Saturn Transit in Shravana

Shravana lies in Capricorn, Saturn's own sign. Its lord is the Moon, whom Saturn counts an enemy, so the graha is master of the house and a stranger to the nakshatra. The deity is Vishnu, and the symbols are an ear and the three footprints of the Vamana avatara. It is the nakshatra of listening.

Hearing, learning by oral transmission, scripture, fame that travels by word of mouth and the bond between teacher and student are the themes. Saturn asks for silence. Listening then becomes possible, and a course of study is completed by staying with one teacher, and a reputation grows slowly through work that others speak of. The ears, the knees and the skin need care, and hearing loss in the elderly comes up for attention.

Saturn takes about a year over the nakshatra, split by the retrograde into two or three visits. The middle third of Capricorn is where Saturn's own sign gives its steadiest results.

Aquarius, Capricorn and Sagittarius Moons are in Sade Sati, with Capricorn in the middle phase. Saturn in its own sign makes this a working Sade Sati, mostly one of duty. Libra Moons have Saturn in the fourth and Gemini Moons in the eighth. Scorpio, Leo and Pisces Moons and lagnas receive Saturn in the third, sixth and eleventh, the houses Phaladeepika names as favourable.

The transit tests whether a person can listen, and makes plain how much of their learning was truly received. Sitting quietly with a teacher is how the transmission comes.

Hearing the Vishnu Sahasranama, or any text read aloud, at the same hour daily is the remedy. Give sesame or oil on Saturday, recite Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah, and give milk or rice on Monday for the Moon. Listen to an elder's story to the end, and serve those whose hearing has gone.