Panchmahabhootas (Five Elements) in Vastu Shastra

Pitru Dosha or Pitra Dosh is a common yet a highly malefic Dosha. Pitru means ‘forefathers or ancestors’ and Dosha mean ‘defect or problem’. The Dosha is caused due to unsatisfied departed souls of one’s forefathers. As per scriptures many a times when a person dies an unnatural or untimely death like in an accident or he dies with an unfulfilled desire or doesn’t receive proper list rites and ritual of antyeshti and shraddh or due to negative karma done in their lifetimes, the onward journey of such souls is troubled which causes miseries to both the departed and the family left behind. For any individual the reason for Pitru Dosh in Kundli is karmic debt and imbalance also known as Pitru rin or ancestral debt which needs to be settled. It is often exhibited in the Kundli by specific planetary combinations commonly involving the Sun, Moon, Rahu, Ketu or the ninth house (house of ancestors). Pitru Dosh is said to manifest as obstacles in career, marriage delays, financial issues, health problems, mental stress and recurring family problems. It is regarded as one of the top three most malefic dosha that can occur in the natal birth of an individual.

Effects of Pitra Dosh in Kundli

Depending upon conjunction and placement of various planets causing the Pitra Dosh in Kundli, the impact and severity of the malefic effects can vary for a native. A learned and knowledgeable astrologer can analyze the birth chart and provide more insights about the nature of the dosha in the native’s kundli. Pitra Dosh is a malefic dosha that can cause mental, physical and emotional sufferings. Malefic effects of the Pitra Dosh in Kundli can manifest in various aspects of life, often creating persistent obstacles, delays and hurdles. Natives with this dosh may experience repeated financial losses, mental stress, career stagnation, or obstacles in business despite hard work. It can cause delays in marriage, disharmony in relationships, or issues in conceiving children. Health problems especially recurring or hereditary ailments may also be seen in the family. In some cases, disputes over ancestral property or lack of unity among family members arise.

Types and Signs of Pitra Dosh

Sometimes various Pitru Dosh formed in various kundlis are classified as per their karmic and astrological reasons, they are generally classified into the following main types:

Karmic Pitru Dosh – Caused by negative karma and wrong deeds or sins committed by one’s ancestors.

Astrological Pitru Dosh – Forms due to specific planetary combinations especially in the ninth house (house of ancestors)

Shraddha/Tarpan Neglect Pitru Dosh – Occurs when proper ancestral rites, Shraddha, or Tarpan have not been performed

Unnatural Death Pitru Dosh – Caused when an ancestor suffered a violent or untimely death.

Matrutru Dosh – Pitru Dosh but linked to the maternal lineage

Also, there are some tell-tale signs that reveal that an individual may be suffering from Pitru Dosha. If one finds below issues and problems with self or with someone in family, then they should get their natal chart analyzed for Pitru Dosha.

Constant obstacles and hurdles in both personal and professional life
Delay in marriage or issues in conceiving a child
Financial problems such as debt and constant financial issues
Recurring health issues, diseases and ailments in family
Constant stress and conflicts in family without any major reason
Issues in career, education, growth and success
Recurring dreams of snakes or that of deceased family members

Planetary Positions that form the Pitra Dosh

When analyzing the horoscope for Pitra Dosh, a Vedic Astrologer will look for below mentioned planetary positions in the natal chart to determine Pitru Dosha.

1. Pitru Dosh forms in a kundli when the ninth house or its ruling planet comes under conjunction or opposition with Rahu or Ketu in a birth chart.

2. It may also be indicated when the Sun, Jupiter, Rahu, and Ketu are positioned in such a way that they conjoin or directly oppose each other in the horoscope.

3. Pitru dosh can manifest if Rahu is placed in the ascendant while the ascendant’s ruling planet resides in the sixth, eighth, or twelfth house.

4. When the ruler of the sixth, eighth, or twelfth house aligns with or opposes the planets involved in forming Pitru Dosh.

Pitra Dosh Remedies

Below are some popular remedies recommended to mitigate malefic effects of the Pitru Dosha:

Pitru Dosh Nivaran Puja
Pitru Dosh Nivaran Puja is recommended as the most potent way to nullify the malefic effects of the Pitru Dosh. The Puja can be conducted at home or in a temple. During the Puja Pitra Dosh Nivaran Mantra Jaap is done, along with rituals such as pind daan and tarpan.

Shraddh Puja during Pitru Paksha
Pitru Paksha is a 15 days period dedicated to venerating one’s ancestors. Shraddh Puja done during this period complete with pind daan and tarpan helps remove the Pitra Dosh.

Donation and Brahmin Bhoj
Charity or donation to the poor and needy, also brahmin bhoj meaning feeding of Brahmins ensure their blessings and removal of the malefic effects of the Dosha. Feeding of cows is also recommended.

Wearing of Appropriate Gemstone and Rudraksha
Wearing to appropriate gemstone or Rudraksha bead to strength position of certain planets can also help reduce the malefic impact of Pitra Dosh. However, one should first consult a knowledgeable astrologer before wearing the gemstone or rudraksha to know the correct methodology of using the same.

Arishadvarga, in Sanatan philosophy are regarded as six enemies of a person. Arishadvargas, also known as Shadripu are six negative traits or characteristics that a person must overcome in his life in order to attain both material and spiritual growth and progress. These six enemies of the mind detailed in scriptures are kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), mada (arrogance) and matsarya (jealousy). Each one of the six Arishadvarga has the capacity to pull and keep a person down. On the other hand, an individual who overcomes the Arishadvargas harnesses both spiritual and material growth. As per ancient Vedic sages (Rishis), only a person who has overcome the Arishadvargas may be referred to as wise and knowledgeable.

It is stated in scriptures that one cannot be regarded as wise, mature or knowledgeable unless he has overcome the six internal adversaries, regardless of how powerful, wealthy, successful one may look on the outside. In Sanatana Dharma, overcoming the six foes known is essential for inner peace, bliss and happiness. In Srimad Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna states, ‘One should uplift oneself by oneself; one should not degrade oneself. Indeed, the mind alone is the friend of oneself and mind alone is one’s enemy’. Thus, the mind which has overcome Arishadvargas is a friend, whereas a mind which hasn’t yet overcome the Arishadvargas is a foe or enemy of self.

The Upanishads mentions that ‘Human bondage and liberation (moksha) are solely the result of the mind’. A mind immersed in senses and sensatory pleasures results in bondage, and detachment from them leads to true freedom. It is all but understood that an external enemy cannot do as much damage as one's own thoughts can. While one can defend oneself against the physical or emotional harm that others may inflict upon them, but it can be difficult to defend oneself against one's own negative attitudes, thoughts and feelings.

The Arishadvargas are in some way connected to each other, but each one of them also work independently. For instance, one cannot be jealous and be entirely free of anger at the same time, as jealousy always leads towards anger directed at our perceived adversary. Another instance is how excessive greed for money which in itself is one of the Arishadvargas can lead to sense of pride or ego when one becomes wealthy. As per Vedic scriptures all six of the Arishadvarga have a negative impact on a person but the first three are described as ‘road to hell’.

What are the Arishadvarga

The Arishadvargas or the six detrimental enemies of the mind as mentioned in the Vedic Scriptures are:

Kama (Desires)

Kama is mostly associated with lust but here Kama basically means ‘desires’ and not merely lust. Kama refers to burning desires of senses including that to carnal pleasure. All beings naturally have desire in one form or another, but when these desires are not controlled by the principles of righteousness and are without the required checks and balances, they become a negative trait. Any desire that compromises on moral, social or economic foundation of self or family or society, no matter how small it is, is termed as Adharma or something that goes against Dharma. Thus Kama is therefore best characterized in this situation as craving something which is contrary to Dharma. Selfish desires cause people to act wrongly, which results in bad karma having catastrophic long-term effects.

Krodha (Anger)

Krodha meaning anger is described as temporary madness. Anger leads to irritation and unpredictable behavior, many a times leading to violence. When the self in angry, the mind becomes unstable, it leads to stress for oneself and others. The resulting behavior is unhelpful and even harmful to say the least. Krodha can be a reaction to a situation or a by-product of other negative traits such as jealousy or non-fulfillment of desires or a standalone issue of the mind. In either cases anger is a negative emotion or trait that inadvertently jeopardize one’s own spiritual journey, long-term interests and wellbeing.

Lobha (Greed)

Greed is often the result of unjust or excessive desires. Undoubtedly, all living being have some primary requirements, such as the need to eat, sleep, survive, and reproduce. However, it is stated that needs are easily met, whereas greed never goes away. When one’s needs interfere or transgresses in to the needs of others, they can be regarded as greed. When in a person the dominant mental state is that of accumulation of ‘more’ or the need to have what others have, such mind can never achieve peace or happiness. Only when there is a genuine ability to distinguish between necessity and greed can there be peace, calmness, wisdom and serenity.

Moha (Delusion)

Moha can be described as delusion, attachment or infatuation. It is a state of being that leads to a confused mind, clouds mental clarity and ability to make judgment decision free from prejudices. Moha arises when the mind becomes overly attached to people, possessions, power, or sensory pleasures, leading to distorted thinking and ignorance of truth. Moha binds the soul to the material world, making it difficult to perceive reality as it is. It often manifests as emotional dependence, blind love, or obsession, causing one to overlook flaws and act irrationally. In the spiritual path, Moha is seen as a major obstacle because it keeps the mind restless and distracted from self-realization. Scriptures teach that overcoming Moha requires cultivating wisdom, detachment and devotion to the Divine. By recognizing the temporary nature of worldly attachments, one can break free from Moha and progress toward spiritual growth, inner clarity and peace.

Mada (Arrogance)

Mada means arrogance or pride, it is often equated with having an inflated ego and ‘I, me, myself’ mentality. A mind suffering from Mada has a false sense of superiority, which leads to arrogance and often ignorance. It is believed that the mental state of an individual obscured in Mada is equivalent to someone who is intoxicated with alcohol or any other narcotic drug. Arrogance can lead the mind to behave irrationally and controlling in the process hurting others and self. Both growth of spiritual self and that of relations are hampered. Arrogance and pride often leads to anger, as a result, one makes enemies and loses respect and peace of mind.

Matsarya (Jealousy)

Matsarya can be described as jealousy or envy. It stems from ego, insecurity and comparison where one cannot tolerate the happiness or prosperity of others. Matsarya not only damages relationships but also erodes inner peace, as the mind constantly dwells on what others have rather than appreciating one’s own blessings. This negative emotion blinds a person to their strengths, pushing them into unhealthy competition and resentment. In spiritual teachings, Matsarya is considered a great barrier to growth because it fills the heart with bitterness instead of compassion. Overcoming Matsarya requires cultivating contentment, gratitude and self-awareness. Letting go of Matsarya leads to a calmer mind, healthier relationships, and progress on the path to spiritual progress.

Many a time knowledge and intellect are thought to be akin with wisdom, but the said is not always the case. Wisdom fosters inner contentment, peace of mind and calm. To be considered wise, one must have overcome the Arishadvargas. As per scriptures it is believed that overcoming all the six Arishadvargas is utmost important as even one of the six can harm spiritual growth and progress. Any individual who has overcome the Arishadvargas goes far in his spiritual journey, uplifts himself and others and wields true wisdom and knowledge.