By Pt. Sanjay Rath - All Shapas (Curses) in Horoscope - 1

[Guest guest]

Sharing from my collection for the benefit of the group - Lalit.

Introduction

Abhiçäpa or ­çäpa, otherwise known as a curse, is an

invocation to the superior powers, in order to cause harm and bring

about suffering to another person or persons, nation or lands. The

person bestowing the çäpa or curse causes misfortune to another by

evoking the Gods or supernatural elements. Consequently, the cursed

person is engulfed by misery and hardship, while cursed lands are

devastated by wars, strife, floods and famine. A person is instigated to

curse because of extreme and intense emotions, namely, anger (Mars),

sorrow (Saturn) and shock (Rähu)[2]. Such emotion ignites a person to

curse, which very often leads to the denial of the basic aspects of

happiness and content in life like marriage, children, family, home,

money, and profession etc. of the cursed subject.

 

Mythology of both the East and the Occident is replete with stories of

curses. The åñés of yore were particularly adept at casting sweeping

curses on all and sundry at the blink of an eye. People trembled at the

name of åñés like Durbäsä, whose legendary anger provoked him

to curse frequently. The Rämäyaëa came into existence because

of Närada's curse on Viñëu denying him marital happiness and

conjugal bliss. Viñëu had to take birth as a human being in the form

of the Räma avatar to fulfill Närada's curse[3]. Gautama's

curse on his wife Ahalyä froze her into a stone for centuries, until

the divine feet of Räma relieved her of her misery.

Gändhäré's curse on Kåñëa destroyed the Yadu Dynasty.

Dakña's curse compelled the Moon to wax and wane, while

Çanaiçcara was tarnished for life, as his gaze destroyed whatever

it beheld, due to the deadly curse of his wife. The reason behind these

curses were a variety of passionate reactions: Närada's anger at

Viñëu's obstruction of his marriage, Gautama's anger and

shock at his wife's alleged infidelity with Indra,

Gändhäré's hatred towards Kåñëa for not stopping the

Kurukñetra war and thereby destroying the Kuru Dynasty,

Dakña's anger and sorrow for the Moon's disdain towards his

26 daughters for the sake of Rohiëé, the sorrow of Çani's wife

for her husband's negligence of his marital and conjugal duties in

favour of a spiritual life[4].

 

A curse caused many a devatä and åñé to take human birth and

provides the causal link in mythological narratives to karma and

rebirth, thereby connecting two souls. At a more mundane plain from the

ethereal beings, mortal lives are very often bound in curses, silently

suffering the burden of their karma from either the past or the present

life. Curses and karma therefore have a symbiotic relationship; the seed

of one is often embedded in the other. Hardship and denial in one's

life can be frequently rooted in a curse from the past life. Identifying

curses in a horoscope thus becomes an important tool for determining the

cause of sufferance in this life and their remedies if any may be

documented and applied.

Paräçara's Tenet

Discussion on curses of past births is not easily found in jyotiña

texts, except in Båhat Paräçara Horä Çästra and

Candrakalä Näòé, both of which talk about the denial of children

due to various curses from the past life. Parsara has written

extensively on curses from the previous birth in the chapter entitled

Purvajanmaçäpadyotanädhyäya of the Båhat Paräçara Horä

Çästra. Basically this chapter deals with the question of

childlessness or denial of children as a result of a curse from the past

birth. Such a curse may have been uttered by one's parents,

relatives, gurus, priests or even the Sarpas (Divine Serpents) or

departed spirits, in the past life, due to some action or event that

occurred at that time. Such an action or event stirred some deep

passions within them of anger, sorrow or shock, thereby provoking them

to wish ill of others.

 

In the Harihar Majumdar edition[5] of the Båhat Paräçara, the

chapter on curses commences with Pärvaté asking Çiva to explain

the curses from past life which causes childlessness. Çiva replies by

stating that the first thing one must undertake is to examine the

bhäva bala or the strength of all the twelve houses very carefully,

following which two general principles are given by Paräçara for

childlessness. These are as follows:

 

1. When Jupiter, Lagna lord, 7th lord and 5th lord are without any

strength, there will be a denial of children or there will be

anapatya yoga.

 

2. When Sun, Mars, Rähu and Saturn are posited in the 5th house in

strength, while simultaneously the 5th lord and/or Jupiter are bereft of

any strength there will be anapatya yoga.

 

Paräçara in his primary analysis takes into account the afflictions

on the 5th house, the 5th lord and Jupiter, by Mars, Saturn and Rähu.

Jupiter is included here as it is the karaka for children and the 5th

house. He then takes the planet and the house associated with a

particular curse. The examination of Pitåçäpa would entail not only

the condition of the 5th house and its lord and Jupiter but also the Sun

and the 9th house and its lord. Similarly for the curse of the spouse,

the 7th house, 7th lord and karaka Venus are examined and so on. This

gives an indication that curses represent the severe affliction of a

house, its lord and its karakas by the three primary malefics, Mars,

Rähu and Saturn, resulting in the eventual destruction of the house

and its signification. Two aspects are highlighted, namely, the

strength or bala of the houses and the planets and secondly, the

affliction on the kärakatva of houses and planets.

 

Paräçara has identified the types of curses that one may bear from

one's past life in order to experience the sorrow of childlessness

in the present birth. These curses are as follows:

 

 

Person Cursing

 

Name of Curse

 

Planet Associated

 

Houses

 

Divine Serpents

 

Sarpaçäpa

 

Rähu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5th House, 5th Lord, Jupiter

 

 

 

Father

 

Pitåçäpa

 

Sun

 

9th house, 9th lord

 

Mother

 

Mätåçäpa

 

Moon

 

4th house, 4th lord

 

Brother

 

Bhrätåçäpa

 

Mars

 

3rd house, 3rd lord

 

Uncle

 

Mätulçäpa

 

Mercury

 

6th house, 6th lord

 

Spouse

 

Patnéçäpa

 

Venus

 

7th house, 7th lord

 

Brähmië or Priest

 

Brahmaçäpa

 

Jupiter

 

9th house, 9th lord

 

Departed Spirits

 

Pretaçäpa

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paräçara gives certain combinations for these various curses which

are as follows:

Combinations for Sarpaçäpa (Curse of the Divine Serpents)

1.

Rähu in the 5th aspected by Mars, or Rähu in Mar's sign.

 

 

2. Fifth lord conjunct Rähu and Saturn in the 5th aspected by

the Moon.

 

3. Jupiter conjunct Rähu, the 5th lord without strength and

lagna lord conjunct Mars.

 

4. Jupiter conjunct Mars, Rähu in lagna and 5th lord in a

dusthäna.

 

5. Mercury as 5th lord in Mar's navämça conjunct Mars and

Rähu and Mändi in lagna.

 

6. Fifth house a Martian sign and Mercury aspected by Rähu

 

7. Lagna lord conjunct Rähu, 5th lord conjunct Mars and Jupiter

aspected by Rähu.

 

In Sarpaçäpa, Rähu is the common factor and plays a pivotal role

in all the combinations, with Mars and the dusthäna lords.

Pitåçäpa (Curse of Father)

1. Debilitated Sun in the 5th in päpakartäri yoga and

Saturn's navämça.

 

2. Sun as the 5th lord, in a trine, in päpakartäri and

conjunct and aspected by malefics.

 

3. Jupiter in Sun's sign, the 5th lord conjunct Sun and

malefics in the lagna and the 5th house.

 

4. Lagna lord devoid of strength, 5th lord conjunct Sun in the

fifth house with the lagna and the fifth house aspected by malefics.

 

5. Ninth lord in the 5th house, 5th lord in the 10th, and lagna and

5th house afflicted by malefics.

 

6. Mars as 9th lord conjunct 5th lord in lagna or the 5th house,

with the 9th house afflicted.

 

7. Ninth lord in a dusthäna, Jupiter in a malefic sign, and

lagna lord and the 5th lord conjunct malefics.

 

8. Sun, Mars and Saturn conjunct in either lagna or the 5th house,

with Rähu and Jupiter in the 8th or the 12th house.

 

9. Sun in the 8th house, Saturn in the 5th and the 5th lord

conjunct Rähu.

 

10. Twelfth lord in the lagna, 8th lord in the 5th and the 9th lord in

the 8th.

 

11. Sixth lord in the 5th, 9th lord in the 6th house and Jupiter

conjunct malefics.

 

One can observe the affliction of the Sun, the karaka for father and its

placement in dusthänas and with the dusthäna lords are the common

factor, along with the association of the 9th house and 9th lord, the

bhäva for father.

Mätåçäpa (Curse of Mother)

1. Moon as 5th lord debilitated or in päpakartäri and the 4th

and 5th houses afflicted by malefics.

 

2. Saturn in the 11th, malefics in the fourth and a debilitated

Moon in the 5th house.

 

3. The 5th lord in a dusthäna, lagna lord debilitated and the

Moon conjunct malefics.

 

4. The 5th lord in a dusthana, the Moon in a malefic navämça

and lagna and the 5th house afflicted.

 

5. Moon as the 5th lord aspected by Mars, Saturn and Rähu

posited in the 9th or the 5th houses.

 

6. Mars as 4th lord conjunct Saturn or Rähu and the Sun and the

Moon in the lagna or the 5th houses.

 

7. Lagna and 5th lords in the 6th, 4th lord in the 8th and 9th and

8th lords in the lagna.

 

8. Sixth and 8th lords in the lagna, 4th lord in the 12th, Moon in

the 5th and Jupiter afflicted.

 

9. Lagna in an açubha yoga, a feeble and waning Moon in the 7th

and Rähu and Saturn in the 4th or the 5th houses.

 

10. Exchange between 5th and 8th lords with the Moon and the 4th lord

in a dusthäna.

 

11. Mars in lagna, Rähu in the 5th, Sun in the 8th and Saturn in the

12th with the lagna and 4th lords in a dusthana.

 

12. Jupiter in the 8th conjunct Mars and Rähu and Saturn and the

Moon in the 5th house.

 

The affliction of the 5th house, its lord and the Moon, the karaka for

mother and their association with the 5th house and its lord and

placement in a dusthana is emphasized.

Bhrätåçäpa (Curse of Brothers)

1. Third lord conjunct Mars and Rähu in the 5th and the lagna

and 5th lords in the 8th house.

 

2. Debilitated Jupiter in the 3rd, Saturn in the 5th and the Moon

and Mars in the 8th house.

 

3. Lagna lord in the 12th, Mars in the 5th and the 5th lord in the

8th.

 

4. Lagna and the 5th houses in päpakartäri and Lagna lord and

Jupiter in dusthäna.

 

5. Tenth lord in the 3rd with other planets and Mars in the 5th

house.

 

6. Fifth house a Mercurial sign with Saturn and Rähu in it and

Mercury and Mars in the 12th house.

 

7. Lagna lord in the 3rd, 3rd lord in the 5th and lagna, 3rd and

5th houses afflicted.

 

8. Third lord in the 8th, Mars in the 5th with Rähu and Saturn

or aspected by them.

 

The third house, its lord and the karaka for brothers, Mars is included

in the combinations of Bhrätåçäpa.

Mätulçäpa (Curse of Maternal Uncles)

1. Mercury and Jupiter in the 5th conjunct Mars and Rähu and

Saturn in lagna.

 

2. Lagna and 5th lords in the 5th house with Mercury, Mars and

Saturn.

 

3. A combust 5th lord in lagna, Saturn in the 7th and lagnapati

conjunct Mercury.

 

4. Sixth lord conjunct 12th lord in lagna with Moon, Mercury and

Mars in the 5th.

 

Mercury, the karaka for relatives plays the key role for these

combinations.

Brahmaçäpa (Curse of the Brähmië)

1. Rähu in Jupiter's sign, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn in the

5th and the 9th lord in the 8th house.

 

2. Ninth lord in the 5th, 5th lord in the 8th along with Jupiter,

Mars and Saturn.

 

3. Ninth lord debilitated and 12th lord in the 12th conjunct or

aspected by Rähu.

 

4. Jupiter debilitated, Rähu in lagna or the 5th house and the

5tgh lord in a dusthäna.

 

5. Jupiter as 5th lord in the 8th house conjunct malefics or the

Sun and the Moon.

 

6. Saturn, Jupiter and Mars in Saturn's navämça and the

5th lord in the 12th house.

 

7. Jupiter and Saturn in the lagna, Rähu in the 9th and the 5th

lord in the 12th.

 

Brahmaçäpa exhibits the weakness of Jupiter, afflicted by Rähu,

with the latter strongly placed in the lagna or trines. The ninth house

and lord, the karaka for gurus, teachers and priests also play a

prominent role in these combinations.

Patnéçäpa (Curse of Spouse)

1. Seventh lord in the 5th, Saturn in the 7th lord's

navämça and the 5th lord in the 8th house.

 

2. Seventh lord in the 8th, 12th lord in the 5th and Jupiter

afflicted by malefics.

 

3. Venus in the 5th, 7th lord in the 8th and Jupiter afflicted by

malefics.

 

4. Malefics in the 2nd and the 5th houses and the 7th lord in the

8th house.

 

5. Venus in the 9th, 7th lord in the 8th and malefics posited in

the lagna and the 5th house.

 

6. Venus as the 9th lord and Jupiter, the 5th and lagna and 7th

lords in dusthänas.

 

7. Fifth house in a Venusian sign with Moon and Rähu in it.

 

8. Saturn and Venus in the 7th, Jupiter in the 8th, Sun in the 5th

and Rähu in lagna.

 

9. Mars in the 2nd, Jupiter in the 12th, Venus in the 5th conjunct

or aspected by Rähu.

 

10. Second and 7th lords in the 8th, Saturn and Mars in 5th/lagna and

Jupiter conjunct malefics.

 

11. Rähu in lagna, Saturn in the 5th and Mars in the 9th and 5th and

7th lords in the 8th house.

 

Understandably, the 7th house, its lord and käraka Venus is in focus,

but what stands out as a common factor is the placement of the 7th lord

in the 8th house.

Pretaçäpa (Curse of the Departed Spirits)

This occurs when the final rites have not been performed, and then the

forefathers bestow a curse in their form as spirits.

 

1. Saturn and the Sun in the 5th, feeble, waning Moon in the 7th

and Rähu and Jupiter in the lagna or the 12th house.

 

2. Fifth lord Saturn and Jupiter in the 8th and Mars in lagna.

 

3. Malefics in lagna, Sun in the 12th, Mars, Saturn and Mercury in

the 5th and 5th lord in the 8th.

 

4. Rähu in lagna, Saturn in 5th and Jupiter in the 8th.

 

5. Rähu, Venus and Jupiter in lagna and the lagna lord in the

8th with Saturn and Moon.

 

6. Rähu in lagna and Saturn in the 5th, conjunct or aspected by

Mars.

 

7. Debilitated Jupiter debilitated 5th lord conjunct or aspected

by any debilitated planet.

 

8. Saturn in lagna, Rähu in 5th, Sun in the 8th and Mars in the

12th.

 

9. Seventh lord in a dusthana, Moon in the 5th and Saturn and

Mändi in lagna.

 

10. Twelfth lord in the 5th with Saturn and Venus and Jupiter in the

8th house.

 

These combinations of curses as given by Paräçara depict the

annihilation of a house and its signification. Such a destruction of a

house is done by the association of malefics, specifically, Mars, Saturn

and Rähu by their conjunction and aspect on the house, its lord and

its karaka. It is also done by the placement of the karaka and the lord

in dusthänas, and their association with dusthana lords, particularly

the 8th and the 12th houses and their lords, that is añöameça and

vyäyeça. One may refer back to the opening lines made by Çiva

that is the understanding of curses is to be done by analyzing the

strength of the bhäva. When the bhäva and its signification are

destroyed, it is bereft of any strength. It is interesting to note that

Paräçara here talks only about the association with malefics and the

link with dusthänas. Apart from mentioning debilitation a few times,

he has not referred to any other sources of strength. This leads one to

conclude, that the malefic association of Saturn, Mars and Rähu is

emphasized in the context of curses.

 

If one takes the principles expounded by Paräçara for the 5th house,

one may extend them to the other houses as well. Association of these

three malefic planets along with the dusthana lords with any bhäva

may destroy the signification of that bhäva and deny the fruits of

the same to the native. The table below suggests possible results of the

destruction of each of the twelve bhävas by applying the principles

of Paräçara.

 

 

House

 

Houses and Planets Involved

 

Possible Results

 

Tanu

 

Lagna, Lagna Lord and Sun

 

Loss of reputation

 

Dhana

 

2nd, 2nd Lord and Jupiter

 

Denial of family and sustenance

 

Bhrätå

 

3rd, 3rd Lord and Mars

 

Denial of brothers

 

Mätå

 

4th, 4th Lord and Moon

 

Destruction of Mother and Home

 

Putra

 

5th, 5th Lord and Jupiter

 

Denial of children

 

Çatru

 

6th, 6th Lord and Saturn

 

Troubles from Enemies

 

Kalatra

 

7th, 7th Lord and Venus

 

Denial of marriage

 

Måtyu

 

8th, 8th Lord and Saturn

 

Disease and Denial of health

 

Pitå

 

9th, 9th Lord and Jupiter

 

Destruction of father

 

Karma

 

10th, 10th Lord and Mercury

 

Professional ruin

 

Läbha

 

11th, 11th Lord and Jupiter

 

Denial of income

 

Vyäya

 

12th, 12th Lord and Saturn

 

Denial of mental peace and sanity

 

 

Cursed Planets

 

Sri Jagannath Center[6] has done extensive work on curses and has

extended Paräçara's principles to other areas of life, such as

denial of marriage, home, profession, health etc. It has also extended

the concept of curses on houses as elaborated by Paräçara to that on

planets (discussed above), as has been taught in the parampara of Puri.

 

A curse from a past birth is depicted in the horoscope when a natural

benefic or a house is afflicted by at least two of the three natural

malefics, Mars, Saturn and Rähu by graha dåñöi. The reason for

taking graha dåñöi instead of räçé dåñöi is because a curse is

caused by an emotion and is the result of a desire to inflict harm and

difficulties upon another. The natural benefics are Jupiter, Moon, Venus

and Mercury. The Sun is included to show Pitåçäpa. The affliction of

these planets, following Paräçara, portrays the following curses:

 

Affliction on Planets

 

Curse

 

Name of Curse

 

Jupiter

 

Brahmin

 

Brahmaçäpa

 

Moon

 

Mother

 

Mätåçäpa

 

Venus

 

Spouse

 

Patné/patiçäpa

 

Mercury

 

Uncle

 

Mätulçäpa

 

Sun

 

Father

 

Pitåçäpa

 

When any of these planets are aspected by two or more of the following

grahas, Mars, Saturn and Rähu, a curse is identified. Mars depicts

anger, Saturn sorrow and Rähu shock from deceit or illusion. The

house owned by these planets will show the areas of suffering, while the

involvement of the Ätmakäraka in the scenario ensures that the

curse will fructify and that it is complete and the torment severe. The

connection of the 8th house and its lord in this yoga confirms that the

curse is from a past birth, which can be re-confirmed with an

examination of the ñañöiäàça. The involvement of the

Ätmakäraka or the lagnädhipati shows that the curse will be

upon the individual.

 

Multiple curses can operate in a horoscope, of which one will be primary

and will yield maximum suffering, while the secondary curses will

manifest at certain specific times. The curse of the highest natural

benefic, that is Jupiter, usually depicts the primary curse, or the

involvement of the Ätmakäraka, or if all three malefics are

aspecting any of the natural benefics. Secondary curses do not exist

independently, and once the primary curse in forgiven, the secondary

curses are forgiven too. The remedy has to be done for the primary curse

only, as it is the root and will remove the negatives of the other

curses as well. One must also take into account other janma doñas,

like Amävasyä, Caturdaçé, and Saìkränti doñas as the

curse will afflict these doñas as well. Once the curse is lifted the

janma doñas will be alleviated.

Remedies

Curses require remedial measures to relieve the afflicted planet.

Paräçara has listed a set of remedies for each of the curses

mentioned earlier, but it must be remembered that one must first

ascertain whether the native is capable of doing the remedy. The ninth

house has to be examined for this purpose, which will reveal whether the

native has the bhägya or fortune to perform remedies which will

remove the affliction on the planet said to be under curse. Examine the

ñañöiäàça of the 9th lord which will give further indications

of the capacity of the person to undertake remedies. Information about

the correct remedy is very often not made available to the native with a

curse in his chart until the curse period is over. At times, when the

native is a very diligent worshipper of his iñöa devatä, the curse

may not take affect, or the suffering may be very minor.

 

Paräçara's remedies are as follows:

Sarpaçäpa

1. Establish a gold idol of Näga and worship him according to

the rituals followed in the native's house.

 

2. Cow, land, sesame and gold should be donated according to

one's capacity for the expansion of one's clan.

Pitåçäpa

1. Perform pitåçräddha at Gaya and feed a 1000

Brähmiës.

 

2. Kanyädän or give away a girl in marriage.

 

3. Donate a pregnant cow

Mätåçäpa

1. Bathe at Setubandha and chant the Gäyatré one lakh times.

 

2. Do grahadänam and feed milk to Brahmins from a silver bowl.

 

3. Do pradakñéna of a pepul tree and recite nämagäna 1008

times.

Bhrätåçäpa

1. Hear and chant (kirtaë) the names of Viñëu.

 

2. Perform Candräyaëa Vrata.

 

3. Bathe in the River Käveré and spend time with the

Vaiñëavas.

 

4. Plant a Pepul tree.

 

5. Donate 10 cows through he hands of one's spouse.

 

6. Donate land whilst wishing for children.

Mätulçäpa

1. Establish an idol of Viñëu.

 

2. Bathe at Setubandha and dig wells etc.

Brahmaçäpa

1. Perform Candräyaëa Vrata.

 

2. Do Brahmakåcha Sädhanä three times.

 

3. Donate cows along with dakñiëä.

 

4. Donate païca ratna (diamond, ruby, blue sapphire, emerald and

pearl) along with gold.

 

5. Donate rice 10,000 times.

Patnéçäpa

1. Give away a girl in marriage.

 

2. Donate a bejeweled and adorned idol of Lakñmé

Näräyaëa, 10 cows, beds and clothes. This has to be done both

the husband and the wife.

Pretaçäpa

1. Donate an idol of Brahma after performing rudrasnäna.

 

2. Donate cows, silver and blue vessels.

 

Paräçara's remedies for planets under curse are as follows:

 

 

Planet

 

Remedy

 

Mercury

 

Worship Çiva

 

 

 

 

 

Listening to Hari Vaàça Puräna

 

Venus

 

Worship Çiva

 

Moon

 

Mantra, Yantra, Medicines

 

Jupiter

 

Mantra, Yantra, Medicines

 

Rähu

 

Kanyädän

 

Sun

 

Hari Kirtaëa

 

Ketu

 

Donating cow

 

Mars

 

Japa of Rudra

 

Saturn

 

Japa of Rudra

 

Müla Daça

The tool for timing the manifestation of the curse is Müla Dasa,

which is explained in detail by Säravalé. This is also known as

the Lagna Kendrädi Graha Daça and is a derivative of the

Vimçottaré. The daça commences from the strongest among lagna,

candra lagna and sürya lagna. This is specifically mentioned by

Säravalé and he also quotes Satyacärya on this principle. After

the daça of the kendras are complete, the daça of the

paëapharas and apoklimas take place. One must be careful in choosing

the planet which will deliver the curse, which is usually the most

malefic planet involved in the curse. Observe if a malefic is involved

in multiple curses, then it is that planet which will manifest the

curses.