I have been asked to write about this most feared topic and my research has led me to putdown these for the benefit of astrologer community.
You will be surprised to know that the ancient classics of astrology have not even mentioned it! Yet it has become one of the most feared doshas, because Kala means death and Sarpa means snake. When all planets are to one side of Rahu and Ketu Kalasarpa Dosha is supposed to be caused. This is considered a very bad yoga which gives rise to misfortunes and is supposed to be a major obstruction to one’s progress. This Dosha is said to be severe when all planets are within the arc from Rahu to Ketu in their natural motion direction.
However let me explain this in detail so that students are clear in usage of these terminology
Sarpa Dosha
Great astrologers like Maharshi Parashara and Varaha Mihira have mentioned ‘Sarpa Yoga‘ in their books. So also Kalyana Varma and Nandi Granthas have mentioned this Yoga.
Sarpa Dosha in a Chart is to be identified as follows:
- If Rahu is placed in 8th house from Sun it is termed as Sarpa Dosha.
- If Rahu or Ketu is placed in 8th house from Moon it is termed as Sarpa Dosha
- If Rahu is in 6, 7 and 8th house from Lagna it is termed as Sarpa Dosha.
- From Lagna of either Rahu or Ketu is placed in Trikona it is Sarpa Dosha.
Further Prasna Marga gives some tips on how to identify the Sarpa Dosha in the horoscope and how to get rid of it.
According to Prashna Marga, Sarpa Dosha is classified as follows:
- Utthama meaning the Dosha caused by Superior serpents (Good ones)
- Adhama those caused by Inferior serpents (bad ones)
They are identified as follows:
- If in a horoscope, Jupiter becomes the lord of Dusthanas namely 6 or 8 or 12 and occupies one of them and if it happens to be Kendra (1, 4, 7 or 10) to Rahu, then it must be inferred that there is a curse of Superior serpents.
- If such a Jupiter is in Kendra to Gulika, then it is inferred that there is a curse of Inferior serpents.
- If Rahu occupies 6 or 8 or 12th house and gets connected to the Sun, then the trouble is from Superior serpents.
- If such a Rahu is associated with Moon, then the trouble is from Inferior serpents.
- If Rahu occupies a movable sign, the curse is due to the wanton destruction of serpent’s eggs.
- If Rahu occupies a common sign, the curse is due to the killing of small serpents.
- If Rahu occupies a fixed sign, the curse is due to the felling of trees near the habitat of snakes.
- If Rahu conjoins Mandi or if Rahu is in the 5th, 7th or 9th from Mandi, then also Sarpa Dosha must be inferred.
- If Mars occupies a Kendra of Rahu, the curse is due to the destruction of trees or removing earth or killing serpents or leveling their habitat or setting fire to the trees near their habitat or ignoring to replant fresh trees or breaking the favorite anthills of serpents
What is Kalasarpa yoga?
If all the seven planets including Lagna are placed in between Rahu and Ketu then it is called as Kalasarpa Yoga.
What is Kala Amrita yoga?
If all the seven planets including Lagna are placed in between Ketu and Rahu then it is called as Kala Amrita Yoga. Not much detail about this Yoga is given in any of the famous Classical texts. It seems this Yoga has been inserted in the medieval period by some Jyothishi experts.
Jyothishi 