Free ancestral karma analyser
Pitra Dosha Calculator
पितृ दोष निवारण
Pitra Dosha = ancestral karma debt. Identified through Sun / Moon / Rahu / Ketu / Jupiter placements per Brihat Parashara. Manifests as repeated obstacles in progeny, marriage, wealth, or family — patterns that recur across generations. Use the symptom checker below — no birth chart needed.
Self-check indicators
Progeny / Childbirth issues
Repeated miscarriages, infertility, child-naming difficulties, or child health problems despite no medical cause.
- • Difficulty conceiving despite normal medical reports
- • Miscarriages without medical explanation
- • Child born with chronic illness
- • No male / no female progeny over generations
- • Adopted child also faces same difficulty
If 3+ of the above match, consider getting a kundli analysis. The dosh types below are most likely.
Most likely dosh patterns (3)
Surya Pitra Dosh
सूर्य पितृ दोष
Graha combination
Sun afflicted by Rahu / Ketu in 9th house
Karmic cause
Disrespect shown to father / paternal ancestors in past life. Failure to perform shradh for father's line.
Top remedies
- Perform Pind Daan at Gaya (most powerful) or Pushkar / Kashi
- Offer arghya to Surya every Sunday sunrise w/ red flowers + jaggery water
- Observe Pitru Paksha shradh annually (16 days, Sep-Oct)
- Feed crows, cows, brahmins on amavasya
ॐ पितृ देवताभ्यो नमः
Om Pitri Devatabhyo Namah
Rahu Pitra Dosh
राहु पितृ दोष
Graha combination
Rahu in 5th / 9th house, especially aspected by Mars / Saturn
Karmic cause
Ancestors died with unfulfilled desires; suicide or unnatural death in family line; broken vows / promises to ancestors.
Top remedies
- Narayan Nagbali puja at Trimbakeshwar (3-day Vedic ritual specifically for Pitra Dosh)
- Tripindi Shradh at Trimbakeshwar / Gokarna / Rameswaram
- Donate black sesame + iron + black cloth to brahmin on Saturday
- Feed snakes (milk to snake holes / Nag Panchami)
ॐ राहवे नमः, पितृ देवताभ्यो नमः
Om Rahave Namah, Pitri Devatabhyo Namah
Guru Pitra Dosh
गुरु पितृ दोष
Graha combination
Jupiter combust / debilitated / afflicted in 5th / 9th
Karmic cause
Disrespect to guru / teacher / brahmin in past life. Failure to honour family acharya / kuldevta.
Top remedies
- Re-establish daily kuldevta puja; visit ancestral kuldevta temple yearly
- Serve guru / teacher / spiritual elder w/o expectation
- Donate yellow items (turmeric, gram dal, gold) to brahmin on Thursday
- Recite Vishnu Sahasranama on Thursday
ॐ बृहस्पतये नमः, पितृ देवताभ्यो नमः
Om Brihaspataye Namah, Pitri Devatabhyo Namah
6 Universal remedies — work for all 5 dosh types
These remedies bypass needing a kundli analysis. Per Garuda Purana, sincere intent + correct procedure satisfies pitra. Start with #1 (Pitru Paksha) — biggest annual window.
Remedy #1
Pitru Paksha Shradh
16 days every year (Bhadrapad Krishna Paksha, Sep-Oct). Daily tarpan + brahmin bhojan on the tithi of ancestor's death. Most accessible universal remedy.
Remedy #2
Amavasya Tarpan
Monthly: on every amavasya offer water + black sesame + barley + kusha grass to south direction (yama-dik). 5 minutes, no priest needed.
Remedy #3
Peepal Water Offering
Every Saturday morning: offer water + raw milk + black sesame + a copper coin at base of peepal tree. Light til-oil diya in evening.
Remedy #4
Feed the Five
Pancha-bali on amavasya: portion of meal to cow, dog, crow, brahmin, and a stranger. Garuda Purana mandate.
Remedy #5
Gaya Shradh (lifetime)
Most powerful pitra-dosh nivaran. Pind daan at Vishnu Padam Temple, Gaya. Doable once in lifetime — settles dosh for current and next 7 generations per Vayu Purana.
Remedy #6
Narayan Nagbali (Trimbakeshwar)
3-day Vedic puja specifically for Pitra Dosh + Kalsarpa Dosh combined. Performed only at Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra). 25,000+ INR donation typical to local pandits.
5 Pitra Dosh patterns at a glance
| Dosh type | Graha | Houses | Severity | Affects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surya Pitra Dosh सूर्य पितृ दोष | Sun afflicted by Rahu / Ketu in 9th house | 9 | severe | career, progeny, family |
| Chandra Pitra Dosh चन्द्र पितृ दोष | Moon afflicted by Rahu / Ketu in 4th house | 4 | moderate | family, health, wealth |
| Rahu Pitra Dosh राहु पितृ दोष | Rahu in 5th / 9th house, especially aspected by Mars / Saturn | 5, 9 | severe | progeny, wealth, career |
| Ketu Pitra Dosh केतु पितृ दोष | Ketu in 12th / 5th / 9th house with malefic association | 5, 9, 12 | moderate | career, health, family |
| Guru Pitra Dosh गुरु पितृ दोष | Jupiter combust / debilitated / afflicted in 5th / 9th | 5, 9 | moderate | marriage, progeny, wealth |
FAQs about Pitra Dosha
What is Pitra Dosha in Vedic astrology?
Pitra Dosha is ancestral karma debt indicated by specific Sun / Moon / Rahu / Ketu / Jupiter placements in the birth chart (especially 5th, 9th houses). It manifests as repeated obstacles in progeny, marriage, wealth, or family — patterns that recur across generations without medical or external cause. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and Garuda Purana are the primary classical references.
How do I know if I have Pitra Dosha without a kundli?
Use our symptom checker above. Pick your most pressing life concern (progeny, marriage, wealth, health, family, career). If 3+ of the indicators match, your kundli likely shows one of the 5 Pitra Dosh patterns. A pandit-led kundli analysis confirms which specific graha combination is active.
What is the most powerful Pitra Dosh remedy?
Pind Daan at Gaya (Vishnu Padam Temple, Bihar) is classically considered the supreme remedy — performed once in lifetime, it is said per Vayu Purana to settle ancestral dosh for the current and next seven generations. Narayan Nagbali at Trimbakeshwar (3-day Vedic puja) is the most powerful continuous-residence remedy.
When is the best time to do Pitra Dosh remedies?
Pitru Paksha (Bhadrapad Krishna Paksha, mid-Sep to early-Oct annually) is the most potent 16-day window. Within Pitru Paksha, Mahalaya Amavasya is supreme. Year-round, every amavasya is auspicious for tarpan. Saturdays are best for peepal-tree offerings.
Can household remedies alone cure Pitra Dosh?
Mild Pitra Dosh often responds well to consistent household remedies — daily tarpan, peepal water, feeding cows and crows, Pitru Paksha shradh. Severe dosh (Surya / Rahu Pitra Dosh) usually requires at least one major temple-based ritual (Gaya, Trimbakeshwar, Pushkar, or Kashi) for full resolution.
I don't know my ancestors' details — can I still do shradh?
Yes. Sankalpa during tarpan can address "all known and unknown ancestors of paternal and maternal line" (vidita-avidita pitra). Even without specific names, sincere intention plus correct procedure satisfies Garuda Purana requirements. A pandit at Gaya / Pushkar will guide the sankalpa wording.
Why feed crows and dogs as part of Pitra Dosh remedy?
Per Garuda Purana, ancestors are said to take subtle form of crows during Pitru Paksha to receive offerings. Dogs are vehicles of Yama. Pancha-bali (5-portion offering: cow, dog, crow, brahmin, stranger) on amavasya completes the ancestor-feeding cycle prescribed in dharma shastras.
Does Pitra Dosha affect only Hindus?
The astrological mechanism — specific graha placements indicating ancestral patterns — is universal in Jyotisha. The remedies are Vedic / Hindu. Anyone with an ancestral lineage carrying unfinished karmic patterns can benefit from the underlying principle of honouring ancestors, regardless of religion.
Want a pandit to confirm + customise remedies?
The symptom checker gives a strong hint. A verified Vedic astrologer analyses your full kundli, current dasha, and ancestral history to prescribe the exact Pitra Dosh nivaran karma for you.