Saturn represents old people, construction, mustard oil, servants, etc. Saturn is both a judge and a teacher. During the Mahadasha of Saturn, the thing one is very proud of will be tested. A person who is very humble without any ego will not face any problems during Saturn Mahadasha or Saturn Sade Saati. The best example of test taken by Saturn in our scriptures is about Satyavaadi Harishchandra. He was the righteous King who never lied. Saturn tested his righteousness. The story goes, he ruled his kingdom wisely and his subjects were happy and prosperous. One day he went to the forest for hunting and he heard a woman crying. To help the woman, he entered the ashram of Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra got disturbed in his meditation and became angry at Harishchandra. To pacify Vishwamitra, Harishchandra agreed to donate his kingdom. Vishwamitra accepted the donation but demanded Dakshina (fees) with it. Now that Harishchandra had donated his Kingdom he had nothing to give as fees to Harishchandra. Harishchandra sought one month to pay the fees. True to his words, Harishchandra went to Kashi with his wife, Shaivya and son, Rohitashwa, one month was about to end and he could not earn anything. Harishchandra sold his wife and son to a Brahmin but the money received was not enough to pay Vishwamitra. So Harishchandra sold himself to a Chandala (a person who works in a crematorium ground).

Shaivya worked as servant in the Brahmin’s house, one day when Rohitashwa went to the garden to pluck flowers for the Brahmin, a snake bit him and he died. Shaivya took her dead son to Crematorium ground. There she met Harishchandra. He was filled with grief to see his only son dead. To cremate the body Shaivya didn’t had money. Harishchandra was duty bound and could not cremate the body without tax. Shaivya was a devoted wife and didn’t want Harishchandra to give up his duty. She told Harishchandra that the Sari she is wearing is the only thing she has, please accept half of it as tax. Harishchandra agreed to take half of the Sari as tax. Both Shaivya and Harishchandra decided to give up their life by jumping into the burning pyre. As Shaivya tore her Sari, Lord Vishnu appeared and blessed the couple. The Chandala was actually Lord Yama, he came in his real form and he brought back Rohitashwa to life. Harischandra and his family passed the test. Thus, Saturn creates difficult conditions for you during Shani Mahadasha, takes your test and depending upon how you perform in the test, Saturn will also reward or punish you.

If Mars and Mercury are conjunct in the birth chart, then Saturn and Rahu become malefic. If Mars and Mercury are making relationship either by aspect, Rashi or Nakshatra Parivartan even then Saturn and Rahu become malefic. Saturn rules over bones, a person with poorly placed Saturn in birth chart will experience bone related problems during Shani Mahadasha. A poorly placed Saturn makes the person toil hard like a laborer during its Mahadasha. Saturn believes in discipline and orderliness. Any person missing these qualities is bound to be punished during the Mahadasha of Saturn. A poor Mars in the birth chart will make the person a dacoit but a poor Saturn in the birth chart will make the native sad and miserable and take him or her towards spirituality. Poor Saturn makes the person introspect and try to improve and win over the weakness.  

There are many ways to pacify Saturn. The best remedy is to apply Mustard Oil to Black Urad Dal (Black Lentil) and apply salt to it and donate it in a temple every Saturday for 43 Saturdays. One should refrain from drinking, smoking and all other vices. Even non-vegetarian food habits should be avoided to pacify Saturn. One should keep the shoe rack in order to reap the good effects of Saturn. One should not use refined oils, instead one can use natural cold pressed oils. Another good remedy for Saturn is to massage your parents and/or grandparent’s feet every night. One should keep house and surroundings clean to please Saturn. One should treat everyone with equality irrespective of caste, creed and religion to reap the good effects of Saturn.