Makara at a glance
| Hindi name | मकर |
|---|---|
| Lord (swami) | Saturn (शनि) |
| Element | Earth (पृथ्वी) |
| Nature | Chara (movable) |
| Symbol | Sea-creature (makara) (मगर) |
| Zodiac span | 270° – 300° sidereal |
| Western equivalent | Capricorn (tropical signs are about 24° ahead) |
| Deity to worship | Hanuman and Shani Dev |
Name letters for Makara rashi
Babies born with the Moon in Makara are traditionally named starting with one of these syllables. Each belongs to a pada of a nakshatra; your exact letter comes from your birth nakshatra and pada (find it here).
भो Bhoजा Jaजी Jiखी Khiखू Khuखे Kheखो Khoगा Gaगी Gi
Nakshatras in Makara
- Uttara Ashadha उत्तराषाढ़ा (partly)
- Shravana श्रवण
- Dhanishta धनिष्ठा (partly)
Sade Sati for Makara rashi
Makara is not in Sade Sati now. The next one begins 7 Dec 2046; the last one ended 29 Mar 2025. Sade Sati is the roughly seven-and-a-half years when Saturn passes through the rashi before yours, your own rashi, and the one after. Dates below are calculated from Saturn's actual movement (Lahiri ayanamsa), with retrograde re-entries merged.
| Sade Sati | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Past | 1 Jan 1990 | 16 Feb 1996 |
| Past | 26 Jan 2017 | 29 Mar 2025 |
| Next | 7 Dec 2046 | 5 Feb 2055 |
Shani Dhaiya (Kantaka and Ashtama Shani)
The two-and-a-half-year periods when Saturn is 4th or 8th from Makara:
- 4th (Kantaka): 3 Jun 2027 – 17 Apr 2030
- 8th (Ashtama): 27 Aug 2036 – 13 Jul 2039
- 4th (Kantaka): 7 Apr 2057 – 28 May 2059
Sade Sati is not a curse; many people do their most disciplined, lasting work in it. Traditional comfort: recite the Hanuman Chalisa on Saturdays, light a til-oil lamp, and serve those in need. For a personal check from your birth details, use the Sade Sati calculator.
Makara rashi: common questions
What are the name letters for Makara rashi?
The traditional starting letters for Makara (मकर) are Bho (भो), Ja (जा), Ji (जी), Khi (खी), Khu (खू), Khe (खे), Kho (खो), Ga (गा), Gi (गी). Each comes from one pada (quarter) of the nakshatras in this rashi; the exact letter depends on your birth nakshatra and pada.
Is Sade Sati running for Makara rashi?
Makara is not in Sade Sati now. The next one begins 7 Dec 2046; the last one ended 29 Mar 2025.
Who is the lord of Makara rashi?
Saturn (शनि) rules Makara. It is a earth sign of chara nature, symbolised by the sea-creature (makara). Devotees traditionally worship Hanuman and Shani Dev for this rashi, because saturn rules Makara; Hanuman protects from Shani.
Is Makara the same as Capricorn?
They share the same 30-degree segment of the zodiac, but Vedic astrology measures it against the fixed stars (sidereal), about 24 degrees behind the Western (tropical) zodiac. So most people's Vedic rashi, which is based on the Moon, differs from their Western Sun sign. Use our rashi calculator to find your Moon sign.