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Naga Dosha, Sarpa Dosha
Naga Dosha also known as Sarpa Dosha is a malefic yoga. According to its prevalent definition; if one among Rahu or Ketu is placed in the first house and the other one is placed in the seventh house, Naga Dosha is formed in the horoscope. Sarpa Dosha may trouble the native with problems related to health, lifespan, marriage, profession, overall wellbeing, personality, status, reputation, mental health, black magic, other-worldly entities, evil spirits and a number of other problems.
It is believed that if Naga Dosha is formed in a horoscope, the native might have engaged in acts of violence against Sarpas (snakes) in his past life. He might have troubled Nagas, he might have captured and used them for selfish motives or he might have killed Sarpas in his past life. As a result of such karmas; Naga Dosha is said be formed in his horoscope; commonly considered as curse of Nagas/Sarpas or serpent gods.
Sarpa Dosha is formed in every sixth horoscope according to its prevalent definition. There are 12 houses in a horoscope. Hence the probability of Rahu being placed in the first house is 1 in 12 and the probability of Ketu being placed in the first house is also 1 in 12. It means the probability of any one of Rahu or Ketu being placed in the first house is 1 in 6. Hence Naga Dosha is formed in every sixth horoscope, according to its prevalent definition. It should be noted that Rahu and Ketu are always placed at a distance of 180 degrees. It means they are placed in seventh sign (house) with respect to each other. Hence if one of them is placed in the first house of a horoscope; the other one will be placed in the seventh house of such horoscope.
It seems highly unlikely that every sixth native might have troubled Sarpas in his past life. Apart from that, malefic results indicated by Naga Dosha are not seen in practice; as often as the definition suggests. Hence there must be some other condition which should be met in a horoscope, for the formation of Sarpa Dosha in it.
Almost all malefic yogas formed by planets among navagraha are formed when such planets are functionally malefic in horoscopes. Benefic planets don’t form malefic yogas. Hence both Rahu and Ketu must be malefic in a horoscope, for the formation of Naga Dosha in such horoscope. Therefore the modified definition of Naga Dosha is; if one among Rahu or Ketu is placed in the first house, the other one is placed in the seventh house and both of them are malefic, Sarpa Dosha is formed in the horoscope.
Naga Dosha may trouble the native with problems related to health, lifespan, profession, marriage, addictions, vices, psychological problems, black magic, other-worldly entities, evil spirits and a number of other problems; depending on his overall horoscope. Some of these natives may get married late or very late whereas some others may not get married throughout their lives. Some other natives may witness serious problems in marriages and they may face one or two broken marriages.
Naga Dosha may also trouble the natives under its influence with various types of problems related to health. Some of these natives may get addicted to drugs whereas some others may suffer from psychological disorders. Sarpa Dosha may have adverse effect on professions of natives under its influence. Hence such natives may face delays, setbacks, failures, financial losses, job loss, bad reputation, discontinuation of profession and a number of other problems related to their professions.
Once the formation of Naga Dosha is confirmed in a horoscope, the next factor to check is the strength of this defect. The strength of Sarpa Dosha is calculated through the placements of Rahu and Ketu in various signs, nakshatras and navamshas; as well as through the influences of other benefic and malefic planets on Rahu and Ketu. The overall theme of horoscope and running times (Mahadashas) also affect the strength of Naga Dosha.
Looking at signs; when malefic Rahu is placed in Taurus or Virgo and malefic Ketu is placed in Scorpio or Pisces; Sarpa Dosha may be very strong. Rahu is exalted in Taurus as well as Virgo; and Ketu is exalted in Scorpio as well as Pisces. Hence such Naga Dosha may create very serious problems. On the other hand, when malefic Rahu is placed in Scorpio or Pisces and malefic Ketu is placed in Taurus or Virgo; Sarpa Dosha may be weak. Rahu is debilitated in Scorpio as well as Pisces; and Ketu is debilitated in Taurus as well as Virgo. Hence such Naga Dosha may not create very serious or even serious problems. Likewise, the strength of Sarpa Dosha may vary, depending on strength of Rahu and Ketu in various signs, nakshatras and navamshas.
Moving on to the next factor; if Rahu and/or Ketu are influenced by benefic planets due to conjunction; malefic effects of Naga Dosha may reduce. On the other hand, if Rahu and/or Ketu are influenced by malefic planets due to conjunction; malefic effects of Naga Dosha may intensify.
Looking at the next factor; if the overall horoscope having Sarpa Dosha is strong and benefic; such Dosha may not cause serious problems. On the other hand, if the overall horoscope is weak and/or malefic; Naga Dosha may cause more damage.
Looking at the running times, when Mahadashas (planetary periods) of benefic planets are in effect; the problems posed by Naga Dosha may reduce. On the other hand, Mahadashas of malefic planets other than Rahu and Ketu may increase the quantum of problems. When Mahadashas of Rahu and Ketu are in effect, Sarpa Dosha may cause maximum possible damage.
Himanshu Shangari