Kal-Sarpa Yoga/ Dosha

Kal-sarpa Yoga or Kal-sarpa Dosha is formed when all the planets are between Rahu and Ketu axis in a chart. This is among the most fearsome dosha in astrology similar to Sade-sati and people are scared just by hearing the name of this yoga. 'Kaal' means death and Sarpa means snake and the name itself is good enough to scare people. It is said that the person born under Kaal Sarp Yog passes through death like agonies throughout the life.

I also share the astrologer K.N.Rao's view that the Kal-Sarpa Dosha is one of the biggest frauds in astrology. First of all nobody knows from where this kal-sarpa yoga has originated. No reference can be found in any of the classical texts like Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra, Brihat Jatak, Saravali etc. Secondly and most importantly, I always mentioned that the birth chart should be analysed in totality. Every horoscope has hundreds of good and bad yogas and all these yogas should be synthesized before drawing any conclusion. A single Rajyoga can not make anybody king, similarly a kal-sarpa yoga alone can not create death like situation.

Here is what Dr. B.V. Raman, the most respected Vedic astrologer of the last century, has to say about Kala-sarpa yoga:

"Kala-sarpa Yoga has its bright shades. It [is said to] makes one industrious, hardworking, aware of one's own ability- despite mental restlessness. It raises the natives to top positions in their respective fields provided of course other Raja Yogas are present. Rahu-Ketu axis favors rise in mundane life while Ketu-Rahu axis indicates elevation in spiritual matters. It is also found that Kala-sarpa Yoga natives get betrayed by trusted friends and even relatives. Suffering due to developments in life strengthens the mind and mellows one's outlook. This is a blessing of Kala-sarpa Yoga."

"It occurs to me that undue importance need not be given to Kala-sarpa Yoga. The view held by some astrologers that Kala-sarpa Yoga affects longevity and adversely affects the operation of other yogas favoring a rise in life, achievement, and accomplishment is not tenable. The overall assessment of the horoscope is important. No single yoga, including Kala-sarpa Yoga, is capable of marring or making a horoscope. In our view, Kala-sarpa Yoga plays an important role in mundane astrology [assessment of world events] and is not of much importance in individual charts."

It is what eminent astrologer K.N. Rao has to say about Kal Sarpa Yoga -

Here the astrologer, ever ready with a remedy, is in demand. This astrologer must first create fright in the minds of his clients and it is done most easily by pointing out Kala-sarpa Yoga or even half Kala-sarpa Yoga. Here he promises to perform a yagna at a cost of some thousands of rupees for shantis. This is the prerogative of the Brahmins.

So Kala-sarpa Yoga is a big and newly discovered source of income of Brahmins which is pitiable. Brahmins were meant to be the beacon lights of dharma and spirituality if they themselves reached higher stage of sadhana. But so many of them have become KAAL SARPA YOGIS .

I am sure that all astrology scholoers will agree to Shri K.N.Rao. Just to conclude, I would say that there is dispute about the existence of Kal-sarpa yoga. For the sake of argument if we accpet that there is somethign called "Kal-sarpa Dosha" exists, still there is no need to fear about it as all good and bad yogas should be combined to give any predictions.

Remedies for Kal-sarpa Yoga:

As you can clearly make out from the above that there is no remedy required for Kal-sarpa yoga. The birth chart should be analyzed with all good and bad yoga, balas, aspects, placements etc. and then only any remedy should be prescibed. If an astrologer finds any planet malefic, appropriate remedy for that planet(s) should be performed. There is no need to go to Traymbkeshwar, Nasik or Ujjain to perform the remedy and spend thousands of rupees. Astrologers use Traymbkeshwar, Nasik or Ujjain just to make you spend the maximum amount of money possible and also to justify the fear factor of Kal-sarpa Yoga.

Further Readings and References:

• The Mystery of Kal Sarpa Yoga “unveiled”
• KN Rao on Kal-Sarpa Yoga

Shani Sade-Sati

There are total 12 signs. Sade Sati is a relative position of your sign where Moon is posited in your birth chart (Moon Sign or Rashi) and the current position of Saturn (Shani). The currently planetary position is called Transit position or Gochar position in astrological terminology. When Saturn is transiting through the 12th, 1st, and 2nd house from the natal (birth) moon, this is termed as Sade-sati. Sate-sati starts when Saturn (Shani) enters the 12th sign from the birth Moon and ends when Saturn leaves 2nd sign from the birth Moon. "Sade-sati" literally means 7 ½ i.e. 'seven and a half'. Saturn stays 2 ½ years on an average in a sign. So, in three signs combined, Saturn stays for 7 ½ and hence it is called sade-sati.

Similarly, when Saturn passes through the 4th house from the birth moon, it is supposed to give negative results. This position of Saturn is called Ardha Sade-sati (Half-Sade-sati) or Dhaiya, Panoti, or Adhayia. Some people consider the transit of Saturn from the 5th house of the natal moon as negative because it affects the quality of one’s judgment. When Saturn passes through the 8th house from the natal moon, it is called Astham Sani (8th Saturn). This 8th house transit is considered equally negative like the Sade-sati transit.

Sade-sati is very much hyped by Vedic astrologers and this period of seven and a half year is said to be very inauspicious. According to some, this is a period with many challenges, some unforgettable. People passing through the period of sade-sati, people may encounter road accidents, fractures, sudden falls from high positions, acute shortage of money, serious health problems and so on. Person passing through sade-sati is prescribed various remedies and parihars like mantra, japa, donation, and havan etc.

There are total 12 signs and as Saturn takes 2 ½ years to pass one sign, Saturn takes total 30 years for pass through all the 12 signs. Out of each 30 years, 7 ½ year are taken by sade-sati. If we include Dhaiya also, out of 30 years 12 ½ years are affected by Sade-sati and Dhaiya. If we also include 5th house and 8th house, we can add another 5 years which means out of each 30 years 17 ½ years are considered inauspicious due to Saturn transit.

There are two reasons for the existence of sade-sati. First, astrologers need some ways by which they can scare people and make money. By associating Sade-sati with Saturn, it is easy to scare poor people and make money in by suggesting gemstones and performing remedies for them. Sade-sati, like Kalsarpa dosha, is a good way for astrologers and pundits to make money. Secondly, astrologers who don’t understand astrology need some ways to explain bad events astrologically. As we have seen above, out of every 30 years, 17 ½ years are classified problematic by astrologers so they can easily blame Saturn for any problem in life. This is nothing but sheer lack of astrological knowledge.

In astrology, the birth chart (Janam kundli) should be studied in totality and an astrologer need to see various points like planet’s rashi position, Nakshatra position, position in various divisional charts, bala, aspects, various dasas etc. before concluding anything. The astrologers who don’t have knowledge of analyzing birth chart in totality depend upon concept like sade-sati and kalsarpa dosha for explaining all negative events.

How to Calculate Sade-Sati?
You need to know your moon sign to knowing your sade sati period. If you don't already know your moon sign, you can use http://www.astrosage.com/ for knowing it. Once you know your Moon sign, go again to astrosage.com and cast the chart for today (by entering today's date and time) and check the sign where Saturn is posited. If the present sign of Saturn is equal to the sign of Moon, previous sign of Moon or next sign of Moon, it means you are passing though the sade sati. For example your Moon sign is Virgo (sign number 6), then if Saturn is in sign number 5 (Leo), 6 (Virgo) or 7 (Libra), you are passing though Sade-sati period.

Remedies for Sade-Sati
OK, what should be the remedies for Sade-Sati? According to me, there is no remedy require for Sade Sati. As mentioned above, Sade-sati is nothing but either a money making tool for an astrologer or result of astrologer's lack of knowledge. There are thousands of examples where a person got fame, fortune and finance during the period of Sade-sati. Indira Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Bill Clinton are much quoted such examples. The objective of this post to make my readers understand sade sati and understand that there is nothing to fear about. If you are facing any problem in life, the birth chart should be analyzed in totality and the remedies should be performed accordingly. Please, please, please don’t get influenced by fraud astrologers and disturb your mental peace & waste your money.

Related Posts:
1. Shani Sade Sati in Year 2008
2. Moon Sign calculator