Saturn Moon Conjunction - Nishturbhashi Yoga

Saturn and Moon conjunction is called Nishturbhashi or ‘Harsh Speech’ yoga. It is important to look at the state of Saturn and Moon to accurately analyze the effects of this yoga. For example, is Saturn stronger or Moon? Is Saturn retrograde? Which other planets as joining this combination? Which house is this conjunction happening?

In general, this combination casts an oppressive influence on your emotions. There is a strong awareness of rules, authority, and discipline. You may or may not be inclined to follow them, but being aware of them you are often able to flourish in roles that require conformism and structure. This often ensures material success.

 In your childhood there may have been strict conditions on receiving love from your mother. This builds a feeling for scarcity and responsibilities and reduces the capacity for emotional bonding. Not having received unconditional love you are not able to give unconditional love to others. In a female chart this effect is somewhat reduced if you birth and raise your own children.

When Moon - the karaka for emotions, mother’s love, senses is very closely influenced by Saturn whose teaching method is via sorrows and misfortunes, consequences of bad actions, this results in harshness of the speech or Nishturbhashi. The person projects the harshness they have received onto everyone else. Once past childhood you value social ranks and leadership roles. You enjoy enforcing rules on others. And do well in leadership, hierarchy-led roles.

When Saturn or Moon are exalted or in mooltrikona position or when this combination has an aspect from Guru or Jupiter, you will be able to develop consciousness around the inner conflict you feel regarding emotions vs social security, public vs private lives, love vs approval. Jupiter as the bhava karaka for the second house, casts a gentler influence on the speech. In contrast when this Saturn or Moon is weak or when this combination has an aspect from Mars, the speech becomes even more harsh, and the emotional resistance is heightened. Between the two when Saturn is stronger than Moon it indicates a tendency to resort to and respond to indirect methods of persuasion - artfulness and behind the scenes tactics.

This combination creates a permanent Sade-Sati like feeling in the native. The person ultimately fears abandonment but is also certain of it and resigned to it. Even after developing awareness of the impact of childhood trauma, they are not able to create a suitable distance from their mother to heal themselves and their outlook towards others. Often the final departure of their mother creates immense turmoil in their personality as it has become very intricately linked to the mother.  With thoughtful meditation, directed sewa and remedies the effects of this yoga can be moderated.

Let us look at an example chart:

Saturn and Moon are conjunct in the 9th house. This combination is joined by Mars as well. Saturn being lagna lord and Moon and Mars being kendra lords makes this Nisturbhashi yoga more significant. Moon here is in Uttaraphalguni nakshatra. The mother projects her own childhood trauma and criticism-led upbringing onto the person. Mars in Virgo also increases the tendency for passive-aggressive criticism. The rules are that unless you have money and luxury you have not arrived in life. Even if one must compromise on dharma and principles. Material gain (Saturn 2nd Lord, Mars as 11th lord) is emphasized by the mother. Father is overshadowed by the stronger personality of the mother, 9th lord Mercury is debilitated in Pisces. The person’s speech is hurtful and sarcastic.

If you have this combination in your chart, please analyze all the factors in the chart to understand its impact.