The literal meaning of the word Shatabhisha is translated as ‘hundred doctors’ or ‘hundred medicines’.
These meanings indicate that Shatabhisha is associated with remedies, medicines, treatments and cures. It also indicates that Shatabhisha is related to diseases and problems. This is because medicines or remedies are required only after diseases or problems have appeared. Hence Shatabhisha deals with both aspects of this field; diseases as well as remedies.
The name of this nakshatra suggests hundred medicines or doctors. It implies many things at the same time. The first one is the fact that Shatabhisha is a resourceful nakshatra, since only resourceful people may afford hundred doctors. The second one tells that the problems Shatabhisha may try to deal with may be complicated or very complicated. This is because hundred doctors or hundred medicines may be required for complicated problems only.
It means people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may face such problems in their lives; for which they may have to try a number of remedies or options, until they find the ones which work. Hundred doctors or medicines also indicate variety. It means people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may face various types of problems in their lives and they may have to try various types of approaches to solve these problems. One may only need many doctors specializing in different fields, when he suffers from many problems.
Let’s look at this meaning from the angle of a doctor, instead of looking at it from the angle of a patient. The name Shatabhisha suggests that people under strong influence of this nakshatra may possess wisdom of hundred experts and they may have hundreds of resources to solve problems. The name also suggests that people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may be skilled in hundreds of fields, which means in many fields.
Hence Shatabhisha people may possess great expertise in their respective fields and they may at the same time possess knowledge in many other fields. Whether a native under strong influence of Shatabhisha may become a patient or doctor; depends on how the energy of this nakshatra is used in a horoscope. When Shatabhisha is occupied by suitable benefic planets in relevant houses, it may produce the best types of professionals in their fields.
It means an astrologer under strong influence of Shatabhisha may not be merely an astrologer; he may be one of the best astrologers. Such astrologer may possess great amount of knowledge and he may have hundreds of ways to solve the problems of his clients; when supported by his overall horoscope. Likewise, a doctor say a neurologist under strong influence of Shatabhisha may be known as one of the best neurologists in a region.
On the other hand, if unsuitable or malefic planets are placed in Shatabhisha in a horoscope, the native is highly likely to be a patient. It means such native under strong influence of Shatabhisha may suffer from a number of problems in certain spheres of his life; depending on placements of various planets in this nakshatra as well as on his overall horoscope.
It should be noted that great expertise is always accompanied by great confusions. This means that in order to achieve expertise in a field, you need to dig deeper and deeper. The deeper you dig, more confusing things become. If you are capable enough to get through such confusions, you may be blessed with expertise.
However, if you are lost in such confusions, you may end up even more confused than you were before you started digging. It means Shatabhisha people may end up creating more problems for them, while trying to solve current problems. Hence Shatabhisha is a difficult to handle energy and it almost always needs to be supported by strong horoscopes in order to deliver good results.
Vedic astrology assigns an empty circle as the main symbol of Shatabhisha and this symbol renders many traits to this nakshatra. A circle gives the idea of containing something, within its boundaries. A circle also indicates that things inside it are separated from things outside. Most things in universe work in circles and they are not linear. A circle is not open like a line and it is a closed body. It means what is outside may not get inside easily; and what is inside may not get outside easily.
Hence traits like secrecy, privacy, maintaining boundaries and being introvert are exhibited by Shatabhisha. Therefore, Shatabhisha people may not easily trust other people and they may keep maintaining certain boundaries, even after years of relationships with people. For this reason, Shatabhisha people may prove some of the most difficult to understand people. It means even after having years of close relationships with them, you may not claim to know them sufficiently.
There may still be many parts of their personalities which are hidden and you don’t know them. For this reason, you may often not be able to assign fixed patterns to them as they may surprise you with their actions, every now and then. In deeper sense, the need for secrecy rises from insecurity. It means you try to keep those things secret, which you believe may cause problems if revealed. This belief gives birth to insecurity as you sense problems if such things are revealed. Hence you try your best not to reveal such things. It means you try to conceal them or in other words, you try to keep them secret.
Therefore, the trait of insecurity is also exhibited by Shatabhisha. Hence Shatabhisha people may feel insecure about certain aspects of their lives. As a result, they may tend to keep such aspects secret. Such aspects may be different for different people, depending on placements of various planets in Shatabhisha as well as on placement of this nakshatra in various houses of a horoscope.
For example, if a benefic combination of Sun, Mercury and retrograde Venus is placed in the tenth house of a horoscope in Aquarius and Sun is placed in Shatabhisha, the native may become an astrologer or a doctor. Both these professions deal in secrets. Apart from that, the native may be especially good at ensuring that his professional expertise is not revealed to others. It means such native may possess very good expertise in his field and he may closely guard such secrets which his competitors may be looking for.
It is like the native may have some secret formulas, the others may be trying to steal them and the native may be trying his best to save them. It should be noted that in this case, the native may be secretive related to his profession as well as related to some other aspects of his life and his entire personality may not be secretive.
However, if a combination of Sun, Mercury and Venus is placed in the first house of a horoscope in Aquarius in Shatabhisha, it is an altogether different equation. The combination is happening in the first house and the first house is the core of horoscope. As a result, the native may not be secretive in some specific spheres of his life; he may be an embodiment of secrets.
It means everything he does or says may have many layers of secrets. Such native may be considered as a walking enigma and even the people closest to him may not be able to know him sufficiently. Similarly, Shatabhisha people may tend to keep secrets related to different spheres of their lives; depending on placements of various planets in Shatabhisha, in different houses of their horoscopes.
Looking at one more example, if a malefic combination of Venus, Rahu and Mercury is placed in the fifth house of a horoscope in Aquarius in Shatabhisha, the native may have different types of secrets. Such native may have an extramarital affair at a time and he may have a child or children from such extramarital affair. However, neither the lover nor the children of this native may be revealed to the world and they may remain hidden or secret.
Instead of having an extramarital affair, the native may also have more than one wife and family, say two wives and families; depending on his overall horoscope. However, one of the wives or both the wives may not know that the native has another wife and another family. It should be noted that such extreme results may happen only when the overall horoscope is supportive for them and not otherwise.
An empty circle also conveys the idea of a void. This void may be considered as the one which is in the background of all creation and destruction. Stars and planets are created and destroyed within time and space; however the space always remains present in the background. The beginning and end of a planet, a star or even a universe may be predicted. However when it comes to the empty space where all such creation and destruction is taking place, no one knows anything. It means no one knows when the space was created and when it will cease to exist.
The space is a void as well as the biggest secret. Everything happening in it is created and destroyed; though its own creation and destruction is unknown. Through this symbol of empty circle, Shatabhisha tries to connect to the biggest secrets of the universe. It means when occupied by suitable planets and supported by overall horoscopes; Shatabhisha may bless the people under its influence with the ability to understand deepest secrets of universe. It means these people may become highly evolved spiritual souls who may gain access to the deepest secrets of creation and destruction.
An alternate name of Shatataraka is also mentioned for Shatabhisha. The word Shatataraka literally translates into ‘hundred stars’. This name conveys the idea that Shatabhisha may contain hundred stars within it. It means Shatabhisha people may contain many mysteries within them. It also means that Shatabhisha people may have qualities represented by hundred stars.
On a deeper level, it means Shatabhisha people may possess the ability to gain complete access to deepest secrets of universe. This is because counting primarily ends at hundred and everything after that is repetition. We also measure growth or results in percentage where hundred means complete. Hence Shatabhisha people may possess the ability to reach the deepest mysteries of the universe and beyond. As already mentioned, highly evolved spiritual people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may gain access to the deepest secrets of nature.
Vedic astrology assigns Varuna, the god of water as the ruling deity of Shatabhisha. Influence of Varuna relates Shatabhisha to all types of water bodies, especially to the oceans. It is believed that a number of traits of Shatabhisha are similar to those exhibited by an ocean. An ocean is known to hide hundreds of treasures and secrets inside it. Shatabhisha also exhibits traits of holding hundreds of skills and secrets.
Like a circle, an ocean is also limited by its boundaries from all sides. This restricts interaction of the ocean with entities lying outside these boundaries. Looking from a deeper angle; a circle, an ocean and the void or space are complete in themselves and they don’t need anything else to complete them. It means Shatabhisha exhibits the trait of finding such completeness from within, rather than looking for it from outside. Hence people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may find and embrace such completeness; if their overall horoscopes are supportive. All these traits make Shatabhisha an introvert type of nakshatra.
Vedic astrology assigns Rahu as the planetary ruler of Shatabhisha. Rahu is known as a planet of illusions, secrets, mysteries and magical events. Influence of Rahu adds traits like hiding, curing, exploring and dealing with mysteries; to Shatabhisha. All four quarters of Shatabhisha fall in Aquarius, ruled by Saturn. Influences of Saturn and Aquarius add traits like analytical abilities, philosophical approach, patience and perseverance to Shatabhisha. The most prominent trait of Shatabhisha is its desire to deal with secrets and mysteries. Whether it gets lost in them or it is able to solve them; depends on the overall horoscope of the native under consideration.
Though there are other nakshatras which exhibit their love for one type of search or another, Shatabhisha is one of its own kind. For example, people under strong influence of Ardra may have strong tendency to search and explore. However, these people may not go to extreme limits and hence they may not get lost. At the same time, Ardra people may also not be able to reach some of the deepest secrets.
This is because there is always the risk of getting lost, when you push yourself to extreme limits in any domain. Shatabhisha has this tendency to go all the way. In doing so, it may at times reach all the way and it may at times get lost on the way. The trait of aiming for the extremes or looking for the deepest secrets, makes Shatabhisha a difficult to handle energy.
When it comes to combination of planets and nakshatras, planets are able to control nakshatras more than nakshatras are able to control them, in most cases. For example, various planets may utilize the energies of nakshatras like Mrigashira, Rohini, Punarvasu, Pushya and many other nakshatras, the way they want. When it comes to Shatabhisha, the opposite may happen in many cases. Shatabhisha may control and manipulate the energy of most planets among navagraha. It means most planets may get lost on the way, instead of reaching the final destination.
Therefore, most people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may be able to channelize its energy properly; only when there are other strong benefic planetary energies in their horoscopes. It means in most cases, planets placed in Shatabhisha may not be able to reach the deepest secrets, unless they are supported by other strong and benefic planets. In the absence of such planets, people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may face various types of problems, depending on their overall horoscopes.
Taking an example, if a malefic combination of Mars and Rahu forms Angarak Yoga in the fourth house of a horoscope in Shatabhisha; and Sun, Jupiter and Saturn are weak or afflicted; the native may literally go insane. The native under strong influence of such Angarak Yoga formed in Shatabhisha may suffer from serious psychological disorders and he may never recover if the rest of his horoscope is not supportive.
Considering another example, if a malefic combination of Moon, retrograde Mercury, retrograde Saturn and Ketu is placed in the eighth house of a horoscope in Aquarius; and Jupiter, Sun and Mars are weak or afflicted; the native may get murdered. If two or three out of these four planets say Moon and retrograde Mercury are placed in Shatabhisha, the native may get murdered and that too anonymously. It means the murder of this native may become a mystery which may not be solved for a long period of time or forever, depending on his overall horoscope.
In an extreme case of this type when the overall horoscope is non-supportive in a specific way, even the dead body of such native may never be found. Shatabhisha deals with mysteries and the eighth house deals with mysteries as well as death. Hence a strong malefic combination in the eighth house like the aforementioned one, under strong influence of Shatabhisha can make the native die in a mysterious way.
On the other hand, if a benefic combination of Moon and Mars forms Chandra Mangal Yoga in the eighth house of a horoscope in Aquarius, with Mars in Shatabhisha; the results may change. If exalted Sun is placed in the tenth house in Aries, exalted Jupiter forms Hamsa Yoga in the first house in Cancer, exalted Saturn is placed in the fourth house in Libra; and benefic exalted Venus is placed in the ninth house in Pisces, the native may become a government officer. The native may become a successful doctor working with government or he may become an officer in an investigating agency of government; like a revenue officer or a crime investigating officer; depending on his overall horoscope.
Shatabhisha is the master of secrets. People under strong influence of Shatabhisha may achieve success through some hidden knowledge, faith, technique or something else which is not known to many people. Shatabhisha people may be good at guarding secrets of other people along with their own secrets, just like an ocean guards hundreds and thousands of things, hidden deep inside it. Hence these people may be considered trustworthy when it comes to share secrets with them.
Shatabhisha people may know a lot many secrets of a number of people and it may not bother them. It means they may digest such secrets with ease, like the ocean. For this reason, people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may achieve more success in professional spheres where privacy of clients is of utmost importance.
Shatabhisha people are generally fascinated by things which are hidden and mysterious. Hence they may love solving puzzles, enigmas and mysteries. Shatabhisha people are generally suspicious in nature and they may not trust people easily. Hence it may take them long periods of time to trust people. Shatabhisha has a natural tendency to guard and protect its boundaries like an ocean or a circle.
Accordingly, people under strong influence of Shatabhisha may guard themselves against anything that is new and foreign. Due to this trait, Shatabhisha people may take long to get intimate, even with their lovers. These people may not share their innermost feelings with their husbands or wives; even after years of marriages. Shatabhisha people may develop natural resistance to changes. Hence it may not be easy for them to get accustomed to new people, places or circumstances.
Due to these traits, Shatabhisha people may not be considered social. It may take a lot for other people to get inside their circles of trust, due to their highly guarded boundaries. Shatabhisha people may like to stay alone instead of being in company of other people. This trait may help them connect to their inner strengths, when their overall horoscopes are supportive.
However, the same trait may make them suffer from depression and other psychological disorders, when their overall horoscopes are not supportive. Shatabhisha people may be good at learning new languages and hidden or mysterious sciences like astrology. Hence some of them may be seen practicing as astrologers, tantrics, psychics, spiritual gurus and healers of various types.
Shatabhisha exhibits a number of traits. However, different people may embrace different traits, depending on placements of various planets in this nakshatra, as well as on their overall horoscopes. Looking at planets among navagraha; almost no planet on its own may be able to make the best use of energy of Shatabhisha. It means even planets like Saturn, Mercury, Venus and Rahu may feel uncomfortable in this nakshatra, though they are all very comfortable in Aquarius.
The key to perform well in Shatabhisha is held by the overall horoscope of the native under consideration. Provided the overall horoscope is supportive; Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Saturn and Rahu may perform well in Shatabhisha. Sun and Ketu may perform well in Shatabhisha, only under specific conditions. Moon is not comfortable in this nakshatra.
To summarize, Shatabhisha is a difficult to handle energy and almost no planet may handle it on its own. Hence the secret of success for this most secretive nakshatra lies in the fact, whether or not a horoscope is supportive enough to handle it. Placements of malefic planets in Shatabhisha in a horoscope can cause various types of problems for the native, depending on his overall horoscope.
Let’s look at performances of various planets in various navamshas of Shatabhisha. Starting with Sagittarius navamsha; Saturn, Rahu, Venus and Mercury may perform well but not very well here; when supported by overall horoscope. All these planets are strong in Aquarius but they are not strong or weak in Sagittarius. Mars may perform above average in this navamsha, since it is strong in Sagittarius and it has decent strength in Aquarius.
Sun may perform on average here whereas Ketu may perform above average in this navamsha. Sun is weak in Aquarius whereas Ketu has decent strength in this sign. Moon may perform below average here, since it is weak in Aquarius, not strong in Sagittarius and uncomfortable in Shatabhisha. Jupiter may perform above average in this navamsha, since it is strong in Sagittarius and it has decent strength in Aquarius. Among navagraha; Saturn may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Moon may be the weakest.
Looking at Capricorn navamsha; Saturn, Venus, Mercury and Rahu may perform well or very well here; when supported by overall horoscope; since all of them are strong in Aquarius as well as Capricorn. Mars may perform above average here and if supported by overall horoscope; it may perform well in this navamsha.
Sun may perform on average here whereas Moon may perform on average or below average in this navamsha. Moon is weak in Aquarius and it is uncomfortable in Shatabhisha. Ketu may perform on average in this navamsha whereas Jupiter may perform below average here, since it is debilitated in Capricorn. Among navagraha; Saturn may be the strongest and Jupiter may be the weakest in this navamsha.
Moving on to Aquarius navamsha; Saturn, Venus, Rahu and Mercury may perform well or very well here; when supported by overall horoscope. Mars may perform on average here whereas Sun may perform below average in this navamsha; since Sun is weak in Aquarius. Jupiter may perform on average in this navamsha and if supported by overall horoscope, it may do better than that.
Ketu may perform on average in this navamsha and it may perform below average when it is not supported by overall horoscope. Moon may perform poorly here. Within the sign of Aquarius, Moon may deliver its worst performance in this navamsha. Though it is debilitated in Scorpio navamsha of Dhanistha, it is comfortable in Dhanistha whereas it is uncomfortable in Shatabhisha. Hence it may do better in Scorpio navamsha of Dhanishtha; within the sign of Aquarius. Among navagraha; Saturn may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Moon may be the weakest.
Considering Pisces navamsha; Venus and Saturn may do well or very well here whereas Mercury and Rahu may perform above average but not well in this navamsha. Venus is exalted in Pisces whereas Mercury as well as Rahu is debilitated in this sign. Mars may perform on average in this navamsha and if not supported by overall horoscope, it may perform below average here.
Sun may perform below average here whereas Ketu may perform above average in this navamsha. Sun is not strong in Pisces whereas Ketu is exalted in this sign. Moon may perform on average and if supported by overall horoscope; it may perform above average in this navamsha. Jupiter may perform above average in this navamsha; since it is strong in Pisces. Among navagraha; Saturn and Venus may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Sun may be the weakest.
Himanshu Shangari