Saturn Transit in Uttara Phalguni

Uttara Phalguni belongs to the Sun, Saturn's enemy. Its deity is Aryaman, the Aditya of contracts, hospitality and marriage vows, and its symbol is the back legs of a cot. The first pada lies in Leo, the Sun's own sign, and the other three in Virgo, the sign of Mercury, whom Saturn counts a friend. It is one of the fixed nakshatras, and Muhurta Chintamani gives it to work meant to last.

Aryaman keeps agreements. Contracts, partnerships, marriage as duty, patronage and help that comes through friends are the themes, and Saturn holds every agreement to its letter, so a loose partnership is renegotiated, a promise made in Leo's warmth is paid in Virgo's accounts, and favour gives way to a written contract.

The whole passage takes about a year, usually in two or three visits split by the retrograde. In the Leo pada the strain falls on the father, the heart and one's standing. Once Saturn enters Virgo it moves to health routines, service and the details of work.

• Leo pada: Sade Sati for Virgo, Leo and Cancer Moons; Kantaka for Taurus; Ashtama for Capricorn.
• Virgo padas: Sade Sati for Libra, Virgo and Leo Moons; Kantaka for Gemini; Ashtama for Aquarius.
• Phaladeepika's third, sixth and eleventh: Gemini, Pisces and Libra Moons and lagnas first, then Cancer, Aries and Scorpio.

The transit shows fidelity to a word given, and which agreements a person keeps when no one is watching.

Keep small promises. Pay what is owed on the day it is due, host a guest without display, and give sesame or iron on Saturday. Recite Om Sham Shanaishcharaya Namah, and offer water to the rising Sun, lord of the nakshatra, to reconcile it with the graha.