Sun and Saturn have a unique and complex relation in astrology. Do you know that the two enemy planets in Vedic astrology are actually father and son in reality.
Yes! Scriptures describe them as father and son. But their relationship is strained because of the history they share. I’ll come to that part of the story later, but first, let’s understand the basic nature of Saturn and the Sun.
Basic Nature of Saturn and Sun in Astrology
Astrology defines certain traits for each planet. A planet has specific significations like element, color, types of clothes, people, etc based on which planets are differentiated.
Sun and Saturn almost always contradict each other. They rule opposing houses (Leo and Aquarius), one represents light (Sun) and the other represents darkness (Saturn), one denotes the ruling class (Sun) and the other represents the masses (Saturn).
Even if you look at clothes then Sun represents thick royal garments while Saturn represents torn rugged clothes/ old clothes. To enhance the energy of Sun we eat jaggery and pungent food (onion and garlic) and to enhance the energy of Saturn we eat fermented food.
Sun gives pride and confidence while Saturn brings in ego and respect. Against popular belief, a powerful Sun can make you confident and independent but it will not ensure respect among masses. To command respect in society you also need a benefic Saturn in your chart.
These are a few zones where Sun and Saturn are different. But there is one area where they signify similar things! Yes, there is one area which must be seen from both Sun and Saturn. And that is the career of the native. Both Sun and Saturn are important significators of the 10th house of Karma. Both must be checked to see success in career fields.
Now, coming to the history of their enmity.
Why are Sun and Saturn enemies?
This story goes back to the time when wife of the Sun God (Surya dev) named Sanjna started feeling exhausted while dealing with his intense heat. Sanjna decided to do hard penance so that she could tolerate the heat of Surya dev.
But she was not sure if Surya dev would understand this and hence she decided to leave her shadow sister named Chhaya as her substitute. Chhaya was a lookalike of Sanjna, and hence was able to deceive Surya.
Chhaya lived in Sanjna’s place and gave birth to three children with Lord Surya, named Shani, Tapti, and Vaivaswat Manu. Shani later gained the status of a planet and we call him Shani Dev.
As the story goes, the older children of Surya dev (from Sanjna) including Yama, the God of death, grew suspicious of Chhaya. She was biased towards her younger children and at an instance she even cursed Yama. No mother would do that to her own child!
Yama reported that to his father. Surya dev used his yogic power to know the reality of Chhaya. He got angry on knowing the truth. Enraged like a ball of fire, he reached out to Vishwakarma, the father of Sanjna. When he asked about Sanjna, Vishwakarma told the angry god that Sanjna was not able to bear the hear of Surya Dev and hence had taken form of a mare to hide in the forests of Northern Kuru. There she was doing hard penance in her Mare form.
On knowing the truth Surya dev was disheartened. He loved his wife and was filled with desire to reunite with her. So he requested Vishwakarma, the architect of Gods to reduce his intensity. Lord Vishwakarma took into consideration the fact that Surya’s energy was crucial for survival of different life forms. He reduced the intensity of Surya to an extent that would allow Surya and Sanjna to unite without compromising the natural balance.
Finally, Surya assumed the form of a horse and reunited with her wife in Mare form. They begot twins in their horse form. They are popularly known as the Ashwins.
Surya, did accept his second wife Chayya but never truly showed her love or respect. That enraged the son of Chhaya, Shani Dev. Shani Dev never truly got the same recognition from his father as his elder siblings. From there the enmity between Sun and Saturn originated.
If we look at the story there are many symbolic meanings connected to various astrological results.
The twin Ashwins is the core of Ashwini nakshatra where Sun gets exalted. Ashwins were born from Surya heat in horse form. Similarly Ashwini nakshatra bears the energy coherent to Sun. The horse form shows the speed and strength of a horse.
Sun represents energy that is driving force for life on earth and Saturn is born from the unity of shadow and light. If we look at the story we see that Saturn and his mother were humiliated by his father. Similarly the planet Saturn shows humiliation when in bad position. Saturn represents misery and sorrow.
Just like Sun is father and Saturn the neglected son, similarly in astrology we see the authorities by Sun and the common people with Saturn. When Sun is afflicted it shows bad relationship with the authorities. When Saturn is badly afflicted it shows bad reputation among the masses and humiliation by the government.
But as Saturn worked hard and attained the status of a planet, he blesses the natives with immense wealth after a lot of hardships. A strong makes someone worthy of throne from birth. A strong Saturn gives similar wealth and power but in time!
Most of the time when Sun and Saturn are in opposition in natal chart, and Saturn is strong in this combination, it affects the health of father in Saturn dasha. A strong Sun however keeps Saturn in control!! Thus father has strong influence on career.
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