud Saturnine aspects. In Gochara at the time of marriage Jupiter occupies Pisces with Venus aspecting the Moon in the sign arrived at by adding longitudes of the Moon/Lagna lord and their respective 7th lords. Saturn in Gemini influences the 2nd, 9th aud l2'h houses of the natal chart. The native of chart 12 was married in her27'hyear in VenusNenus/ Mercury Dasa. Venus aud the 7th lord Mercury are posited in the 8'hhouse

Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs

217

Libra under aspect ofKetu. The 7'h house with the 6th lord Sun is afflicted by aspects ofMarsand Saturn. Jupiter joins the l2'hlord Saturn in the l Qth house Sagittarius and is aspected by Mars and Rahu. The 4* house is also afflicted. These afflictions could adversely affect marital prospects but the company ofthe7* lord with Venus materialized it. In transit, at the time of marriage, Jupiter occupies Pisces, the Lagna sign of the natal chart. Saturn transits Scorpio, the Trikona of the Moon and Lagna of the radical chart and 7'" from the Lagna lord in Navamsa. The lady of chart 13 got married in her 21st year in Rahul Venus/ Rahu Dasa. Rahu joins the Moon while Venus occupies the 12* under aspect of Rahu. The 7th lord Jupiter is retrograde in the 7*. Transit chart has Saturn on the Moon-sign from where it influences the Moon, the Lagna lord and the 5* house of the radical chart. Transit Jupiter joins Venus in Virgo, the Navamsa oftheLagna lord Mercury. The lady of chart 14 was married in her 30* year in Ketu/Jupiter/ Venus Dasa. Ketu is in the 6* house while Jupiter and Venus are in the I Qth under the aspects of Ketu and the 7* lord Saturn. In transit, at the time of marriage, Jupiter aspects the sign arrived at by adding longitudes of the Lagna lord Moon and the 7* lord Saturn. Saturn transits its natal position with influence on radical position of the 5* house, 9* lord and Venus. A teacher, native of the Chart 15, was married in her 21 " year in Rahu!Rahu!Jupiter period. Here Rahu is in the 7* of the Moon and Jupiter conjoins the latter with the 7th lord Mars and Lagna lord Venus. In transit chart Saturn aspects the sign arrived at by adding the longitudes oftheLagna lord and 7* lord. Radical 7'h lord Mars joins Saturn. Jupiter transits radical Lagna while the 7th from Navarnsa of the 7* lord is transited by Saturn. The native of chart 16 was married in Ketu! Rahu! Venus Dasa. Ketu is in the l2'handRahu conjoins the 7* lord Mars. Venus, theLagna lord, is in the 8th. In Gochara, Jupiter and Saturn combine with the Moon in Virgo, which is Trikona ofNavamsa of radical Venus. Saturn exerts aspectual influence ove~ its natal position. Another case of marriage in the 18'hyear is ofthenative of the chart 17, who availed this opportunity in Rahu!Ketu!Rahu period. Rahu occupies the Lagna in an inimical Leo. The 7th lord Saturn conjoins the Moon and the 5* lord Jupiter in the 6'" under aspect of Mars. In transit, Jupiter traverses Cancer the sign of summed longitudes oftheLagna and the 7*

218 Planetary Dispositions and Marital Affairs lords. Saturn transits Leo with Rahu, from where it influences the Lagna, 7* house and Lagna lord Sun of the radical chart. The native of chart 18 got married in her 25* year in Mercury/ Mars/ Rahu period. Mercury occupies the 2"d house, while Mars and Rahu conjoin in the 7* house under aspect of the Moon. Venus is debilitated in Uttara-Phalguni. The Moon is also affiictedby Mars, Nodes and Saturn. Mercury is also aspected by a Rahu-affiictedMars. In Gochara, Jupiter in Sagittarius aspects on the sign arrived at by adding the longitudes oftheLagna Lord/Moon and the 7* lord. Saturn in Pisces aspects natal Saturn and Venus. These transits solemnized marriage. The native of chart 19 was married in Saturn/Saturn/Sun Dasa in her291fl year. Saturn, the 6th lord, occupies 9th house, Taurus, in Papakartari and the Sun, the 12'h lord, is exalted in the 8* with the Lagna lord Mercury and Venus. In transit,Jupiteroccupies the natal Moon-sign andNavamsa of the lords of Lagna as well as the 7*. He, however, does not have any aspect on the signs arrived at by addition of longitudes of the Lagna/ Moon and the 7* lord. Saturn transits its natal position and joins the Moon along with aspect on Mercury and Venus who happen to be the lords of Lagna and the 2"df9'h houses of radical chart. Here again Saturn played an important role in bringing in the event. The native of chart 20 married in her 31" year in Rahu/Jupiter/ Mars Dasa. Rahu occupies the 7* from a degree-wise conjunction of the Moon and Venus, the Lagna lord. Jupiter although combust, is in the 121fl with the dispositorexalted Mercury. Mars is the 7* lord. In transit,Jupiter accompanies Saturn in Taurus which happens to be Navamsa sign of radical Lagna. Both these planets traverse the sign arrived at by adding longitudes of the lords of the Lagna and the 7*. The foregoing discussion reveals that Dasa (including Bhukti and Antara) has an edge over transits although both are complementary to each other. Contributions of different planets as lords of Dasa, Bhukti and An tara in timing marriage is summarized in Table 2.The table is selfexplanatory. Rahu tops the list of main Dasa lordship. So is the case with An tara Dasa. As evident from the data in Table 2, the maximum number of nativities ( 12) had Rahu Dasa at the time of marriage. Keeping in view the dictum ShanivadRahu, Kujvad Ketu, addition of charts with Saturnine effect takes the total to 19which accounts for 31.67%of cases under study. It, thus, becomes apparent that Saturn plays an important role in materializing a marriage.