There are many yogas in astrology. Some are auspicious while others are not. Auspicious Yogas bode well for a person if they are present in the horoscope. Inauspicious Yogas, however, can create all kinds of problems. Kaal Sarp Dosh is an inauspicious Yoga formed by the placement of the malefic planets, Ketu and Rahu. Because Kaal Sarp Dosh is inauspicious, it is called a Dosh, rather than a Yoga. Sacred Hindu texts speak of the importance of karma which is the belief that we reap what we sow. The belief is that those who have killed or hurt an innocent animal or snakes in their past life will incur Kaal Sarp Dosh in their current birth.
Myth behind Kaal Sarp Dosh
Vedic astrology has a mythological tale related to this Dosh. The Gods and demons were fighting each other for the nectar obtained by churning the ocean. At this time, Lord Vishnu appeared as a beautiful woman, Mohini. He wanted to give the nectar to the Gods only. But Swarbhanu, a demon, sensed this and sat with the Gods. As Lord Vishnu was giving nectar to Swarbhanu, the Moon recognized him and told Lord Vishnu. On hearing this, Vishnu cut his head using the Sudharshana Chakra. Swarbhanu’s head became Rahu and his body, Ketu. They became part of the heavenly constellation.
All planets have both forward and retrograde motion. But Rahu and Ketu have only retrograde motion. Both of them are situated in the seventh house from each other. When there are seven other planets between these two, then Kaal Sarp Dosh is formed in the horoscope.
When planets are placed between Rahu and Ketu, it reduces their positivity and strength. Someone who has Kaal Sarp Dosh feels that his/her life is tied up in knots and that despite all their efforts, they cannot escape from the situation. Like the planets caught between Rahu and Ketu, the person feels hemmed in between dire situations and unable to escape. They may see dead people or ancestors in their dreams or feel that they are being strangled. Sometimes they suffer from the fear of high or lonely places. This is a dreadful affliction in every sense and creates unadulterated misery for the native. It has the ability to cancel all good yogas in the horoscope. Most people born under this dosh are not bad people, on the contrary they may be very altruistic types devoted to family and society. Often they are sociable, selfless and generous. Yet, because of this Dosh, they are destined to feel lonely and suffer tribulations in life.
How is Kaal Sarp Dosh Formed?
Rahu and Ketu, in astrology, are malefic planets. Vedic scriptures describe these two planets as two parts of a body which is that of a snake. While Rahu forms the head, Ketu forms the tail. In English, Rahu is called the dragon’s head and Ketu, the dragon’s tail. In Kaal Sarp Dosh, the Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury and Saturn are positioned between Ketu and Rahu during their transit at the time of birth. This Dosh has been defined by renowned Vedic Rishis like Jaimini, Parashari, Varahamihira, Badrayana and Garg in their respective scriptures.
In the event that a planet moves out from between Rahu and Ketu, Kaal Sarp Dosh does not occur in the horoscope. In such a case, one has to see which planet moves out from Rahu-Ketu and whether it has high degrees than Rahu-Ketu. If not, the person will bear the brunt of Kaal Sarp Dosh. When Rahu-Ketu are found in the second, sixth, eighth or eleventh house and all the planets come on one side of the hemisphere, this Dosh will be formed. Some modern astrologers hold that if good planets are positioned on the lower degrees, aspected by malefic planets or debilitated, then the result will be similar to Kaal Sarp Dosh.
Kaal Sarp Dosh Effects
Absence of results despite hard work
Deception from friends and family
Repeated losses in business
Marital problems
Lack of progeny and children not succeeding in any field
Constant health problems
Repeatedly getting injured.
Other people getting credit for work done.
Getting nightmares and seeing snakes in dreams.
Miscarriages
Remedies for Kaal Sarp Dosh
Vedic astrology offers many remedies for this Dosh.
*Offer a special Shradh pooja on Sarvapitru Amavasya day. This calms the malefic effects of this Dosh.
*Perform Maha Mrityunjay Mantra Jaap 108 times daily
*Chant the Panchakshari Mantra
*Water a peepal tree on all Saturdays
*Chant the Beej mantra of Rahu 108 times
*Fast on Naag Panchami
*Chant Kaal Sarp Gayatri mantra
*Offer Rudra Abhishek on Monday
Those who have Kaal Sarp Dosh face many obstacles in life, however, they also become much more mature and able to endure life’s challenges. Some famous personalities who have this Dosh and have come up in life after much struggle are Jawaharlal Nehru, Abraham Lincoln, Dhirubhai Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar, etc.
Those who suffer from Kaal Sarp Dosh can perform pooja at the Trimbakeshwar Mandir near Nasik, Maharashtra, and Mahakal temple, Ujjain.
