Kala–Sarpa Yoga

Kala means Time in the cosmic sense and Sarpa means Serpent. Kala–Sarpa, therefore, means the Serpent of Time. Many astrologers dread this as an evil yoga.

Interestingly, the ancient astrological texts, from Parashar to Varahamihir, are silent about it.

This Yoga is said to exist if all the planets are between Rahu and Ketu. When that happens in one’s birth–chart, the person experiences many ups and downs throughout life. The suffering increases during transits when the nodes come close to their natal positions. Kala–Sarpa Yoga is considered to be the main reason for a person’s downfall from a high position.

The subject is not free from controversies. Some say that the Yoga should take in all planets including Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. But then the Yoga will become very rare indeed. It is therefore more meaningful if we take the other point of view where only the 7 main planets are considered for the Yoga. Planets must be between Rahu and Ketu and not between Ketu and Rahu. How do we ensure this? If we find Rahu first as we move anti-clockwise from the Ascendant and all the planets (not counting Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) are between Rahu and Ketu, then the Yoga exists. In other words the Rahu must be in the House numbered lessor than the house in which kutu is present. If Ketu is in the first place it gives rise to "Kaal Amruta Yog"

Care should be taken to ensure that no planet is outside the semicircle by even 1 degree. For example, if Rahu is in 15 degrees of Cancer and Moon is in 16 degrees of the same sign, there is no Kala–Sarpa. Rahu moves clockwise. It will go to Cancer 16 degrees soon, but right now, at the time of birth, Moon is outside the Rahu–Ketu bracket. Hence there is no Kala–Sarpa.

It is debatable whether Kala–Sarpa is an unmitigated evil. Many great men had this Yoga in their horoscopes. Some have been Presidents and Prime Ministers and others have been conquerors.

One thing is clear. With Kala–Sarpa, you may climb very high. But one day there will be a downfall. And the higher you climb, the harder you fall.

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Courtesy - Madhushri Mukerjee