Explanation for the selection of Saturn as the lord of the signs Capricorn and Aquarius

In a natal chart, the 10^th house signifies job, employment etc. The 10^th sign in the Zodiac is Capricorn, cardinal earthy sign of Tamas nature ruled by Saturn which is described as hermit or Yogi on the one hand and servant on the other. In the terrestrial world, work is done by the living beings on the material plane. As such, the 10^th sign being described to be earthy is quite justified. Ordinary people do work for self interest under the complexes which give rise to many faults and errors because of many opposing ideas which are the characteristics of Tamas nature. Again, Saturn is by nature servant and hermit and since according to Hindu Philosophy for being freed from all complexes forming chains of deeds encircling a native, it is necessary is to perform one’s jobs without any expectations for results; therefore, the lordship of the 10^th sign Capricorn is very rightly ascribed to Saturn. Moreover, in Astrology, Saturn is said to be the significator of “Time”. Again, to perform a successful work what are required are punctuality, sincerity, law-abiding tendency and materialistic matured sense, the last one being usually acquired through experience. Since Saturn is designated as the very old planet in Astrology, therefore the selection of Saturn as the lord of the 10^th sign Capricorn is quite justified.

The 11^th sign of the Zodiac is Aquarius, fixed airy sign of Rajas nature. From the 11^th house in a natal chart are judged income, success, friend (being enemy of enemy signified by the 6^th house). The 2^nd house counted from the 10^th house is the 11^th house i.e. the accumulated wealth of work is signified by the 11^th house. Since the 10^th sign Capricorn being ruled by Saturn signifies work of servicing nature without any expectation of results, therefore in the material world it leads to accumulation of money i.e. income and in the level of consciousness the airy sign Aquarius signifies highest expression of intelligence and spiritual thoughts which on the one hand results in the development of materialistic philosophy and on the other hand signifies the concentrated mind of a hermit to attain gradually the higher levels of spiritualism.

In the planetary kingdom Saturn is the significator of both these characteristics. The 3^rd house counted from the 9^th sign Saggitarius is Aquarius which means valour of wisdom of Saggitarius is the spiritual consciousness of Aquarius which is also the 6^th house signifying the enmity of the 6^th sign Virgo signifying complexes. The 8^th sign from Cancer is Aquarius which means the unbound emotion of the cardinal Tamasik watery sign Cancer finds its annihilation in Aquarius. Further, the seed of creation in Leo remains latent here. As such, the selection of Saturn as the lord of the 11^th sign Aquarius is also totally justified.                     

Explanation for the selection of the signs Capricorn & Cancer as the respective the signs of exaltation and debilation for Mars

The Zodiac itself is the Divine instruction of the Supreme Lord for ideal living whereas the planets signify different complexes which deviate a native from the ideal process through the bindings of Maya. Mars is the lord of the first sign Aries and the 8^th sign Scorpio in the Zodiac. Life cycle starts in Aries and in this worldly life, every native has to do work, willingly or unwillingly, being obsessed by different complexes. This has been uttered by the Lord Shree Krishna in The Shreemadbhagabadgeeta “no body can remain idle even for a single moment since the natural instincts in a human being compel him to do work according to his inherent inclination” (Shreemadbhagabadgeeta, Chapter 3, Karmayoga, Shloka 5). To achieve the ends what are required are practical sense with a fixed target, servicing attitude, punctuality, adherence to discipline, without any desire for enjoying the results together with tremendous working energy, courage, capacity to take quick decision in any matter. Of these, the first three are the characteristics of the cardinal Tamasik earthy sign Capricorn and its lord Saturn and the latter are those of Mars. In the Zodiac, these two planets are described as bitter enemies to each other because Mars belongs to the creative group and Saturn to the destructive group. But for successful performance of any work are required punctuality, discipline, matured practical sense with a servicing outlook characterized by Saturn on the one hand and tremendous physical and mental strength together with courage to overcome any hindrance characterized by Mars on the other. Lack or deficiency of either of the two leads to failure either partially or totally. Again, the highest expression of human life is through activities. In the Zodiac, the start of life is signified in Aries ruled by Mars and as such the activities of human being in general are judged from the 10^th sign Capricorn. Therefore, it is very natural that the characteristics of Mars are best expressed in Capricorn.

Again, as the lord of the 8^th sign Scorpio; Mars signifies the store house of the experiences acquired through activities in each birth. The 3^rd sign counted from Scorpio is Capricorn which means the characteristics of Scorpio are established through activities. So, from both considerations it is apparent that the sign Capricorn, inspite of being inimical for Mars permits best expression of Martial qualities and as such its designation as the sign of exaltation for Mars is quite justified.

Therefore, the opposite sign of Capricorn i.e. Cancer should be the sign of debilation for Mars because the cardinal Tamasik watery sign Cancer is opposing for Mars to express its qualities. The fire signified by Mars gets extinguished in the water signified by Cancer. Although, Mars in Cancer forming the fifth/tenth relation is Raj Yoga karaka, yet it does not help strengthening Mars.

Again, Mars being the military commander in the planetary kingdom is ever careful to protect the body. The fourth sign Cancer in the Zodiac signifies family and domestic happiness which are somewhat obstructive for performing the duties of Mars as ever awakened guard. So, consideration of all these factors naturally justifies the sign Cancer being described as the house of debilation for Mars.