Our destiny has always been connected with our ancestors. We all have a karmic obligation to make amends for their sins through our actions. When this is not done, we acquire a Pitra Dosh, which manifests in the form of many unfortunate events in our lives. On the bright side, there are remedies or pariharas for any Pitra Dosh in the horoscope.
Reasons For Pitra Dosh
In the simplest terms, Pitra Dosh is caused by a mistake or sin committed by one’s ancestors. The native, or the individual whose ancestors they are, must repay this karmic debt through different punishments. This defect may occur at birth or later stage in life. The most common reasons for a Pitra Dosh are:
- Evil deeds or sins of our ancestors, intentionally or unintentionally.
- Unfulfilled parental desires of ancestors.
- Poor treatment of parents or the elderly by our ancestors.
- Early or unnatural death of an ancestor. Such a death up to the 7th generation or 4th generation on the father’s or mother’s side respectively can lead to Pitra Dosh.
- The last rites or the shraad has not been conducted for the Pitras.
While the deeds of your ancestors have ill effects on your life, Pitra Dosh becomes more potent due to your own misdeeds. This includes acts like:
- Mistreating humans or animals.
- Taking the life of another living being.
- Deceiving others, stealing, or forcefully taking things that do not belong to you rightfully.
- Accumulating wealth through deceitful or unlawful means.
- Intentionally speaking ill of people or having malicious intentions for someone.
How Pitra Dosh Affects You
Pitra Dosh primarily affects the mental and monetary well-being of the individual. It manifests in many ways throughout one’s life. Some signs of Pitra Dosh are:
- Difficulties in the birth of children, particularly male children, who are responsible for carrying the generation forward.
- Frequent miscarriages.
- Children may be born with mental or physical limitations.
- Children of the individual refuse marriage or are unable to find a suitable match.
- Children do not show interest in education or career.
- Difficulty in making ends meet or inability to achieve monetary gains despite trying hard.
- Issues in marriage are common for those suffering from Pitra Dosh.
- The household is grappled by illness, especially the children, leading to financial and emotional stress.
- Frequent disagreements between spouses cause a lot of disturbance in the household.
- Inability to settle debts despite consistent efforts.
- Recurring dreams of ancestors asking for clothes or food. Some even have dreams of snakes frequently.
- Loss of reputation in society.
- Unnatural death in the family due to accidents, suicides etc.
Planetary Positions that Indicate Pitra Dosh
Some malefic combinations of planets in the birth chart indicate Pitra Dosh. First, it is important to note which planets have the maximum influence in causing this defect. The planets that signify Pitra Dosh are as follows:
- The Sun represents the father or fatherly figures.
- The Moon represents the mind and the mother.
- Saturn represents the sins, debts and difficulties.
The 9th house of the birth chart is predominantly associated with the bloodline, heritage and family combinations. However, even the 5th house of the birth chart can have a Pitra Dosh effect depending on the planetary positions.
Pitra Dosh is caused by varying positions of these planets in conjugation with others:
- When the Sun is positioned in the 9th house, it is the most common sign of Pitra Dosh.
- The Sun and Saturn or the Sun and Rahu in the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th or 10th house of the birth chart can cause this defect.
- Negative planets like Saturn or Rahu in the 5th or 9th house can cause this defect.
- Any negative influence of the other planets in the 9th house may be responsible.
- If the Lagna of the 5th house is placed in the 6th or 8th house, it causes Pitra Dosh.
Remedies for Pitra Dosh
In order to remove Pitra Dosh, there are some remedies that are effective:
- Conduct a Shani Graha Shanti or Ravi Graha Shanti puja with the guidance of an expert.
- Conduct a Pitra Dosh Nivaran puja. This includes Pitravisarjan and Tripindi Shraad.
- For 15 days during the Shraad month, offer water to the Pitras.
- The Brahma Purana states that conducting Pind Daan or Tarpindi Shraad on the death anniversary of ancestors or during the Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashwina can get rid of Pitra Dosh.
- Offer clothes and food to Brahmins on each Amavasya.
- Donate food on Poornima or Amavasya in a temple or religious place.
- Worship and water the peepal tree.
- Offer water to the Sun every day and chant the Gayatri Mantra.
- In case of any unnatural death in the family, perform a Narayan Bali at religious places like Haridwar, Triambakeshwar, Gaya, or Badrinath.
- Feed small balls of cooked rice to fish or cows every Saturday.
- During the month of Pitra Paksha, offer food to the needy or birds and animals.
- Conduct a Rudrabhishek for your ancestors.
- Worship Lord Vishnu to reduce the effects of the Pitra Dosh.
One mantra that you can chant to reduce the ill effects of Pitra Dosh is:
Om Pitrabyah devatabyah mahayogibyech cha,
Namah sawaha swadhyaye cha nityamev namah.
The rituals or the recitation of the mantra should be carried out with utmost respect and love for your ancestors. Individuals must also be watchful of their own actions to ensure that they live a life of kindness and generosity. Obtain the blessings of your elders to achieve success, goodwill, and prosperity.
If these remedies do not help you see significant results, consult an expert to evade the negative effects of Pitra Dosh.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. When is Pitra Dosh formed?
Typically, when Ketu or Rahu afflicts the sun in the 9th house, Pitra Dosh is formed. The presence of negative planets and the adverse effects of these planets, particularly in the 9th house, can cause Pitra Dosh.
Q. Which planet causes Pitra Dosh?
The planets responsible for Pitra Dosh are Sun, Moon, and Saturn. The placement of negative planets like Saturn, Rahu, or Ketu with the Sun or Moon in the 9th house is the most common cause of Pitra Dosh.
Q. What happens when you have Pitra Dosh?
Pitra Dosh causes severe ill effects in one’s life. The mental health, marital life, and monetary status of the individual are most affected when one is affected by Pitra Dosh. It can also lead to difficulty conceiving, frequent miscarriages, or birth defects in children.
Q. What is Pitru Paksha?
Pitru Paksha is a 16-day-period when you should make offerings to your ancestors and the departed. This is the time to honour your ancestors, seek their blessings, and perform necessary remedies for Pitra Dosh.
Q. How long does Pitra Dosh last?
Almost every dosh in the birth chart has an effect until the completion of one planet’s cycle, Saturn. This means that the dosh loses its effect in 30-32 years. However, taking necessary steps or remedies reduces the period of suffering for the individual.