Saturn is traditionally the most difficult of the major planets, the legendary king of the malefics. He has been feared as the great God of Death, punisher, and significator of death, disease, poverty, separation, ugliness and perversity. In general understanding, Saturn is considered a malefic and cruel planet.
Saturn is also considered as king of Justice, Karam Phal Data, the one who gives rewards and punishment based on your deeds. This is the reason, it gets exalted in the Libra Sign (sign of justice and balance). He is most impartial as he does not favour anyone. Do we need to fear a judge or need to introspect our karma (deeds)?
Saturn if benefic, doesn't obstruct outcomes, it enables individuals to pursue their life goals. Typically, Saturn is associated with limitations and justice rather than rewards, Saturn's removal of restrictions allows individuals to achieve their ultimate objectives. For instance, someone aspiring to summit Mount Everest may initially face physical limitations determined by Saturn. However, once these barriers are lifted, they can ascend the peak. Similarly, a person aiming to become the Prime Minister of India may encounter Saturn-imposed obstacles due to perceived incapacity. Yet, once Saturn acknowledges the individual's capability, it removes the hindrances, paving the way for them to attain their aspirations. For the general understanding of people, it is considered as Saturn provides but in actuality, it does not restrict. The aim or goals that a person sets will depend upon the placement of other planets in the chart.
Saturn can have both positive and negative effects depending on its placement in an individual's birth chart. The positioning of Saturn in the chart holds great significance, as it influences various aspects of a person's life based on the corresponding house and zodiac sign.
Though Saturn possesses a higher and more beneficent side, at least from the standpoint of the spiritual life, even this is stern and exacting, hard to live up to and to endure a power of discipline, asceticism and solitude.
Saturn is the great teacher of cosmic truths. It does that through restrictions, obstructions, frustrations, unhappiness, disillusionment, setbacks and fear. There is a definite purpose of the saturnine restrictions. Through his relentless force, he forces the soul to recognise its inner truth that has become obscured by veils of matter. On the positive side, Saturn stands for achievement, the fruits of hard work, responsibility, and democracy and we would not get very far without it.
In the Vedas, Saturn is the son of the Sun born of a liaison between the Sun and his shadow wife, Chayya. The relationship between the Sun and Saturn is a very difficult one. Saturn casts a shadow over the solar radiance. Saturn is the planet of karmic retribution. It keeps an account of all the past acts and releases this Karma unexpectedly. Faced with such powerful karmic forces an individual has to dig deep into their inner resources. It causes immense misery and frustration. But once the individual starts to understand the forces of Saturn and moves towards learning from the lessons it is teaching. The person slowly starts on the path toward self-realisation. Saturn strips the attachments to material life. It makes us look towards the true reason for our birth. This stripping of illusions or the sheaths that encase the soul brings about immense psychological transformation. Saturn has the slowest motion of all planets, so it has plenty of time to teach the lessons and change the course of your life. Its unrelenting progress through your chart by transit or during its major or minor periods brings up Karmic issues you have to deal with, things you cannot avoid, and unpleasant tasks you have to face.