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The detailed version of this article is featured in the book ‘Pitra Dosh – Ancestors are Calling (Revised Edition 2020).
Pitra Dosh in Fourth House
The fourth house of horoscope represents mother, home, family, community, nation, traditions, beliefs, security, education, properties, vehicles, mental health, emotional wellbeing, peace of mind and many other things.
Let’s consider various formations of Pitra Dosh in the fourth house and see what may happen in each case. As we know, there are three categories of Pitra Dosh on the basis of its formation. The first one is formed due to affliction to Sun, the second one is formed due to affliction to the ninth house and the third one is formed due to affliction to the lord of the ninth house. Let’s discuss the first and third category of Pitra Dosh formed in the fourth house. Since Pitra Dosh due to affliction to the ninth house may not form in the fourth house; this category can’t be discussed here.
Let’s start with Pitra Dosh formed due to affliction to Sun by a malefic planet. Suppose benefic Sun and malefic retrograde Mercury form Pitra Dosh in the fourth house of a horoscope in Aquarius. Scorpio rises in the ascendant in this case. Mercury is stronger than Sun in Aquarius. Hence such Pitra Dosh is likely to be strong or very strong; depending the placements of Sun and Mercury in various nakshatras and navamshas.
Such Pitra Dosh may create problems related to father, mother, children, mental health, education, properties, vehicles, immunity, courage, confidence, health, lifespan, profession, spiritual growth, mysterious events, unfortunate events, accidents and losses of various types; among other things.
The type and quantum of such problems depend on the strength of such Pitra Dosh, on the overall horoscope as well as on the running times. The strength of such Pitra Dosh depends on the placements of Sun and Mercury in various nakshatras and navamshas within the sign of Aquarius. Apart from this, influences of other benefic and malefic planets and the running times also affect the strength of this defect.
Let’s consider the influences of benefic and malefic planets on such Pitra Dosh formed by Sun and Mercury. Taking an example, suppose malefic Rahu is placed in the fourth house with Sun and Mercury and malefic Ketu is placed in the tenth house in Leo. Rahu also forms Pitra Dosh by afflicting Sun in this case. The native under the malefic influence of this combination may face serious problems related to his mother, profession, overall wellbeing, immunity, physical health, mental health, education, family, properties, vehicles and a number of other problems; depending on his overall horoscope.
Among the spheres attacked by this malefic combination; whichever spheres are influenced by benefic planets; they may face less damage. Whichever spheres are influenced neither by benefic nor by malefic planets; they may receive significant damage. The spheres which are troubled by other malefic planets also; may receive the maximum amount of damage due to such troublesome combination. Let’s consider the sphere of health and especially mental health.
Rahu rules mysteries, illusions, fears and phobias among other things. The fourth house deals with mental health among other things. The eighth house deals with phenomena which may be far beyond the reach of human brain and intellect. This house deals with mysteries, the occult and the paranormal among other things. Hence a malefic combination of all these energies in the fourth house may seriously disturb the mental health of this native. As a result, the native may suffer from various types of psychological disorders; depending on his overall horoscope.
When it comes to relief; much depends on Moon and Saturn. Moon represents emotional wellbeing in general and Saturn represents the fourth house in this case. Therefore, if Moon and Saturn are strong and clean in this horoscope, the native may not face serious or significant problems related to his mental health; though he may still face problems. On the other hand, if Moon and Saturn are weak, afflicted or troubled in this horoscope; the native may suffer from serious psychological problems.
Let’s see if a horoscope is capable of managing such malefic combination in the fourth house in Aquarius. Suppose this combination is placed in the fourth house in Aquarius and benefic Moon is placed in the second house in Sagittarius. Benefic Saturn is placed in the seventh house in Taurus in Rohini nakshatra and Venus is placed in the sixth house in Aries in Ashwini nakshatra. Exalted Mars is placed in the third house in Capricorn in Shravana nakshatra and benefic Jupiter is placed in the fifth house in Pisces in Uttarabhadrapada nakshatra.
In this case, the horoscope becomes much more balanced. Hence the native may not face serious or significant psychological disorders and he may do fine. Due to the combined effect of intense as well as troubled combination in the fourth house and the benefic planets in various houses of his horoscope; the native may become an astrologer, doctor, scientist, spiritual guru, tantric or some other likewise professional. If the native becomes a doctor; he is very likely to be a psychiatrist. It means instead of suffering from psychological disorders; he may now be able to help other people manage such disorders or get rid of them.
Since the combination in the fourth house also deals with mysteries, the occult and the paranormal; the native may also succeed as an astrologer, tantric, psychic or a spiritual guru. Once again, the overall theme of horoscope is the most important factor in it and it can change anything.
Let’s discuss Pitra Dosh formed in the fourth house due to affliction to the lord of the ninth house by one or more than one malefic planet. Suppose a malefic combination of Jupiter and Rahu forms Pitra Dosh in the fourth house of a horoscope in Libra and malefic Ketu is placed in the tenth house in Aries. Jupiter rules the ninth as well as the sixth house in this case. Hence Jupiter also becomes partly malefic.
When Pitra Dosh is formed by Jupiter and Rahu in the fourth house of a horoscope in Libra; both these planets may afflict each other. It should be noted that according to a set of beliefs, the lord of the ninth house is always benefic in a horoscope; regardless of which other house it may rule in such horoscope. In reality, this theory doesn’t hold well. In general, the lords of the first, fifth and ninth house have strong tendencies to be benefic. However, they may also be partly malefic or more than partly malefic; depending on the overall theme of a horoscope in question.
In general, Jupiter works as partly benefic and partly malefic planet for Cancer ascendant. The percentages of benefic and malefic parts of Jupiter may increase or decrease; depending on its placements in various houses, signs, nakshatras and navamshas; as well as on the influences of benefic and malefic planets on Jupiter; and on the overall theme of the horoscope. In the present case, Jupiter may be 30 to 50% malefic; depending on relevant factors. This percentage may increase or decrease depending on what other changes may happen in this horoscope.
Hence when Jupiter and Rahu form Pitra Dosh in the fourth house of a horoscope in Libra, they may both afflict each other. Much depends on functional nature of Jupiter which further depends on the overall horoscope in this case. Such Pitra Dosh may cause problems related to mother, education, mental health, properties, vehicles, father, religion, spiritual growth, luck factor, overall wellbeing and many other types of problems. The quantum of these problems depends on the strength of such Pitra Dosh and the strength of this defect depends on the placements of Jupiter and Rahu in various nakshatras as well as navamshas within the sign of Libra. Apart from this, the influences of benefic and malefic planets on Jupiter and Rahu; and the running times may also affect the strength of such Pitra Dosh.
Here again, whichever of these spheres are protected by benefic planets; they may suffer less. Whichever spheres are neither protected nor troubled; they may suffer significantly. The spheres which are troubled by other malefic planets also, may suffer the most. Let’s take an example and consider the sphere of overall health versus addictions of various types which may be created by such Pitra Dosh.
If Saturn, Sun and Mars are strong as well as clean in this horoscope; the native may not fall victim to serious addictions. Hence he may not face serious health issues induced by such addictions like drug addiction. For example, if benefic Mars is placed in the second house in Leo in Magha nakshatra, Sun is placed in the fifth house in Scorpio in Jyeshtha nakshatra and Saturn is placed in the seventh house in Capricorn, the native may not face serious problems related to addictions.
On the other hand, if these planets are weak or troubled; the native may suffer from various types of addictions which may cause various types of health issues; among other problems. For example, if a malefic combination of Sun and Mercury is placed in the twelfth house in Gemini; a combination of Venus and retrograde Saturn is placed in the first house in Cancer and Mars is placed in the eighth house in Aquarius; the native may suffer a lot. In this case, the native may get addicted to harmful drugs and he may face health issues, financial losses, reputation loss, family problems and other issues due to such addictions.
If Moon is not strong and well placed in this horoscope; such native may die due to drug overdose. Taking an example, if Moon is placed in the ninth house of this horoscope in Pisces in Uttarabhadrapada nakshatra; the native may not face fatal problems due to drug addiction.
In the same way, the malefic impact of such Pitra Dosh may be assessed on other spheres of native’s life; by looking into the planets and houses which represent such spheres. If the other factors are favourable for a particular sphere, such spheres may not suffer much. On the other hand, if such factors are also troublesome; the native may face serious problems related to that sphere.
When it comes to the running times; the results given by the planetary period of Jupiter depend on the overall theme of one such horoscope. When the planetary periods of benefic planets are in effect; the problems posed by such Pitra Dosh may reduce. On the other hand, the planetary periods of malefic planets other than Rahu may increase the quantum of such problems. When Rahu period is in effect, such Pitra Dosh may cause maximum possible damage.
Himanshu Shangari