Shani (Saturn) Mahadasha: Duration, Antardashas and Remedies
Shani (Saturn) (शनि) mahadasha lasts 19 years and is the 8th period in the 120-year Vimshottari cycle, after Jupiter and before Mercury. Find the exact dates of yours below.
Saturn mahadasha at a glance
| Length | 19 years |
|---|---|
| Nakshatras ruled | Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada |
| Nature | Discipline / Karma |
| Element | Air |
| Governs | discipline, longevity, justice, service, sorrow, delay |
| Body parts | Bones, Teeth, Hair, Left eye, Nails |
| Day · colour · gemstone | Saturday · Blue / Black · Blue Sapphire |
| Deity | Shani (Saturn) |
Antardashas inside Saturn mahadasha
Each antardasha lasts (mahadasha years × antardasha lord's years) ÷ 120. The sub-periods begin with Saturn itself and follow the Vimshottari order.
| Antardasha | Length | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Saturn–Saturn | 3 yrs 0 mo 3 d | 3 yrs 0 mo 3 d |
| Saturn–Mercury | 2 yrs 8 mo 9 d | 5 yrs 8 mo 13 d |
| Saturn–Ketu | 1 yr 1 mo 10 d | 6 yrs 9 mo 21 d |
| Saturn–Venus | 3 yrs 2 mo 0 d | 9 yrs 11 mo 21 d |
| Saturn–Sun | 0 yrs 11 mo 12 d | 10 yrs 11 mo 2 d |
| Saturn–Moon | 1 yr 6 mo 30 d | 12 yrs 6 mo 3 d |
| Saturn–Mars | 1 yr 1 mo 10 d | 13 yrs 7 mo 12 d |
| Saturn–Rahu | 2 yrs 10 mo 6 d | 16 yrs 5 mo 18 d |
| Saturn–Jupiter | 2 yrs 6 mo 11 d | 19 yrs 0 mo 0 d |
At what age does Saturn mahadasha run?
It depends on the dasha you were born into, which is set by your birth nakshatra's lord. Because the Moon's exact position decides how much of that first dasha was left at birth, the start is a range:
| Born in a nakshatra ruled by | Saturn mahadasha starts at age | Ends at age |
|---|---|---|
| Ketu | 77–84 | 96–103 |
| Venus | 57–77 | 76–96 |
| Sun | 51–57 | 70–76 |
| Moon | 41–51 | 60–70 |
| Mars | 34–41 | 53–60 |
| Rahu | 16–34 | 35–53 |
| Jupiter | 0–16 | 19–35 |
| Saturn | From birth | 0–19 |
| Mercury | 84–101 | 103–120 |
Ages are approximate ranges; the calculator above gives your exact dates. Windows starting after about age 100 are omitted.
Traditional remedies for Saturn mahadasha
The remedies below are the practices recorded for Shani (Saturn) in this site's classical-source catalogue. They are devotional disciplines, not guarantees.
Mantras
- Om Shanaishcharaya Namaha — Chant 108 times daily for 40 consecutive days
- Shani Beej Mantra — Chant 108 times on Saturdays
- Shani Stotram / Navagraha Stotram — Recite on Saturdays (Brahmanda Purana)
Fasting
- Fast on Saturdays — eat only one meal after sunset
- Eat black sesame (til) based food on Saturday
Donations
- Donate black cloth, black sesame, iron items, or mustard oil on Saturdays
- Give food (especially rice and urad dal) to the elderly or disabled
- Feed crows with rice mixed with black sesame
Full vidhi, mantra text and step-by-step puja: Shani (Saturn) remedies and mantra guide. For remedies matched to your own chart and life concerns, use the remedy finder.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Shani (Saturn) mahadasha?
Shani (Saturn) mahadasha lasts 19 years in the Vimshottari dasha system, which totals 120 years. It follows Jupiter mahadasha and is followed by Mercury mahadasha.
Which birth nakshatras start with Saturn mahadasha?
Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada are ruled by Saturn. If your Moon was in one of them at birth, your life began in Saturn mahadasha, with part of its 19 years already elapsed.
What is the first antardasha of Saturn mahadasha?
Saturn–Saturn: every mahadasha begins with the antardasha of its own lord (3 yrs 0 mo 3 d here), followed by the other eight planets in Vimshottari order.
Is Saturn mahadasha good or bad?
There is no single answer. Classical texts read a mahadasha from the planet's sign, house, aspects and the houses it rules in your own chart, and from the running antardasha. This page gives the timing; the planet's general significations are listed above.
How do I find out when my Saturn mahadasha starts and ends?
Enter your birth date, time and place in the calculator on this page. It gives your exact mahadasha and antardasha dates from the Moon's position at birth.