Kaal Sarpa Dosh

                                       Does it really make  sense …or …. It is A Tool, To Fool….!

TRIVIA

1.         When  in a birth-chart, All other seven Planets are placed in between Rahu & Ketu, it is stated to be the presence of ‘Kaal-sarpa yog’ in the horoscope.

2.         It has been stated in some recent texts that the effect of Kaal-Sarpa yog, a dangerously malefic yoga, remains till the age of 47 years and sometimes throughout life; and, a person having this yog faces problems of instability in his life, defamation, problems in progeny, mental disturbances. It has also been stated in some texts that a person affected by ‘Kaal-Sarpa Yog’ will see Pythons and Snakes in his dreams(!).

3.         In some other texts, a diagonally opposite view has been projected about the effects of Kaal-Sarpa yog stating that the presence of ‘Kaal-Sarpa Yog’ makes the native very courageous and practical; and, ‘Kaal-sarpa yog’ makes their personality very impressive !

4.         It may thus be seen that even within the fraternity, there are internally conflicting statements about the effects of this Kaal Sarpa Yog.

Formation of KSD

5.         To know the formation of so-called ‘Kaal-Sarpa Yog’, we need to understand the Ascending and Descending Nodes of Moon, known as Rahu and Ketu which are Causative-Forces for formation of this yog. Let us first understand what Rahu and Ketu are:

a)      Sun, apparently, moves around the Earth. The path of this apparent movement of Sun is called Ravi Kranti Marg (Vrit).

b)      We also know that Moon revolves around the Earth.

c)       The Ravi Kranti Vrit and the path of Moon’s revolution around the Earth are not parallel. These two paths intersect each other.

d)       In the process of its revolution, Moon crosses Ravi Kranti Vrit from the below and goes upward (ascends); and, on next occasion, Moon crosses Ravi Kranti Vrit from the above and goes downward (descends).

e)      These Ascending node and Descending node are called Rahu & Ketu respectively.

f)        These are two points-of-reference only and these have no physical body, no mass whatsoever.

g)      Hence, Rahu & Ketu are not natural planets nor any shadowy planets. These are only reference-points which come into existence because of intersection of Ravi-Kranti-Vrit while Moon’s revolution around the Earth.

h)      The following picture will further clarify the phenomenon of Rahu & Ketu:

6.         In a horoscope, what we see is a two-dimensional picture of Planet-position which may give an impression that other Planets are situated in between Rahu & Ketu; whereas in actual Sky there are more than two dimensions. Each Planet has its own revolution-path around Sun which is neither uniform nor parallel to Celestial–Equator and has its own varying Altitude and Azimuth.

Similar nodes created by other Inner Planets

7.         When we observe closely, we come to know that the same phenomenon leading to creation of similar Ascending Node and Descending Node across Surya-Kranti-Vrit is created by other inner Planets as also !

8.         Apart from Moon, the transit or passage of a Planet across the Surya-Kranti-Vrit takes place in respect of the inner planets Mercury and Venus as well. On an average, there are 13 such intersections/transits of Mercury each century. In comparison, intersection/transits of Venus usually occur in pairs with eight years separating the two events.

9.         The following is a picture of Venus transiting Surya-Kranti-Vrit.

[Photograph of the Transit of Venus on 1882 Dec 06]

10.       There have also been instances when four Planets were lined up. One such case occurrence took place on March 21, 1894 at around 23:00 UTC, when Mercury transited the Surya-Kranti-Vrit as seen from Venus, and Mercury and Venus both simultaneously transited the Vrit as seen from outer Planets.

11.       It may thus be seen that it is not only Moon which causes Ascending Node and Descending Node by intersecting Surya-Kranti-Vrit but this Vrit (circular-path) is also intersected by Mercury and Venus as well.  No significance is given to the Ascending and Descending Nodes caused by intersection of Vrit by Venus and Mercury, by the Astrologers. Probably, it is lack of awareness of this astronomical fact and its astrological effects.

The  Horrific Title

12.       The thing which catches attention is the name [Kaal-Sarpa] given to this phenomenon. One meaning of the word Kaal is time and an other meaning of this word is deity-of-death; and the word Sarpa means snake. When these two words are combined, (KaalSarpa : Snake combined with deity-of-death),  it creates a terrifying psyche in the mind of the native and leaves an impression, as if,  the native had committed a grave-sin in his last birth which has led to the presence of Kal-Sarpa-Yog in his/her horoscope in this birth!

13.       This  fearful title seems to have been purposely given, probably, to create and to exploit the fear-psyche of the clients.  

Definition of a Yog

14.       As per classical understanding, a yog is a set of specific permutations & combinations of the specific Planets forming a yog, with respect to their specific placement, conjunction, exchange and their aspects, mutual or otherwise.

15.       It does not seem to be logical by any stretch of imagination, to create (!)  a yog (specifically Kaal-sarpa yog) which is neither based on placement nor conjunction nor exchange nor aspects of the specific Planets [i.e. Nodes], but Planets’ just  being hemmed/locked between two reference-points (non-planets) !

16.       Therefore, the so-called Kaal-Sarpa Yog does not withstand this scrutiny of standard-classical understanding of an astrological yog.

The Silver Lining

17.       I would like to add here a small story which goes like this:

i)        Once, a Sculptor carved out a very beautiful and a lively sculpture.

j)        The King made a visit to the place and came across that sculpture.

k)       Impressed by the beauty and liveliness thereof, the King praised the Sculptor and said, “You have made a lively sculpture out of a dead stone”.

l)        The sculptor said, “I did not make anything, Sir. This beautiful and lively picture was already there in the stone. I merely removed the excess of the stone and this beautiful sculpture appeared.”

18.       This story reminds me of the same which has happened to Astrology, particularly in some parts of India in recent past. This  excess-of-the-stone needs be removed so that the true and scientific picture of Astrology is put forth in the Society.

19.       With the passage of time, Astrology has acquired a few non-rational concepts [excess of the stone -  like Kaal-Sarpa Yog]  which are not a part of the classical texts on Astrology. In some other cases which were just given little importance or which could find only a mention in the classical texts, their so-called negative effect has been unnecessarily exaggerated which has spoilt the image of the science of Astrology and created panic-psyche in the name of Astrology.

20.       In view of this back-drop, it may thus be seen that there is no reason to create panic-psyche among the clients in the name of Kaal-Sarpa Dosh (KSD). This yog/dosh does not find even a  mention in original-classical texts of Astrology. This combination has been found to be present in the horoscopes of many highly successful and famous personalities like Pandit Nehru ji, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhirubhai Ambani, Margaret Thatcher and many more.

21.       This combination does NOT have ANY impact, negative or otherwise, on other Planets in any manner whatsoever. Every Planet is to be examined individually with reference to its placement in Degrees, Nakshatra, conjunction, exchange, aspects; and,  divisional charts, dasha pattern, transits etc are also to be examined in a scientific manner for purposeful assessment of a horoscope.

22.       I hope this clears the doubts and contributes in removing the un-necessary fears  prevalent in the name of Kaal-Sarpa Dosh.

23.       Some so-called astrologers use this combination to exploit the fear psyche of the clients, as a tool to fool.

24.       As per my opinion, the presence of this combination in a horoscope does NOT  require ANY pooja nor any remedy, whatsoever.

25.   Rahu and Ketu HAVE their own importance in Indian classical astrology; but, that is in their individual placement/conjunction/aspects and not in the form of KSD.