What is Pitra/Pitru Dosha? Types, Effects, and Astrology Remedies

Imagine a time when you tried really hard to get your dream job, but somehow, rejection awaited you at the door.

The problems didn’t stop there; you somehow made a breakthrough, only to be hindered by an unforeseen obstacle. You spent your nights crying, trying to find a solution, but nothing seems to work.

All of a sudden, you get a call from the bank- your signed cheque has bounced. Your spouse starts arguing uncontrollably, creating constant turmoil in the marital life.

At night, vivid dreams of your forefathers make you restless and distressed. The more stress you take, the sicker you get.

What if it’s your deceased ancestors trying to communicate? They may be trying to indicate that the challenges are, in fact, an impact of the pitru dosha in your kundli.

These challenges are the signs of the biggest dosha in a kundli- pitra dosha.

Known as one of the dreaded doshas, it starts impacting your life from the moment of your birth. Rooted in ancient Vedic astrology, pitru dosha indicates that the ancestral Karma needs resolving.

If left untreated, you may face severe problems in life, love, health, and career. Hence, it becomes essential to understand what the pitru dosha is first to find the proper remedy.

In this blog, we have discussed the dosha, reasons for its occurrence, types, and the astrological remedies in detail.

Pitra Dosh- A Myth or Reality

Pitra dosha refers to the debt of ancestors paid by their descendants, which influences their kundali. It leads to a spiritual imbalance when the souls of the forefathers are restless due to unfulfilled desires.

Lack of shradha and misdeeds in the lineage can also give rise to Pitra Dosha. This dosha serves as a symbolic reminder of the karmic or emotional bond you share with the descendants.

There is a common myth that the dosha is basically a curse given by the forefathers. However, such claims are illogical and completely wrong.

Pitru dosha is a karmic fruit of the actions done in the past. So, if you have the said problem in your kundali, then you need to pay the price through good Karma.

The struggles will continue till the sufferings have equalled the sorrow caused to others. Hence, it becomes essential to understand the pitra dosh meaning to its core.

You may wonder- why should a person suffer for the deeds of others? The answer is simple: just as you inherit genes and wealth from your ancestors, karmic debts also pass down to your descendants.

It’s believed that each person is born into a specific family to clear their evil Karma. Many times, the same ancestor takes rebirth in the same family as a grandson or great-grandson.

In such cases, the person has to repay for the conduct of the previous life. If you have committed a malicious crime or physically harmed someone, then in your subsequent birth, you will have a pitru dosha in your horoscope.

There are ways to balance out the karmic debts, like being patient, doing charity, and serving people.

You must know that the effects of dosha may also occur after your ancestor’s death. Provided the person up to the 7th generation in the patriarchal side or up to the 4th generation in the matriarchal side has died untimely.

What Are the Reasons Behind Pitru Dosha?

Now that you know what pitra dosha is, let’s understand the reasons for getting it in the first place.

Life is all about challenges and obstacles. You keep pushing until the last moment to emerge from the struggles with confidence.
However, when the problems become unbearable, you have to look at the root cause. Such conditions are visible in your planetary alignments, indicating karmic troubles from forefathers.

The negative karmic debts of ancestors or wrongdoings committed against your parents will create obstacles in life. So, why does pitra dosha occur?

The reasons can be both karmic and astrological influences. Here are some reasons why you may be going through troubles in life.

• Unfulfilled Ancestral Duties

If you have failed to perform the crucial rites like tarpan or shraddha karma (ancestral rites), you can face pitra dosha. Your ancestors become unhappy when the essential rites are skipped or missed.
The shastra defined rituals like antim sanskar (death rites) or pind daan (offering rice balls or pinds) should have priority. Avoiding regular religious practices or failing to honour the ancestors in daily prayers will cause turmoil.

• Unresolved issues or Curses

Forefathers who stayed unhappy till their last breath will curse you and your descendants. For instance, you didn’t take care of your parents, constantly disrespected them, or made them work hard.

Such behaviour will make them angry, resulting in unhappiness in their soul. Even specific actions or decisions by the ancestors that harmed others will create a karmic debt.

You may need to remove the pitra dosha by performing special rituals like the pitru dosha nivarana pooja.

• Neglecting Your Forefathers

Showing disrespect to the lineage or failing to acknowledge their presence in your life gives rise to pitru dosha. For instance, you forget to pray or thank your forefathers during a special ceremony.

Failing to provide help to family members who need it suggests neglecting their presence. Any reason that directly or indirectly hurts the progenitor may be the reason behind the dosha.

• Violation of Moral codes or Religion

When you or your family is constantly engaged in activities that hurt religious sentiments, you catch adverse effects. Even practising the prohibited actions in your family can harm your ancestors.

Your behaviour, along with that of your family, affects both society and your family. It certainly impacts your ancestral Karma.

• Issues in Family

Persistent fights or bad behaviour within the family creates a hostile environment. Your forefathers may be sad and would restrict themselves from giving blessings.

Even when you start dishonouring their traditions or rituals, they will curse you with negativity.

If any of the elders die unnaturally, they might have unfulfilled desires, leading to a destructive karmic cycle.

• Negative Planetary Issues

Specific placements in the birth chart or astrological combinations create pitra dosha. You must know that some planets or malefic influences have the power to impact your birth kundali.

But again, these are the result of your Karma. They are the fruits of your behaviour or neglect towards your pitru.
Specific planetary transits or Dasha will enhance the impact of ancestral Karma. You may suffer tremendous losses or health issues as the grahas change.

• Failure to Perform Religious Acts

What happens when you ignore all good deeds or don’t give value to charity? You get cursed by the forefathers for hurting people in need.
Failing to do pious acts that involve pleasing ancestors would also impact your Karma. Make sure you allocate time for pind daan, Amavasya puja, and other important rituals.

• Generational Trauma

There may be times when your family is carrying forward the psychological trauma of the past. Your parents or grandparents may be carrying forward the dosha without trying to resolve it.

Ask your elders if they have any unresolved issues. These issues may be impacting you or your children now.

• Improper Conduct during Pitra Paksh

The Hindu Dharma has set aside some rituals to honour the dead. Family members have to perform death rituals to ensure that the soul has a peaceful journey.

You have to follow specific rules to express gratitude and respect to the pitra. Failure to perform these rites by you or your family would anger the forefathers.

Forgetting to observe Pitru Paksh (15 days of offering food and water to ancestors) or neglecting charitable deeds causes’ dosha.

Which Planetary Combinations Result in Pitra Dosha?

If you are wondering how to find pitra dosh in a kundali, start by checking your astrological chart.

Pitru Dosha is a planetary combination in the birth chart that impacts your kundli’s fifth and ninth houses.

It’s said to occur if Rahu and the Sun remain adjoined in the ninth house of the birth chart. Ideally, the ninth house is your father’s and ancestors’ house; the dosha will directly impact the relationship.

Among the planets, negative karmic challenges form due to planets that are malefic in the chart. Rahu and Ketu have a significant influence on the horoscope.

Here are some combinations that indicate pitra dosha effects in your horoscope.

• Rahu or Ketu conjoins with the luminaries, Sun and Moon. They are in the 6th, 8th, or 12th house, forming a strong dosha.
• Malefic planets placed in the 9th house are impacting the lord of the house.
• Mercury, Ketu, or both are in the 8th or 1st house of the horoscope.
• Harmful Sun is in the 9th house, indicating suffering from pitra dosha.
• Sun and Rahu or Sun and Saturn are present in the 1st, 5th, 2nd, 9th, 7th, or 10th house.
• If the ascendant lord is present in the 12th, 6th, or 8th house, and Rahu is on the dominant side.
• The conjunction of Rahu and Saturn causes a weak or debilitated ascendant.
• Malicious planets like Ketu, Rahu, or Saturn impact Jupiter. This combination is in the 9th house of the horoscope, leading to dosha.
• When Mars, Saturn, or Rahu troubles Venus, the horoscope shows pitru dosha.

What are the Types of Pitra Dosha?

You may be unaware that pitra dosha can have different effects depending on the planetary positions. In Vedic astrology, there are at least 14 types of dosha inflicted in the horoscope by the ancestors.

It means specific planetary positions are in the pitra dosh kundali. Some arise from unresolved Karma passed down by ancestors, while others arise from ancestral neglect.

Each of them brings their own set of challenges and requires a unique pitra dosha pariharam or remedy. Understanding the specific type of dosha helps in finding the right solutions, such as performing pooja, chanting the pitra dosha mantra, or visiting temples.

1. Pitru Vash Dosha

It’s a karmic debt sustained by ancestors that affects their descendants. The dosh causes obstacles and hardships in life. Vash dosha originates from unsettled ancestral issues, karmic debts, or incorrect rituals.

2. Pitru Shraap Dosha

Shraap is a form of curse or negative energy passed down through generations. It can result from injustices, unsolved family conflicts, or unkept promises made by ancestors.

3. Dosha in Nakshatra

Also known as Gandmool Dosha and Tripada Dosha, they are astrological combinations. Such doshas occur when the Moon is in certain Nakshatras or padas (quarters) at birth.

The negative impact brought by them can cause health issues and financial problems. You and your family have to face multiple challenges. Only through a shanti puja can you mitigate the impact.

4. Dosha due to Untimely Death

In Hindu belief, dosha from an untimely death is Akal Mrityu or Tripad Dosha. Here, you face unfavourable karmic or astrological consequences of a premature death.

Your life gets influenced by violating dharma, planetary positions, or ancestral Karma. Deaths caused by suicide, accidents, or other unnatural ways contribute to this dosha.

5. Lack of Male Heir

Broken lineage is also caused by pitra dosh or ancestral Karma. It gets inflicted as a karmic debt inherited from one’s ancestors. Any unresolved actions, ignored duties, or spiritual unrest causes a negative impact.

Karmic imbalance breaks from the original lineage, delaying the natural flow of positive energy and fortune to future generations.

6. Absence of Sharddha

Lack of Shraddha or bhakti while performing any ritual causes spiritual defects. You need to have faith, devotion, and sincerity to make a puja successful.

Having a flaw or imbalance in the mind during crucial rituals creates a hostile environment.

A ritual performed mechanically or yantrikam would yield minimal blessings. Instead, you may incur a pitru dosha due to asat manbhav, or a worthless mind.

7. Ancestral Debt

A state of unresolved burdens or unfulfilled wishes of forefathers can attract pitru dosh. This debt has a negative influence that passes down to the next generation.

You start noticing negative luck and blockages in work as a result. Past evil deeds of ancestors or incomplete rites may be the primary reason behind the challenges.

8. Broken Vows

Breaking a vow also harms your life. The karmic repercussions or spiritual consequences depend on the type of vow taken.

Your intention behind breaking the vow decides your fate. Breaking a promise made to god is often a serious crime.

Lying to one’s guru, parents, elders, or a deity is a sin. When promises are broken or ignored, you face the consequences through your astrological chart.

9. Excessive Attachment

Excessive attachment to anything is generally considered unhealthy. Moha or raga can disturb your mind and trigger a negative cycle.

An ancestor’s attachment to moha or maya is one of the reasons behind their soul’s restlessness.

Failing to leave behind the materialistic world could often create a place for dosha.

10. Improper Cremation

An improper cremation or wrong last rites contribute to pitra dosha. Antim sanskar helps the deceased’s soul attain peace and continue the journey towards salvation.

Any hindrance caused in the path by the descendants angers the forefathers. If the last rites aren’t appropriately performed due to circumstances like unnatural death, the soul becomes restless.

You begin to face the wrath through adverse events and karmic issues.

11. Ancestral Sins

It is widely believed that unfulfilled actions or unresolved desires of ancestors cause karmic imbalance. Your later generation will face the wrath.

Wrongdoings by ancestors, such as abusing family members or obtaining wealth unfairly, lead to a karmic burden. The descendants have to suffer the Karma.

12. Horoscope Houses

Horoscopic houses do not cause pitra dosha, but specific planetary positions do. The 9th house represents the ancestors, and any changes in the same can indicate angry forefathers.

Even the 5th house, which represents children and lineage, gets harmed by the dosha. The karmic debt from the ancestors’ unresolved issues is the primary cause behind the challenges.

13. Neglecting Forefathers

The neglect of forefathers is the primary reason behind the dosha. The Sanskrit term pitra refers to father, while dosha means defect.
Therefore, this curse is a karmic reflection of the ancestral debt that arises from angering elders.

14. Enmity or Curse

Curses of forefathers can cause serious health problems, leading to complications or diseases.
Even the curse of an outsider or a living person wronged by your forefather can contribute to the cause.

 

How to Identify If You Have Pitra Dosh?

Pitra Dosha is one of the most complicated afflictions found in a kundli or horoscope. Rooted in ancient Vedic astrology, this dosha indicates unresolved ancestral Karma.

If left untreated, it can lead to ongoing problems in various aspects of life. You may face challenges in health, finances, career, relationships, and peace of mind.

Astrologers use planetary combinations to determine if you are experiencing the negative Karma of your ancestors. Even if you are unaware of the astrological indicators, sure signs indicate the impact of dosha.

Some of the common pitra dosha symptoms include-

• Facing constant disputes with the family or friends.
• Having mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or loneliness.
• You start facing unexplained failures and setbacks in your professional and personal life.
• Problems in ancestral property matters include legal disputes, family conflicts, and unexplained delays.
• Severe health issues like chronic illness keep getting misdiagnosed by doctors.
• Getting constant bad dreams, like ancestors asking for water or seeing snakes.

How Does Pitru Dosha Impact Your Life?

Pitra dosha causes significant issues in your life. This dosha brings various difficulties and challenges that give anxiety and pain.

These may include financial hitches, relationship struggles, health issues, and various life obstacles.

It’s said to create hurdles in one’s growth and prosperity. Such persons may find it challenging to get married or face hurdles in their professional lives.

As you identify the effects, you will be able to find the right tips on how to get rid of pitra dosh.

• Career Struggles

If you have the curse of ancestral sin, you will continue to face career issues. There may be career blockages even after working hard for years.

You might face repeated stagnation, difficulty in achieving success, or under-promotion.

Chances are that you will experience persistent financial losses, accumulate debt, and face unexplained monetary hardship.

• Unfavourable Family Environment

Families will struggle to remain in peace when the pitra dosha takes over. Even the youngest individuals may experience delays in marriage or struggle to find a suitable partner.

The married members will experience problems in their relationship, such as constant arguments and physical fights. You will have regular quarrels with father or paternal relatives.

Court cases will become regular, even dragged out for years. False blame and harassment are some of the common effects of the dosha.

• Abortions/Miscarriage

Women also suffer the wrath of pitra dosha through health issues. Family members will have chronic, unexplained, or recurring health challenges.

Issues such as problems with the child’s health or difficulty conceiving are the significant impacts of pitru dosha. You might have frequent abortions or failures in the IVF process.

In general, there will be concerns in mental peace, maternal health, and sleep cycle. If you face Maha Pitra Dosh, then chances are no male offspring will continue your lineage.

• Accidents

With pitra dosha, misfortunes and accidents will become common. Certain obstacles may seem to block your progress, caused by unresolved ancestral issues.

There will be a pervasive sense of failure, bad luck, and struggles in your life. You will face unending debts that will keep stacking up with no way out.

Sudden death out of unnatural accidents or tragic incidents can also be a sign of this dosha.

What are the Astrological Remedies for Removing Pitru Dosha from Life?

Now that you understand what pitru dosha is, finding the solutions to remove it from your kundali must be a priority.

Fortunately, there are some remedies and rituals through which you can reduce the impacts. In astrology, specific recommendations suggest methods based on your charts.

Such techniques alleviate the negative impacts on your life. Through the proper remedy, pandits or gurus eliminate the adverse effects of the malefic planets.

The earlier you remove Pitru Dosha, the quicker you can break free from the karmic cycle. By honouring the ancestors and fulfilling your duties, you will start inviting their blessings.

Moreover, you will remove hindrances and open the path to peace and happiness.

• Pitra Dosh Nivaran Puja- Performed during the pitru paksh or shradh paksh, pitra dosh Nivaran pooja helps in releasing the trapped energies of forefathers. The ritual takes place on Amavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya for blessings.
• Pitru Dosh Shanti Pooja at Holy Places – Performing a pitru dosh puja in sacred sites like Gaya, Haridwar, or Trimbakeshwar is often beneficial. These places hold significant value in the Puranas and have intense spiritual energy to remove curses.
• Feeding Animals – Cows, crows, and dogs often have a connection to their ancestors. Feeding them will help you gain merit and good deeds for the next life. Try donating food and clothes to Brahmins during the new Moon to receive blessings.
• Tarpan or Shraddha Rituals- Offering tarpan with black sesame seeds to forefathers is the best way to reduce the impact of the dosha. Try doing the Shradha or the Pind Dan during Pitru Paksha to ask for forgiveness from the dead relatives. Departed souls will definitely feel satisfied when you start respecting them through rituals.
• Chanting Mantra- Pitru Gayatri Mantra, Maha Mitrunjaya Mantra, and “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” chants are very powerful. Reciting them regularly will cleanse your karmic patterns. Even Chatuh Shloki Bhagwatam gives moksha to the pitras.
• Water to Peepal Tree- Peepal trees have a connection with the spiritual world. Frequently watering them or praying to the tree on Saturdays helps you connect with the energy of forefathers. Try avoiding uprooting or cutting peepal trees, as it can cause trouble in your life.

Healing Pitra Dosha with Awareness and Shri Ganpathi Astro

You now know that the pitra dosha is not a curse but a spiritual message from your ancestors. With consistent efforts and awareness, you can overcome the negative impacts of the kundali defects.

The first step is to understand what pitru dosha is and how it impacts your life. What follows is an inner journey of changing your karmic destiny with good deeds.

While the dosha often brings hardship, it also pushes you towards a spiritual awakening. You begin to understand the value of dharma, family, and mental healing.

However, if you feel the presence of ancestral issues in your life, consulting a trusted astrologer would be a wise choice. Shri Ganpathi Astro is a platform that helps analyse your birth chart to identify the doshas.

Pandit Shri Damodar Rao ji reads your horoscope to offer you personalised pitra dosha remedies. We conduct a deep dive into your kundali to identify planetary disproportions and provide genuine restoratives.

You can also book our different homas and pujas to remove various blockages from your life.

So, set a consultation with us today for a happy and healthy life!

FAQs

• What does pitru dosha mean?

The meaning of pitra dosha is in its name. The word pitra means forefather, and the term dosha means curse. The unsettled souls of your ancestors cause the defects in your horoscope.

• Can a person without a pitra dosha do rituals?

Yes, a person without the impact can perform the pitra dosha pooja. You do the rituals as a sign of respect for your forefathers. It is a good way to gain blessings and good deeds.

• Is pitra dosha always harmful or destructive?

No, pitra dosha is not always harmful or destructive. The impact depends on your kundali’s planetary alignment. With proper rituals, you can reduce the effects.

• What happens after the pitru dosha gets removed?

Once your dosha gets removed, you regain prosperity and peace in life. You will start noticing positivity in your career, relationships, and health.

• How can I identify that I have pitra dosha?

The best way to identify that you have pitru dosha is by consulting an astrologer. Apart from the horoscope, you will notice specific destructive impacts on your life. Bad health, issues in marriage, poor finances, and degrading mental health are some of the pitra dosh effects.

• Which is the right place to remove pitra dosha?

Scared places like Gaya, Trimbakeshwar, Kashi, and Haridwar are the best places to perform pitra dosha nivarana puja. You can perform pind daan and offer tarpan to your forefathers to mitigate the impact.