LEARN ASTROLOGY - LESSON 25

"Kalsarpa Yoga" - The Myth and Its Impact

Let us first understand what a yoga is.

The planetary combinations (yogas) in a horoscope are generated through close conjunctions/aspects of two or more planets in a natal chart, placements of planet(s) in a particular house or within houses.

When two or more strong functional benefic planets form a close relationship among themselves or with the most effective points of benefic houses, they generate good results related to their mooltrikona sign houses.

The Impact of inauspicious Yoga in Astrology

When a yoga is formed due to a close conjunction/aspect of two or more functional malefic planets it is known as an inauspicious yoga. If two functional malefic planets form a close relationship, they cause an inauspicious yoga and severely damage the results related to their mooltrikona houses. If one functional benefic planet and one functional malefic planet form a close relationship, this causes an inauspicious yoga that damages the results of the mooltrikona sign house ruled by the functional benefic planet. When a functional benefic planet occupies a malefic house, this causes a yoga for misfortune related to the significations of its mooltrikona sign house. Similarly, when a functional malefic planet closely influences the most effective point of a house, it severely damages the significations of that house and the houses aspected, except the house which is its own mooltrikona sign house.

The Impact of Yoga/Dhanyoga/Rajyoga in Astrology

         The impact of Rajyogas (fruits of good placements in life) and Dhanayogas (planetary influences giving good wealth and income) accrues only if the planets involved are strong. Whenever, the functional benefic planets (planets ruling benefic houses) conjoin or mutually aspect closely, they form good yogas (such as Rajyogas) connected with the indications of both the houses involved, provided they are strong. The involvement of a planet ruling the house of income and/or wealth produces a Dhanayoga. In other words, mere location of a planet or a set of planets in a particular sign or house without creating a close relationship through a close conjunction or aspect does not result into any yoga.

Kaal Sarpa or Kalsarpa or Kala Sarpa, Yoga or Dosha

            When all the planets are hemmed between Rahu and Ketu, the Kalsarpa or Kaal Sarpa Yoga is said to be formed. A complete Kalsarpa yoga is said to be formed only when half of the chart is unoccupied by planets. If even one planet is outside the Rahu and Ketu axis, there is no Kalsarpa Yoga. The results of mishaps, obstructions, vulnerability to black magic type tricks, etc. are attributed to this yoga. Kalsarpa Yoga is considered harmful and sometimes it is believed that it causes sufferings through physical deformity, persisting struggles, misfortunes and deception.

Until and unless Rahu and Ketu form a close conjunction with the most effective point of the house or a conjunction/aspect with another planet(s) or house(s), they do not produce the results of Kalsarpa Yoga even if the technical planetary influences explained in the preceding paragraph are found in the natal horoscope.

         The misnomer "Kaal Sarpa Yoga" or "Kalsarpa Yoga" or "Kaal Sarpa Dosha" or "Kalsarpa Dosha" is being propagated by some people. We think they have not correctly identified the functional nature of planets in various nativities and have not been able to pinpoint the reasons for miseries. Any chart containing the so-called Kalsarpa Yoga or "Kaal Sarpa Yoga" will not give bad results until and unless Rahu or Ketu or other functional malefic planets cause severe conjunctions or aspects with weak planets or houses in that particular nativity.

Under the Systems' Approach, the analysis is always done with reference to the placement of planets, their strength and weaknesses, and their mutual relationship with reference to the ascendant, and its most effective point in particular.

Let us see a few case studies where the Kalsarpa Yoga is formed but the individuals did not confront any of the results attributed to the Kalsarpa Yoga.

Chart 7

Male born 24th April, 1973.

The sign Leo rises in the ascendant.  The planets Sun, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are the functional benefic planets while the Moon, Rahu and Ketu are the functional malefic planets.  Mercury, Venus and Mars act as Sun-like planets.

This is a chart showing a complete Kalsarpa yoga. The only close influence of Rahu in this birth chart is on Venus placed in ninth house. Venus rules sports and courage. The influence of Rahu on Venus got him interested in sports from a very young age. He was born into a fairly well placed family. The Sun and Mars are exalted in the birth chart. Venus ruling sports is in close conjunction with the Sun and placed in a Sun-like house. Saturn, ruling the seventh house, is strongly well placed in the birth chart. He achieved success with his professional cricket in India and in foreign lands, which brought him lots of laurels. He married at the age of twenty-two years.   He is blessed with a daughter and a son. His wife is a pediatrician and belongs to a highly placed industrial family. He was awarded numerous awards including India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna. Jupiter and Mercury are debilitated and badly placed. The planets in the malefic houses brought some injuries and low moments for him. There is no impact of the so called Kalsarpa Yoga in this birth chart. 

Chart 8

Male born 24th August, 1968.

The sign Libra rises in the ascendant. The planets Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn become functional benefic planets. Besides Rahu and Ketu, Mercury also becomes a functional malefic planet. Jupiter acts as a Sun-like planet.

This is a chart showing complete Kalsarpa yoga. Rahu and Ketu do not afflict the most effective points of the houses. The only influence of Rahu is on the planet debilitated Mars.  This person has a strong Sun and a strong Jupiter in the birth chart. The lord of the tenth house is placed in the eleventh house, ruling gains. The lords of the tenth and the eleventh houses are in close conjunction. This creates an influence of earning well despite the weakness of the Moon. The person achieved quite good success in his professional ventures and attained the highest position in his field in his organization. The ascendant lord is also placed in the eleventh house in close conjunction with the lord of the twelfth house. This conjunction brought him income from multinational companies. The close influence of Rahu on Mars made the person very ambitious for investments in properties, real estate and he has made good gains in real estate investments.  The impact of Rahu may create some problems due to disputes with partners and the health problems to the spouse. He is married and is blessed with a daughter and a son. His wife belongs to a well-placed family and his father was an officer with government. This case also doesn't show any traces of the results of the so-called Kalsarpa yoga.

Chart 9

Male born 11th December, 1923.

The sign Leo rises in the ascendant.  The planets Sun, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are the functional benefic planets while the Moon, Rahu and Ketu are the functional malefic planets.  Mercury, Venus and Mars act as Sun-like planets.

This is a case study showing a complete Kalsarpa Yoga. Jupiter is strong while the Sun is fairly strong. Mercury is combust and under the close influence of Rahu. In the Rasi chart, the lord of the house of fortune, Mars, is weak as it is under the exact affliction of Ketu. The weakness of Mars is covered by the fairly strong Sun in the birth chart. The significator of wife, Venus, is weak as it is debilitated in the Navamsa chart. The fourth house is occupied by two functional benefic planets which are not close to the most effective point of the house. The two planets in the fifth house, as per their strength, give results without many efforts.

The native headed a large business organization, acquired properties and had quite good success in his business ventures. Even into his eighties, he was in a commanding position including good health. He was a multi-millionaire and enjoyed the comforts of mansions, luxurious vehicles, royal travels, honor from hundreds of employees, a large family, government status, etc. He represented employers on government forums. He was also an Editor of SAARC Magazine. This chart does not show any traces of challenges due to the so-called, Kalsarpa Yoga.

Chart 10

Male born 1st December, 1945.

The sign Gemini rises in the ascendant. The Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are functional benefic planets. Rahu and Ketu are the functional malefic planets. The planets Saturn and Moon also act as Sun-like planets.

This is a case study showing a complete Kalsarpa Yoga.  The native has been working as a manager after completing his professional studies. He is married and has children but because of the weakness of the planets in the birth chart he is facing challenges in life. Rahu and Ketu do not form a close affliction in the birth chart. The impact of weak planets is shown in the form of challenges in life in the form of health concerns, relationship matters and matters pertaining to assets. The native sought the help of astral remedies. With the performance of astral remedies, he managed things in a better way. Until and unless there is a close affliction of Rahu and Ketu the challenges indicated for the so-called Kalsarpa Yoga do not become severe.  So, we see the results of the placement of planets in a birth chart on the basis of planetary configurations and not on the basis of any yoga, like Kalsarpa yoga in this case.

Chart 11

Male born on 15th October, 1982.

The sign Virgo rises in the ascendant in the horoscope.  The planets Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury become favorable planets. Saturn, Mars, Sun, Rahu and Ketu become the functional malefic planets. Venus acts as a Sun-like planet.

In this chart Rahu and Ketu are almost exactly on the most effective point of the houses of their location and afflict the houses occupied and aspected. They also make the planets Saturn, Mars, Sun, Jupiter and Venus weak through the close aspect affliction to their moolatrikona sign houses.

There is a complete Kalsarpa Dosha in this chart. The lord of the second house, ruling status, wealth and family, is weak due to debilitation, combustion and close affliction to its mooltrikona sign house. The lord of the fourth house is well placed but weak due to weakness of its dispositor. Mercury, ruling the ascendant, is strongly placed in its exaltation. The Moon ruling the house of income is weak. Saturn is weak due to infancy and weak dispositor. This person is under depression as there is no work. He is not settled even at the age of 33 years. There were obstructions in education. Marriage was delayed. The family relationship is stressed. Here Kalsarpa yoga shows its impact as the impact of the strong afflictions of Rahu and Ketu comes into force.