Pitra or Paitrik Dosh: Indications, Afflictions

and Remedies
What is Pitra Dosha?
Pitra refers to ancestors or forefathers and any wrong done by ancestors themselves or to
ancestors either by others or their own progenies creates Paitrik or Pitra Dosh. In Brahat Prashar,
there is a mention of 14 kinds of Pitra-Dosh based on placement and aspect of malefic planets.
Rahu is considered the major cause of Pitra Dosh in Vedic astrology. There are various schools
of thought. Some astrologers believe that Pitra Dosh is an indication that ancestors of people,
who have Pitra Dosh in their horoscope, could not be relieved of their sufferings either due to
the results of their own wrong doings or because of unnatural/premature death. It is believed that
Pitra Dosh may occur if any ancestors up to the 7
th
generation (fathers side)/4
th
generation
(mothers side) had met an unnatural death. Others are of the opinion that Pitra Dosh is the curse
of ancestors. It simply means that forefathers of the person having Pitra Dosh in the horoscope
are not happy with the native. As a result, native having Pitra Dosh suffers from diseases,
failures, disruptions in education and debts etc. State of being childless is also considered the
result of this Dosha. Premature or early death due to diseases or accidents is observed in worse
cases. Some believe that Pitra Dosh is caused due to lack of fulfillment of any parental desire.
Whatever the reasons for Pitra Dosh in ones horoscope, the native has to clear the debt of
forefathers or fulfill the parental desire. Debt formed by misdeeds of the forefathers has either to
be paid, cleared or reduced by good deeds of the progenies. If this is not possible by any means,
there are several remedies available to reduce the bad effects of the Pitra Dosh.
Indications of Pitra Dosh
One should get suspicious of being under the impact of Pitra Dosh if he/she is observing the
following incidences in his/her family life. After finding the indications of Pitra Dosh, it is wise
to consult an astrologer to confirm if there is an affliction in the 9
th
house by any malefic planet.
Following signs indicate probability of presence of Pitra Dosh:
Abortion, repeated miscarriages, premature baby birth and innumerable death of children
Problems in conceiving or getting pregnant
Disruption in education and career growth
Delayed marriage, problems in marriage and married life
Spirit (ghost) shadow on the family
Affliction by malefic planets
Affliction of 9
th
house, lord of 9
th
house, 9
th
house from the moon or the lord of 9
th
house by any
malefic planet is called Pitra Dosh. The affliction of moon is considered Matra Dosh if afflicted
by any malefic planet. It is considered very serious kind of Pitra Dosh if Rahu afflicts the Sun by
placement and Ketu by direct aspect. It is also considered serious if Saturn is the afflicting
planet. In case of Matra Dosh, it is considered serious kind of Matra Dosh if Moon is afflicted by
the placement of Ketu and direct aspect of Rahu.
Remedy for Pitra/Paitrik/Pitru dosh
When Pitra Dosh is due to abnormal or unnatural early death of any ancestor (Garud Purana
40:4-12) in the manner given in following sentence, a rite called Narayan Bali is performed at
Trimbkeshwar, Haridwar, Badrinath and Gaya by learned Pundits/Brahmins/Sadhaks. Unnatural
type of death involves death by robbers, murder, arson, curse, animals, snake bite, lightening,
fall from mountain, falling of a tree, by a disease, suicide, fasting etc.
There is a timeframe for people belonging to different classes (Garuda Purana 40:13). Narayan
Bali Puja should be performed within six months for a Brahmin, three months for a Kshatriya,
within a month and half for a Vaishya and immediately for a Sudra.
Performing shraaddha ceremony and pind-daan following specific rituals at the Gaya or any
other specified place.
Performing ancestors puja during pitra paksha removes Pitra Dosha.
Performing puja of the Pipal tree on any Somwati Amavasya reduces the bad effects of Pitra
Dosha. First thing to be done is to offer one Yagyopavit (offer a Janeu) to the tree and second
Yagyopavit to Lord Vishnu. Thereafter move around the tree (parikrama) 108 times. While
moving, chant the mantra "Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaay Namah" and offer a sweet to the
tree during each round.
One more remedy is to feed crows and fish with small balls of cooked rice and sesame seeds
mixed with gee on every Saturday. crows, street dogs & sweepers should be offered food during
the Pitra pakchha.
Charities like gold and cow to a Brahmin
Perform Rudrabhishek (Rudra Abhishek) in the name of ancestors and Kanya Daan.
Remedy for melefic planets
Some other remedies are based on the malefic effect of specific planets as shown below.

1. in the case of close afflictions of Rahu and Ketu, services to parents, old-age needy persons,
sweeper and poor people is recommended.
2. Feed crows, street dogs and sweepers on Tuesday (Rahu), Friday/Saturday (Ketu)

3. In case of afflictions of Mars, charities are recommended for the servants and younger
brothers
4. Remedies for Venus afflictions involve charities for the poor or needy women
5. In case of Saturn afflictions, services should be done to poor people

6. In case of Jupitar afflictions, charities and services to the teacher and husband are offered
Mahurat days 2010-11
Mahurat Month Narayan Nagbali/Bali puja
Apr 2010 1,4,8,15,18,22,26
May 2010 1,5,15,19,22,26,29
June 2010 2,11,15,18,22,26,29
July 2010 6,10,13,17,21,24,26
Aug 2010 3,7,9,12,17,20,30
Sep 2010 4,7,10,14,19,29,30
Oct 2010 1,5,9,13,16
Nov 2010 2,9,13,20,24,26,29
Dec 2010 3,6,10,17,21,24,28
Jan 2010 1,4,6,13,17,22,26,29
Feb 2010 3,9,13,16,18,22,25
March 2010 2,8,12,17,20,24

Source : http://premsingh.hubpages.com/hub/Pitra-or-Patrik-Dosh-Indications-Afflictions-and-Remedies