Sasa yog is one of the Panchapurush yog also called the Pancha-Mahapurush yog.

• It occurs when Saturn is in Libra (his sign of exaltation), Capricorn or Aquarius (own signs) and also lies in the 1^st, 4^th, 7^th or 10^th house of the birth chart.
• It will get cancelled if Saturn is conjunct Ketu or if Jupiter is conjunct Saturn in the chart.

Obviously this is a rather rare planetary combination, but for the next 5yrs Saturn is going to transit Capricorn and Aquarius. He enters Capricorn in Jan 2020 and exits Aquarius in Mar 2025. So for about 30% of the babies born during this period, Saturn can give his Sasa yog results (subject to the conditions). The power of the Sasa yog will depend on the power of the Saturn (refer the Navamsha and the Ashtakvarga tables). Some of these babies will be quite extraordinary on the spiritual front and some of them will be evidently different on the material fronts too.

Saturn in his own sign or his sign of exaltation is capable of giving extraordinary results. The 1^st house represents the rising degree, 10^th house is the degree at the zenith, 7^th house is the degree of the zodiac which is setting and 4^th house is the degree at the nadir at the time of your birth. These 4 positions release tremendous amounts of energies. Each of of these houses is a part the Dharma trikon, Moksh trikon, Kama trikon and Artha trikon respectively. Saturn in his own sign or sign of exhalation in these houses at birth, will create extraordinary individuals with special responsibilities. This is the real meaning of the Sasa yog.

Normally these 4 positions correspond to sunrise, mid-day, sunset and mid-night. The sunrise, midday and sunset are called the tri/ three-sandhya periods where everyone is required to do Gayatri mantra jaap. The midnight is a sandhya of the highest intensity, only genuine spiritual aspirants will use the energies of the midnight.

Saturn is the son of Sun and his wife Chhaya. The Sun has two wives, Sanjana/Usha the energy of dawn and Chhaya the energy of the dusk. His son by Sanjana is Yama, he controls the Pirtulok and supervises the karmic work which we are required to perform when we live as spirits in the Pitrulok. His son by Chhaya is Shani/Saturn, he supervises our karmic work when we are born on the Martyalok ie Earth.

Saturn is deepest understanding of karma, the disciplined work needed to rebalance the karmic bindings. The solidification of the divine spark/ Sun/ individual soul. Saturn is linked to the Pruthvi mahabhoot. He linked to the conscious energies of the Mooladhar chakra, he is survival. He is responsible for the endurance of the Sthool sharir, the physical body, the anna-mai-kosh. He regulates the society and the environment that one lives and works in. He is the Father who teaches you how to live and flourish in the world (especially if you were born after sunset and before sunrise). The auspiciousness of material stuff in life needs a strong Saturn in the horoscope. Transits of Saturn are necessary to time important events like prizes, jobs, marriage and conception of children. He is fair, patient, disciplined and helps you unravel the bindings of your own karma. His role in the horoscope is very important. Most people are scared of Saturn and rightly so. He is responsible for so much that if he goes inauspicious, crucial things in our lives will go wrong.

Saturn’s real nature is actually quite esoteric. If you think deeply, what is the innermost deepest goal of life and the act of living? It is to experience, transcend and finally to observe. This is the real job that Shani performs. He ensures that you systematically experience, transcend and then finally become the Sakshi. He represents the laying of the bindings of ignorance and also release by realisation of inner knowledge. His names are Shani, Manda, Mrutyunjai, Mahakaal, Mahagraha, Kaalpurush, Kroorgraha, Brahmamaya, Toya, Bhishma, Krishna, Kala-jnya, Krusha-tanu, Sananda, Kala-krut, Yogeshwar, Kala-atmanah, Siddheshwar, Vaam-drashta, Vakra, Ati-kroor, Rashinaath, Rashigaya, Rashibhokta, Rashibhramankarana, Sameer, Yamagraj, Tvashtha, Sangharaka Rahu-sakha etc. These are all Sanskrit words so are definitions not just plain names. These define Saturn’s nature in detail.

As per the texts, Sasa yog is supposed to make one a king, a minister, a military general, wanderer of the hills and the woods, cruel natured, bountiful, can defraud others, spirited, devoted to the mother, brave etc. But these are literal translations of the Sanskrit shlokas. Devbhasha Samskrutam is a palimpsest, there are deeper meanings always. As we cannot read it or understand the original words now, we have to use logic and practical experience in understanding these astrological combinations. Sasa yog opens a direct channel to the flow of divine inspiration into the person. And this energy is put to work, it is utilised very intensely in the spiritual plane. This person’s ego is astrologically and psychologically different. There is a high degree of individuality, self-assurance, quiet confidence, inner potential and untapped power, this does reflect on the material planes too. But the real effect of the Sasa yog are always on the inner psychic levels.

The Sasa yog is possible only with the following ascendant signs and in these positions,

• Aries – Libra is the 7^th house
• Taurus – Aquarius is the 10^th house. (Saturn is Yogkarak for Taurus ascendant so very auspicious.)
• Cancer – Libra as 4^th house, Capricorn as 7^th house
• Leo – Aquarius is 7^th house
• Libra – Libra is the 1^st house, Capricorn is 4^th house (Saturn is Yogkarak for Libra ascendant so very auspicious. One of my brothers, Swapnil has this. He is probably the most balanced man I know. And most importantly he is willing to be happy in everything and in every situation.)
• Scorpio – Aquarius is 4^th house
• Capricorn – Capricorn is 1^st house (a young man, practically family, has this)
• Aquarius – Aquarius is 1^st house

For analysing the Sasa yog in depth we have to look into the Nakshatra/ lunar mansions involved. Their characteristics and ruling deities will influence the Saturn in very deep ways. If you analyse this the planets connected to these Naksahtras are Mars, Rahu, Jupiter and Sun/Moon. Their Nakshatra devata are also quite typical. Also their symbols are quite symbolic.

Libra consists of – last 2 of the 4 quarters of Chitra, entire Swati and the first 3 of the 4 quarters of Vishakha.

• Chitra – This is ruled by Tvashtra and carries the influences of Mars. Tvashtra is basically the DNA, your internal architect. DNA is a highly cryptic molecule and its structure etc can be manipulated by the use of Mantras. Evolution is always internal as your mantra jaap actually changes your DNA. Mars is again the pran/vital energy directed by Saturn.
• Swati – This is ruled by Maruta and influenced by Rahu. Marut are the conscious energies of pran/vital energies. Rahu is desire for experience. Under the influence of Saturn, Rahu’s wild leaps are contained and his mindless desires are regulated. The energy of desire is a powerful tool and Saturn uses it well. The pran are channelised and the Rahu-desire is turned towards Realisation.
• Vishakha – Its nakshatra devata is Agni and associated with Jupiter. Agni is the power of motion. Jupiter is the energy which provides Agni its fuel. Humility and an appreciation of the lower classes (Saturn’s folks) reduces self-centred behaviour and selfishness. Jupiter’s traits of universal inclusion, benevolence, kindness and real knowledge is ignited by the influence of Agni which finally results in Illumination.

Capricorn consists of – 3 of the 4 quarters of Uttara-ashadha, entire Shravan and 2/4 Dhanishtha.

• Uttarashadha – Ruled by Vishvedeva and the Sun. This grants inner humility. A sense of the immenseness of the energies pervading the universes and later the immensity of the Soul. The individual soul is granted a glimpse of the Ultimate and if the rest of the horoscope permits is allowed Moksh. The hidden qualities of the ego are allowed expression.
• Shravan – Ruled by the Nakshatra deity Vishnu and linked to the Moon. Intensely sensitive, intuitive, receptive, willing to learn/the perfect disciple, harmony with the inner self seen at the third eye/ Ajnya chakra, able to hear the inner Anahata-nada/Om, a capacity to control the lower chakras in sadhana, inwardly able to restrain his organs of sense/action.
• Dhanishtha – Ruled by the eight Vasu-s and Mars. The eight Vasu-s are part of your own body (post here).  Removal of imperfections thus individual soul realises the Ultimate. The expansion of the limited consciousness. Dhanishtha is represented by the Mrudunga, a drum which continually emits the sound of Om.

Aquarius consists of – remaining 2/4 Dhanishtha, entire Shatataraka and 3/4 Poorva-bhadrapada.

• Shatataraka – Ruled by Varun and Rahu. Varun is the ruler of the cosmic waters (Jivan or life) and Rahu is again the energy of desire. The flow of experience is restricted by Saturn as the desire to dive in deep exists. Emotionally controlled. Valuing truth and selfless-service. Interested in metaphysics desires to solve the puzzle of life, fearless. Saturn gives structure to these energies and finally he gets to the bottom of things and eventually understands creation in its entirety.
• Poorvabhadrapada – Ruled by Aja-ek-pada and linked to Jupiter. This deity can be roughly understood as the ’unborn singular time/space’. Jupiter and Saturn together bring in the detachment of Sanyas, devotion, hope and luck. Impartial, logical, clever, visionary, imaginative and a fighter with spiritual depths.

The outward characteristics of Sasa yog can be a bit disconcerting as the person might come across as dominating, self-assertive, unbending, rigid, etc. Much will depend on the ascendant sign, the ascendant lord, the birth Moon. Then the sign /house in which such a Saturn is placed/ aspecting is important. This is a very general reading,

• If the Sasa yog Saturn is in the 1^st house, then there is a restriction on the creation of new karma and the illusion of duality is exposed (he restricts the 3rd house). There is disinterest in marriage and often these might prefer remaining single (aspect on the 7th house). The personality is rigid, self-confident, powerful and purposeful. Can adopt unconventional means to achieve his ends. Later the life purpose is directed away from the material to the spiritual as contentment in life is denied (aspect on 10th house).
• Saturn in the 4^th house with Sasa yog, reduces the impact of enemies and other difficulties represented by the 6^th house. It often gives a rather ruthless nature as he would like to do things his own way. In the profession and the social arena he will be considered to be dominating (aspect on 10th house). Saturn’s real nature is to slowly consume the energies of the individual self and to illuminate the Ultimate (aspect on 1st house). This change is not really pleasant but the personality accepts it as it knows internally that this is for the good.
• If Saturn is in the 7^th house, with Sasa yog he creates disinterest in the marriage and often gives restrictions in business. He aspects the 9th house so grants dissatisfaction with outward religion, such a person may travel extensively searching for inner peace. His aspect on the 1st house will disconnect from his personality and fruits of the same and with time this leads to destruction of the individual ego.
• Saturn in the 10^th house. Here the individual’s life purpose is directed towards divine fulfilment. The Sasa yog actively creates disenchantment with marriage, reduces interest in intimacy with another person. Loss of the material linked to the gain of the spiritual is destined here. Emotional upheavals are restricted and the person might even appear to be hard-hearted. There may be a restlessness and there would be journeys in search for the spiritual. Later he may realise the futility of material stuff and find internal peace.

The primary function of the Sasa yog is to create a personality which is driven to spiritual growth using the highest essence of Saturn’s energies in its evolution. For this the material life is often outwardly hard and tends to rip off the illusions. This process can be painful but the personality welcomes the pain as it knows that the inner reality is something very different.