Sade sati is the roughly seven-and-a-half-year stretch when Saturn moves through the sign before your Moon sign, your Moon sign itself, and the sign after it. In September 2026 it is running for three rashis: Aries (rising phase), Pisces (peak) and Aquarius (setting phase), because Saturn has been in sidereal Pisces since 29 March 2025.
Below you will find exact dates for all 12 moon signs from 2020 to 2045, computed by our own ephemeris engine, with every retrograde back-and-forth shown instead of hidden. You need your Moon sign (rashi), not your Sun sign. If you do not know it, a free kundli shows it in a few seconds.
What sade sati actually is
The name means "seven and a half". Saturn takes about 29.5 years to go once around the zodiac, so it spends about two and a half years in each sign. Sade sati counts three consecutive signs, measured from the sign your Moon occupied at birth:
| Phase | Saturn is in… | Traditional name |
|---|---|---|
| Rising | the 12th sign from your Moon | first dhaiya (arohi) |
| Peak | your Moon sign itself | middle dhaiya (the "heart" of it) |
| Setting | the 2nd sign from your Moon | last dhaiya (avarohi) |
Three signs times two and a half years gives the famous seven and a half; in practice, as the table below shows, a real sade sati runs anywhere from about 7 years to almost 9. Because Saturn returns to the same place every 29.5 years, almost everyone meets sade sati two or three times in a lifetime. It is not a rare curse; it is a clock.
Everything here uses the sidereal zodiac with Lahiri ayanamsa, the standard in Indian almanacs and the Government of India's panchang. That is also why your rashi may differ from the "star sign" in a Western horoscope. Our post on Vedic vs Western sun signs explains the gap.
Where the dates come from
Every date in this post is a Saturn sign change (ingress) from our engine's public transits API, run for each year from 2009 to 2053, in Indian Standard Time, Lahiri ayanamsa. We did not copy them from another site. Two checks against published references:
- Saturn into Pisces, 2025. Our engine: 29 March 2025, 21:44 IST. Widely published Indian references give 29 March 2025 between about 10 pm and 11 pm IST. Same day; the minutes differ because of small differences in ephemeris and in the exact Lahiri value used.
- Saturn into Aries, 2027. Our engine: 3 June 2027, 05:27 IST. A published Lahiri reference gives about 06:23 IST the same morning, and agrees with our retrograde return to Pisces on 20 October 2027 and final entry into Aries on 23 February 2028.
The choice of ayanamsa matters more than any of that. Our engine gives Saturn entering Pisces on 18 March 2025 with Raman ayanamsa and on 29 March 2025 with KP ayanamsa, against 29 March with Lahiri. If a site's dates are eleven days earlier than ours, it is probably not using Lahiri.
The retrograde problem, and how we handle it
Saturn turns retrograde for about four and a half months every year. When that happens near a sign boundary, Saturn crosses into the next sign, slips back, then crosses again. For sade sati this means a phase can start, pause and resume.
Take Pisces rashi. Saturn first entered Aquarius (the 12th from Pisces) on 29 April 2022, which began the rising phase. On 12 July 2022 it slipped back into Capricorn, which is outside the sade sati signs, so for six months nothing was running. It re-entered Aquarius on 17 January 2023 and then stayed.
Many pages give only one of those dates. In the tables below we follow the same rule as the sade sati section of your kundli:
- Begins is Saturn's first entry into the 12th sign from your Moon.
- Ends is Saturn's final exit from the 2nd sign from your Moon.
- Every back-and-forth in between is listed in the last column, so you can see exactly when a phase paused or when Saturn stepped back into an earlier phase.
Sade sati dates for all 12 moon signs, 2020–2045
Dates are the day of Saturn's sign change in Indian Standard Time (Lahiri). The phase columns give the day each phase first begins. Signs are in zodiac order; the Hindi name is in brackets.
| Moon sign | Begins (rising) | Peak begins | Setting begins | Ends | Retrograde back-and-forth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries (Mesh) | 29 Mar 2025 | 3 Jun 2027 | 8 Aug 2029 | 31 May 2032 | Back to rising 20 Oct 2027 – 23 Feb 2028; back to peak 5 Oct 2029 – 17 Apr 2030 |
| Taurus (Vrishabh) | 3 Jun 2027 | 8 Aug 2029 | 31 May 2032 | 13 Jul 2034 | Paused 20 Oct 2027 – 23 Feb 2028 (Saturn back in Pisces); back to rising 5 Oct 2029 – 17 Apr 2030 |
| Gemini (Mithun) | 8 Aug 2029 | 31 May 2032 | 13 Jul 2034 | 27 Aug 2036 | Paused 5 Oct 2029 – 17 Apr 2030 (Saturn back in Aries) |
| Cancer (Kark) | 31 May 2032 | 13 Jul 2034 | 27 Aug 2036 | 13 Jul 2039 | Saturn leaves on 22 Oct 2038, returns 5 Apr 2039, leaves for good 13 Jul 2039 |
| Leo (Simha) | 13 Jul 2034 | 27 Aug 2036 | 22 Oct 2038 | 26 Sep 2041 | Back to peak 5 Apr – 13 Jul 2039; Saturn leaves 28 Jan 2041, returns 6 Feb 2041, leaves for good 26 Sep 2041 |
| Virgo (Kanya) | 27 Aug 2036 | 22 Oct 2038 | 28 Jan 2041 | 30 Aug 2044 | Back to rising 5 Apr – 13 Jul 2039; back to peak 6 Feb – 26 Sep 2041; Saturn leaves 11 Dec 2043, returns 23 Jun 2044 |
| Libra (Tula) | 22 Oct 2038 | 28 Jan 2041 | 11 Dec 2043 | 8 Dec 2046 | Paused 5 Apr – 13 Jul 2039; back to rising 6 Feb – 26 Sep 2041; back to peak 23 Jun – 30 Aug 2044 |
| Scorpio (Vrishchik), earlier | 15 Nov 2011 | 2 Nov 2014 | 26 Jan 2017 | 24 Jan 2020 | Paused 16 May – 4 Aug 2012; back to peak 21 Jun – 26 Oct 2017 |
| Scorpio (Vrishchik), next | 28 Jan 2041 | 11 Dec 2043 | 8 Dec 2046 | 4 Dec 2049 | Paused 6 Feb – 26 Sep 2041; back to rising 23 Jun – 30 Aug 2044; Saturn leaves 6 Mar 2049, returns 10 Jul 2049 |
| Sagittarius (Dhanu), earlier | 2 Nov 2014 | 26 Jan 2017 | 24 Jan 2020 | 17 Jan 2023 | Back to rising 21 Jun – 26 Oct 2017; Saturn leaves 29 Apr 2022, returns 12 Jul 2022 |
| Sagittarius (Dhanu), next | 11 Dec 2043 | 8 Dec 2046 | 6 Mar 2049 | 25 Feb 2052 | Paused 23 Jun – 30 Aug 2044; back to peak 10 Jul – 4 Dec 2049 |
| Capricorn (Makar) | 26 Jan 2017 | 24 Jan 2020 | 29 Apr 2022 | 29 Mar 2025 | Paused 21 Jun – 26 Oct 2017; back to peak 12 Jul 2022 – 17 Jan 2023. Next begins 8 Dec 2046 |
| Aquarius (Kumbh) | 24 Jan 2020 | 29 Apr 2022 | 29 Mar 2025 | 23 Feb 2028 | Back to rising 12 Jul 2022 – 17 Jan 2023; Saturn leaves 3 Jun 2027, returns 20 Oct 2027. Next begins 6 Mar 2049 |
| Pisces (Meen) | 29 Apr 2022 | 29 Mar 2025 | 3 Jun 2027 | 17 Apr 2030 | Paused 12 Jul 2022 – 17 Jan 2023; back to peak 20 Oct 2027 – 23 Feb 2028; Saturn leaves 8 Aug 2029, returns 5 Oct 2029. Next begins 25 Feb 2052 |
Scorpio and Sagittarius have two rows because the window 2020–2045 catches the tail of one sade sati and the start of the next. Capricorn's next one begins in December 2046; Aquarius's in March 2049; Pisces's in February 2052.
How to read one row
Take Leo (Simha). Saturn enters Cancer, the 12th sign from Leo, on 13 July 2034: sade sati begins. It enters Leo on 27 August 2036: the peak. It moves into Virgo on 22 October 2038, which starts the setting phase, but it turns retrograde and slips back into Leo from 5 April to 13 July 2039, so the peak briefly resumes. It then leaves Virgo on 28 January 2041, returns to Virgo for most of 2041 (6 February to 26 September), and only then is Leo's sade sati over: 13 July 2034 to 26 September 2041, a little over seven years and two months.
Which rashis are in sade sati right now (22 September 2026)
On 22 September 2026 our engine places Saturn at 17°59′ in sidereal Pisces, moving retrograde. That gives:
- Aries (Mesh): rising phase, since 29 March 2025.
- Pisces (Meen): peak phase, since 29 March 2025.
- Aquarius (Kumbh): setting phase, since 29 March 2025; ends 23 February 2028.
Capricorn (Makar) finished its sade sati on 29 March 2025. Taurus (Vrishabh) is next: it starts on 3 June 2027.
Dhaiya: Kantaka and Ashtama Shani
Alongside sade sati, most almanacs track a shorter period called dhaiya ("two and a half"):
- Kantaka Shani (also "chaturtha" or 4th-house dhaiya): Saturn in the 4th sign from your Moon. Traditionally linked with home, peace of mind and one's footing.
- Ashtama Shani: Saturn in the 8th sign from your Moon. Traditionally the heavier of the two, linked with obstacles and delays.
Each lasts about two and a half years, and with retrograde loops a little more. Same data, same rules as above (first entry to final exit):
| Moon sign | Kantaka (4th from Moon) | Ashtama (8th from Moon) |
|---|---|---|
| Aries (Mesh) | 13 Jul 2034 – 27 Aug 2036 | 11 Dec 2043 – 8 Dec 2046 (paused 23 Jun – 30 Aug 2044) |
| Taurus (Vrishabh) | 27 Aug 2036 – 13 Jul 2039 (paused 22 Oct 2038 – 5 Apr 2039) | ended 24 Jan 2020; next from 8 Dec 2046 |
| Gemini (Mithun) | 22 Oct 2038 – 26 Sep 2041 (paused 5 Apr – 13 Jul 2039 and 28 Jan – 6 Feb 2041) | 24 Jan 2020 – 17 Jan 2023 (paused 29 Apr – 12 Jul 2022) |
| Cancer (Kark) | 28 Jan 2041 – 30 Aug 2044 (paused 6 Feb – 26 Sep 2041 and 11 Dec 2043 – 23 Jun 2044) | 29 Apr 2022 – 29 Mar 2025 (paused 12 Jul 2022 – 17 Jan 2023) |
| Leo (Simha) | 11 Dec 2043 – 8 Dec 2046 (paused 23 Jun – 30 Aug 2044) | 29 Mar 2025 – 23 Feb 2028 (paused 3 Jun – 20 Oct 2027) |
| Virgo (Kanya) | ended 24 Jan 2020; next from 8 Dec 2046 | 3 Jun 2027 – 17 Apr 2030 (paused 20 Oct 2027 – 23 Feb 2028 and 8 Aug – 5 Oct 2029) |
| Libra (Tula) | 24 Jan 2020 – 17 Jan 2023 (paused 29 Apr – 12 Jul 2022) | 8 Aug 2029 – 31 May 2032 (paused 5 Oct 2029 – 17 Apr 2030) |
| Scorpio (Vrishchik) | 29 Apr 2022 – 29 Mar 2025 (paused 12 Jul 2022 – 17 Jan 2023) | 31 May 2032 – 13 Jul 2034 |
| Sagittarius (Dhanu) | 29 Mar 2025 – 23 Feb 2028 (paused 3 Jun – 20 Oct 2027) | 13 Jul 2034 – 27 Aug 2036 |
| Capricorn (Makar) | 3 Jun 2027 – 17 Apr 2030 (paused 20 Oct 2027 – 23 Feb 2028 and 8 Aug – 5 Oct 2029) | 27 Aug 2036 – 13 Jul 2039 (paused 22 Oct 2038 – 5 Apr 2039) |
| Aquarius (Kumbh) | 8 Aug 2029 – 31 May 2032 (paused 5 Oct 2029 – 17 Apr 2030) | 22 Oct 2038 – 26 Sep 2041 (paused 5 Apr – 13 Jul 2039 and 28 Jan – 6 Feb 2041) |
| Pisces (Meen) | 31 May 2032 – 13 Jul 2034 | 28 Jan 2041 – 30 Aug 2044 (paused 6 Feb – 26 Sep 2041 and 11 Dec 2043 – 23 Jun 2044) |
So in September 2026 two rashis are in dhaiya: Sagittarius (Kantaka) and Leo (Ashtama). Add the three sade sati signs and five of the twelve rashis are under some Saturn transit at once. That alone is a good reason not to panic: at any moment, close to half the population is "under Shani" by one count or another.
What tradition says about each phase
The classical transit texts, such as Phaladeepika's chapter on gochara, describe Saturn's passage through the 12th, 1st and 2nd from the Moon as a time of expense, effort, fatigue and changes in family and position. Popular tradition gives each phase its own flavour:
- Rising (12th): expenses, travel, sleep and a sense of things slipping away before they settle.
- Peak (1st): the most personal phase. Health, mood and self-image are said to feel Saturn's weight most; also the phase in which people often take on serious responsibility.
- Setting (2nd): family, speech, savings and food habits; the pressure is said to ease towards the end.
Tradition is just as clear that these are tendencies, not verdicts. Astrologers adjust the reading for:
- Saturn's own condition in your chart. For Taurus and Libra lagnas Saturn is a yogakaraka (a planet that rules a kendra and a trikona) and its transits are usually read as productive.
- Moon sign lordship. Saturn owns Capricorn and Aquarius, so many astrologers treat sade sati as milder for these moon signs.
- Ashtakavarga. Saturn's bindu count in the sign it is transiting, visible in your kundli, is the classical way to grade a transit. More bindus, gentler transit.
- Your running dasha. A strong, well-placed dasha lord often matters more than any single transit. Our guide to Vimshottari dasha shows how to read yours.
Seeing your own sade sati, not your rashi's
The tables above are exact for the sign, but your chart adds detail. The Doshas tab of your free kundli lists every sade sati and dhaiya period for 100 years from your birth, with each phase and each retrograde re-entry dated, and tells you whether one is active today. The Ashtakavarga tab gives your Saturn bindus sign by sign, so you can see which signs Saturn passes through lightly for you.
For the everyday view, your rashifal is written from the Moon sign, which is the same reference point sade sati uses: for example Pisces rashifal or Aries rashifal. Each rashifal page also names the Saturn phase running for that sign (sade sati or dhaiya) and lists the planetary transits behind the reading. The daily panchang gives the Moon's sign and nakshatra for any day, if you want to follow the Moon as well.
A calm word on remedies
You will find many pages that tie sade sati to a list of pujas, stones and donations. We do not sell any of them, and we do not think you need to buy anything to get through seven and a half years. Traditional practice that costs nothing, such as steady work, keeping your word, respect for elders and the less fortunate, and patience with delays, is what the Saturn tradition itself values. Anything beyond that is a personal and family choice, not an obligation.
No transit is medical, legal or financial advice. If a hard stretch of life coincides with sade sati, the practical help (a doctor, an advisor, a conversation) comes first.
Try it yourself
Make your free kundli and open the Doshas tab: it shows your Moon sign, your full list of sade sati and dhaiya dates, and whether either is running today. If you would like a written reading of how Saturn's transit fits your whole chart and dasha, the detailed kundli report covers it.