Doshas and afflictions

What do people mean by a "dosha", and should I worry?

A dosha is a "fault": a combination tradition reads as a difficulty in one area. Doshas are often used to frighten people, so three facts first. Many are very common (Manglik Dosha appears in a large share of all charts). Many come with cancellation rules. And several famous ones, such as Kaal Sarp, are not in the classical texts at all and were added much later.

Dosha	How it forms	What tradition says	Common cancellations
Manglik / Kuja Dosha	Mars in the 1st, 2nd (some schools), 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th, counted from the lagna, and often also from the Moon and Venus	Friction or strain in marriage	Mars in its own or exaltation sign; both partners Manglik; Jupiter's aspect; certain sign exceptions per house
Kaal Sarp	All seven planets on one side of the Rahu–Ketu axis	Struggle followed by late success. Named after the house Rahu is in (Anant in the 1st through Sheshnag in the 12th)	Any planet outside the axis; a planet conjunct a node by degree. A later, non-classical idea
Pitru Dosha	The Sun or the 9th house/lord afflicted by Rahu, Ketu or Saturn (definitions vary)	Unfinished family or ancestral matters	Strong Jupiter on the 9th; strong 9th lord
Nadi Dosha	Both partners' Moons in nakshatras of the same nadi (0 of 8 in Guna Milan)	Health or children concerns in matching	Same Moon sign but different nakshatras; same nakshatra but different padas; the Moon-sign lords friendly
Grahan Yoga	The Sun or Moon with Rahu or Ketu	"Eclipsed" confidence (Sun) or peace of mind (Moon)	Strong luminary; benefic aspect; wide degree gap
Guru Chandal	Jupiter with Rahu (some include Ketu)	Unorthodox beliefs, poor advice, or an unconventional teacher	Strong, well-placed Jupiter
Shrapit	Saturn with Rahu	Heavy, slow karma; delays	A popular modern idea; benefic aspects soften it
Kemadruma	No planet (other than the Sun, Rahu, Ketu) in the 2nd or 12th from the Moon	Loneliness or financial ups and downs	Planets in kendras from the Moon or lagna; the Moon in a kendra; a full Moon
Vish Yoga	Saturn with the Moon	A serious, worried mind	Strong Moon; Jupiter's aspect
Angarak	Mars with Rahu	Anger, rash action	Strong benefic aspect
Daridra Yoga	The 11th lord in the 6th, 8th or 12th (one common form)	Money that leaks away	Strong 2nd and 11th; Dhana yogas

Afflicted houses and planets

Beyond named doshas, astrologers look for affliction: a key house or planet hemmed in, joined or aspected by malefics with no benefic help. Commonly checked: an afflicted Moon (peace of mind), Venus and the 7th house (relationships), the 5th (children and creativity), the 8th (sudden events) and the lagna (health and confidence). Affliction is always weighed against the help the same house receives.

Please don't panic about a dosha. A dosha is one factor among dozens. It is never a curse, it says nothing certain, and nobody needs to pay for an expensive ritual to "fix" one. If a dosha worries you, read the cancellations above, and remember that your choices and effort shape how any chart is lived.

the Manglik Check shows every cancellation rule it tested on your chart.

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