The Kaala Sarpa yoga has now become too popular to be ignored by any practicing astrologer and, therefore, calls for some rational analysis. A large number of people, having learned of its existence in their charts, anticipate its existence in their charts, anticipate its negative effects, and are naturally scared of it.

On the issue, experts are divided into groups: those who strictly support the existence of this yoga, and others who deny its very existence. This has resulted in a state of total confusion for the students of astrology who need to be appropriately guided about it. A clear analysis of this issue is thus the need of the hour, without any prejudice and without violating the spirit of the Shastra.

One cannot deny that there are several highly popular and widely applied yogas which are widely applied without sufficient comprehension of the classics. Some of the popular ones are the Mangalika yoga, Paap-Kartari yoga, Neech-Bhanga yoga, Mahapurusha yogas, Gaja Kesari yoga, etc.

FACTS

1. ECLIPSE AND CONJUNCTION WITH TAMOGRAHA

• Sage Parashara states that birth during an eclipse obtains great blemish and weak Kaaraka, conjunct with Rahu or Ketu, loses most of its good effects. For example, when Kaaraka of the fifth house is conjunct with Rahu and the lord of the fifth house is weak, it tends to deny progeny.

ESSENCE

Any planet that is conjunct with a Tamograha suffers loss of its significations. And the deficit is greater when it happens with he Moon, the Sun or the lagna.

2. PAAPA – MADHYA

We know that a house, its lord or the Kaaraka, falling between malefic planets, becomes weak. The loss is greater when a planet or house falls in Paapa – Kartari.

When there is a retrograde malefic in the second from the house/planet and a direct malefic in the twelfth form it, the resulting yoga is called Paapa – Kartari. It is called as Paapa – Madhya only when a house or a planet falls between two malefics which are:

• Both moving direct; or
• Both moving retrograde; or
• A retrograde one in the twelfth and a direct one in the second.

ESSENCE

In Paapa – Madhya, a planet or a house suffers greater damage if the lagna falls in it. One can imagine the situation if all planets fall in Paapa – Madhya. Under such a situation, it is obvious to assume that there would be an overall deficit in the chart.

3. CONCEPT OF CHAKRARDHA

Parashara also provides an important concept, that of Chakrardha. The word Chakrardha primarily stands for half the zodiac, representing six contiguous rashis from Mesha to Kanya. The complete Chakra or the zodiac can be divided in two equal halves. The first half, i.e., Mesha to Kanya, is called ‘Chakra Purvardha and the next, i.e., Tula to Meena, is known as Chakra Parardha.

ESSENCE

Great imbalance in planetary effects accrues if many planets happen to be in a single half of the zodiac or of the chart. The chart should be divided either from Mesha or from a Kendra house only.

4. GANDANTA OR SANDHI FACTORS

ESSENCE

The junctional points of the zodiac, of the day and night, of the rashis 4, 8, 12 with their successive signs (5, 9, 1), and of 5,10,15 Tithis with successive Tithis (6, 11, 1), are highly sensitive.

The most severe effect is expected if any two of the above factors coincide at once.

5. THE SAMYUKTA PAATA

We know that the zodiac is divided into four sectors comprising by two intersecting lines: one from one Sampaata point to the other form one Ayana-point to the other Ayana-point. The Sanskrit word Paata or Sampaata means the point of intersection of two planes or circles.

First point of Aries or Mesha is known as vernal Equinox (VE) or ascending node and the first point of Libra or Tula is known as Autumnal Euinox (AE) or descending node. Both are jointly known as Sampaata or Paata.

We are also aware that these Paata Bindus are the intersection points of the Moon’s plane and the zodiac.

The VE and AE or the first points of Mesha and Tula are also respectively labeled as the ascending and the descending nodes of the sun.

The remaining two points are mere curves and respectively known as summer and winter Solstices.

Hence, Mesha and Tula, being the Paata of the sun and of the Moon (Rahu/ Ketu), are called as Samyukta Paata (shared nodes).

ESSENCE

Like Sandhi factor, the Samyukta Paata is the most sensitive point at birth when Rahu or Ketu, in terms of their celestial position, also joins the same, i.e., Mesha and Tula.

6. RAHU’S MUKHA AND PUCHCHHA

The terms, Rahu Mukha or Rahu’s head and Rahu Puccha or Rahu’s tail are very popular as well as effective in the analysis of a chart. The Shastra states that a planet transiting behind Rahu or close to Ketu loses its benevolence. Let us understand the terms first.

• In the rashi occupied by Rahu, part of the rashi where Rahu is yet to transit, is known as the Rahu Mukha. A planet in Rahu Mukha does not lose its benevolence.
• Degree in Ketu’s longitude is known as Rahu Puchchha or Rahu’s tail. Planet in Rahu Puchchha suffers intensely and loses its benevolence.
• Suppose Rahu is in Meena on the 16th Hence, the part of Meena already traversed by Rahu, i.e., 30:00 to 16:00 degrees, is Rahu Prishtha. The portion of Meena yet to be traversed by Rahu (16:00 to 00:00 degrees) is Rahu Mukha. The 16th (or nearby) degree in Kanya (occupied by Ketu) is Rahu Puchchha.

THE RELEVANT QUOTE IS AS FOLLOWS:

ESSENCE

Planet(s) falling behind Rahu and those associated with Ketu, significantly lose their benevolence.

There is no doubt that commercialization of astrology has lead the inadequately qualified astrologers to treat the subject of astrology in an unbecoming manner.