In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores Saturn, or Shani, in Jyotisha and its relationship with karma, experience, discipline, and responsibility.

From the perspective of Jyotisha, or Indian divination, especially the astrological approach described in classical Indian wisdom, the planets are not simply forces that control what happens in our lives. Rather, the movement of the planets in the sky reflects the movement of our karmas through our experience.

Each of us has performed karmas. These karmas accumulate, and we must eventually experience their results. Through the activities of the nine Grahas recognized in Jyotisha, these karmas unfold and express themselves through our lives.

The Grahas are called Grahas because the Sanskrit word Graha means to grasp, to hold, to seize, or even to reach out for something. These Grahas are understood as forces that grasp our awareness and influence us to move through the world in ways connected with the karmas we have already created and the results we must experience.

My Jyotisha teacher, Mr. Mantri, used to say that although there are nine planets in Jyotisha, only one is truly important, and that one is Shani, Saturn. This is because Saturn, as Vimalananda used to say, is the planet of Anubhava, the planet of experience.

Shani is responsible for making us experience the things we often do not want to experience, the things we may have hoped to avoid. These include disease, lack of vitality, obstacles, dissatisfaction, aging, and death. All of these belong to Saturn’s domain.

Traditional Jyotisha teaches that we should try to align ourselves meaningfully with the Grahas so that we can experience the results of our karmas in the best way possible. The most difficult Graha to align with is Saturn because he moves so slowly and works with such patience and deliberation.

The name Shani itself is connected with slowness, and he is also called Manda, which also means slow. Because Saturn moves slowly and steadily, his lessons often unfold over long periods of time.

There are many Upayas, or remedies, described in traditional sources for developing a better relationship with Shani. However, perhaps the most important approach is to recognize the value of discipline, accept the circumstances that come to us, and work with them rather than rejecting them or attempting to take on someone else’s path.

Saturn teaches responsibility. He encourages us to understand that our actions have consequences and that our task is to meet those consequences with patience, humility, and awareness.

Therefore, I bow down to Shani, Saturn, a planet that has no sense of humor, and I respectfully request on behalf of myself and all of you that he grant us mercy, grace, discipline, and the ability to accept responsibility for our own actions as we move forward in the world.