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Kaal Sarp Dosha Checker

Identify your Rahu-Ketu axis pattern

Exact time critical for Lagna accuracy

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The Cosmic Serpent

In Vedic mythology, Rahu and Ketu are the head and tail of a cosmic serpent — the demon Svarbhanu, severed by Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra during the churning of the celestial ocean. Astronomically, they are the two points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic. When all the planets are caught between these two points, the chart forms Kaal Sarp Yoga— the cosmic serpent enclosing the planets.

The 12 types of Kaal Sarp Dosha are named after legendary serpents — Anant, Kulik, Vasuki, Shankhapal, Padam, Mahapadam, Takshak, Karkotak, Shankhachood, Ghatak, Vishdhar, and Sheshnag. Each type is determined by the house Rahu occupies, and the affected life areas correspond to the houses around the Rahu-Ketu axis.

Partial vs Complete Kaal Sarp

A complete Kaal Sarp Dosha requires all seven planets to be strictly between Rahu and Ketu. If even one planet is outside this axis, classical astrology calls it "Partial Kaal Sarp" — and the dosha's effect is significantly weakened. This checker identifies both complete and partial patterns and tells you which type, if any, is present in your chart.

A note on perspective: many influential and successful people are born with Kaal Sarp Dosha. The dosha indicates a karmic configuration, not a curse. The actual impact depends on the full chart — strength of planetary lordships, dasha alignment, and divisional chart support. For other dosha checks, see Mangal Dosha and Sade Sati.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kaal Sarp Dosha?+

Kaal Sarp Dosha is formed when all seven major planets — Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn — are positioned on one side of the Rahu-Ketu axis (the lunar nodes). The dosha is named for the appearance of the chart: planets confined between the head (Rahu) and tail (Ketu) of the cosmic serpent. Twelve types exist, named for the position of Rahu in the chart.

What are the 12 types of Kaal Sarp Dosha?+

Anant (Rahu in 1st), Kulik (2nd), Vasuki (3rd), Shankhapal (4th), Padam (5th), Mahapadam (6th), Takshak (7th), Karkotak (8th), Shankhachood (9th), Ghatak (10th), Vishdhar (11th), and Sheshnag (12th). Each type affects different life areas — for example, Takshak (Rahu in 7th) influences marriage and partnerships, while Padam (Rahu in 5th) affects children and creativity.

Is Kaal Sarp Dosha really harmful?+

Modern Vedic astrologers debate the severity. Classical texts treat it seriously — associating it with delays, struggles, and karmic obstacles in the houses surrounding Rahu and Ketu. However, many famous and successful people have Kaal Sarp Dosha. The actual impact depends on the strength of individual planets, dasha sequence, divisional charts, and yogas. A 'partial' Kaal Sarp (one planet outside the axis) significantly weakens the effect.

What are the remedies for Kaal Sarp Dosha?+

Traditional remedies include: visiting Trimbakeshwar (Nashik) or Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh) for Kaal Sarp Shanti puja, chanting Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and Rahu-Ketu mantras, donating black sesame and silver, performing Naga Panchami rituals, fasting on Panchami tithi, and wearing pure silver. Always consult an experienced astrologer — generic remedies without chart analysis can be ineffective.