The fourth house of horoscope represents mother, home, family, community, nation, traditions, beliefs, security, education, properties, vehicles, mental health, emotional wellbeing, peace of mind and many other things. Though the fourth as well as the second house represent family; they do so in different ways.
The family represented by the second house is your immediate family like your mother, father, brothers, sisters, wife and children. However, the family represented by the fourth house includes the relatives from your father’s side as well as the relatives from your mother’s side; and other relatives. It means the second house represents that branch of the family which directly belongs to you whereas the fourth house represents living members of your family tree. Hence the fourth house represents family on a much bigger level.
The fourth house also represents community. It can be seen that a community in most cases is an expansion of the family. It means your immediate community may include living members of your family tree and other likewise people. In the same way, a state or a country or a nation may also be considered as bigger expansion of the concept of the family. The expression ‘this is my home country’ or ‘this country is my home’ directly relates to the fourth house since the concept of home belongs to the fourth house. Hence the fourth house deals with extended family on various levels. Highly evolved souls may see the whole world as their families. It means the fourth house has the capacity to expand the concept of family to any limits.
When it comes to traditions, they are represented by the second, fourth and ninth house. It has already been discussed that the second house represents the traditions of your immediate family whereas the ninth house deals with traditions given by religion. When it comes to the fourth house, it represents traditions formed by communities, states or countries. For example, if you stand up when the national anthem of your country is played; it is a tradition given by the fourth house. Similarly, if people in your community are allowed to marry their cousins and some other likewise relatives; this tradition is represented by the fourth house. Likewise, if your community prohibits people from getting married to people from other communities, this restriction or tradition is represented by the fourth house.
It should be noted that if a religion allows its followers to marry their cousins and some other likewise family members; this tradition is represented by the ninth house. Similarly, if your religion asserts that you should get married to someone who belongs to the same religion only; this tradition is also represented by the ninth house. On the same line, when people show tendencies to engage in wars or violent actions for the sake of their religions; such tendencies reflect through the ninth house. Compared to this, when people show tendencies to engage in wars or violent actions for the sake of their families, communities, states or countries; such tendencies reflect through the fourth house. It means the ninth house tends to make you religious whereas the fourth house tends to give you patriotism.
It can be seen that the fourth house is an important house since it represents the bigger version of you. This means that your family, your community, your state and your country may be bigger versions of you. In other words, you may be a smaller version of your country, state, community and family. It can be seen that the concept of security is primarily related to the wellbeing of the self, the family, the community, the state, the country and the world. This means you may feel insecure when you or your family faces a risky or unfortunate situation. In the same way, you may feel insecure when bad event are happening in your community, state, country or in the world. For example, the current threat of COVID-19 or Corona Virus is making a large number of people across the world feel insecure since the world is collectively in danger.
Now that we have understood the relevance as well as the importance of the fourth house, it may be easy to understand that Pitra Dosh formed in the fourth house may create serious problems. Since most concepts which connect you to your roots and which also make you expand through such roots belong to the fourth house; Pitra Dosh formed here may directly cause damage to your roots.
Let’s consider various formations of Pitra Dosh in the fourth house and see what may happen in each case. As we know, there are three categories of Pitra Dosh on the basis of its formation.
Suppose benefic Sun and malefic retrograde Mercury form Pitra Dosh in the fourth house of a horoscope in Aquarius. Scorpio rises in the ascendant in this case.
Through its general as well as specific significances; Sun represents profession, reputation, status, authority, public image, immunity, courage, confidence, intelligence, creativity, father and the ability to produce children in case of male natives; among many other things.
Through its general and specific significances; Mercury represents cleverness, intellect, analytical abilities, speech, communication, mathematical skills, profession, financial gains, friends, associates, networks, age, death, obstacles, accidents, losses, destruction, diseases, surgeries, crime, calamities, revolutions, murders, the occult, paranormal, supernatural, psychic perception, spiritual growth, secrets, mysteries, hidden operations, investigations and many other things.
Hence such Pitra Dosh may create problems related to father, mother, children, mental health, education, properties, vehicles, immunity, courage, confidence, health, lifespan, profession, spiritual growth, mysterious events, unfortunate events, accidents and losses of various types; among other things.
The type and quantum of such problems depend on the strength of such Pitra Dosh, on the overall horoscope as well as on the running times. The strength of such Pitra Dosh depends on the placements of Sun and Mercury in various nakshatras and navamshas within the sign of Aquarius. Apart from this, influences of other benefic and malefic planets and the running times also affect the strength of this defect.
Let’s look into these factors and let’s start with nakshatras. Sun and Mercury can form nine probable combinations of Pitra Dosh in various nakshatras falling in the sign of Aquarius. If both Sun and Mercury are placed in Dhanishtha nakshatra; such Pitra Dosh may create serious or very serious problems. If Sun is placed in Dhanishtha and Mercury is placed in Shatabhisha; such Pitra Dosh may create serious or very serious problems. If Sun is placed in Dhanishtha and Mercury is placed in Poorvabhadrapada; such Pitra Dosh may create serious or very serious problems.
When Sun is placed in Shatabhisha and Mercury is placed in Dhanishtha, such Pitra Dosh may create significant problems. When both Sun and Mercury are placed in Shatabhisha nakshatra, such Pitra may create serious or very serious problems. When Sun is placed in Shatabhisha and Mercury is in Poorvabhadrapada, the problems may be very serious or destructive.
When Sun is placed in Poorvabhadrapada and Mercury is in Dhanishtha, the problems may be significant or serious. When Sun is placed in Poorvabhadrapada and Mercury is in Shatabhisha, the problems may be serious or very serious. When both Sun and Mercury are placed in Poorvabhadrapada, the problems may be serious, very serious or destructive.
Looking at the worst combination, when Sun is placed in Shatabhisha and Mercury is placed in Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra; such Pitra Dosh may prove destructive. Hence the native may witness maximum damage to the spheres affected by such Pitra Dosh. Likewise, when both Sun and Mercury are placed in Poorvabhadrapada, such Pitra Dosh may prove destructive.
When it comes to the formation of Pitra Dosh due to the placement of Sun and Mercury in various navamshas within the sign of Aquarius, there are 81 probable combinations. Let’s discuss some of these combinations. The sign of Aquarius features nine navamshas like all other signs. The first two navamshas Libra and Scorpio are ruled by Dhanishtha. Shatabhisha rules the next four navamshas from Sagittarius to Pisces. Poorvabhadrapada rules the last three navamshas from Aries to Gemini.
If Sun is placed in Scorpio navamsha and Mercury is placed in Pisces navamsha, the problems may be significant but manageable. If Sun is placed in Libra and Mercury is placed in Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius or Pisces navamsha; the problems may be significant or serious. If Sun is placed in Sagittarius, Capricorn or Pisces navamsha and Mercury is placed in Aries, Taurus or Gemini navamsha; the problems may be serious or very serious. Looking at the worst possible options; if Sun is placed in Aquarius or Gemini navamsha and Mercury is placed in Aries navamsha; such Pitra Dosh may prove destructive.
Considering Aquarius navamsha, Sun is not comfortable in Shatabhisha as well as in Aquarius. Sun is placed in Shatabhisha and in Aquarius in the birth chart as well as navamsha chart in this case. Hence it may become difficult for Sun to handle so much discomfort. Looking at Mercury; Poorvabhadrapada is known for its destructive tendencies and the eighth house deals with destruction. It means the combination of the lord of the eighth house and Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra in a horoscope may prove destructive. Most forms of destruction require significant amounts of energy. The placement of Mercury in Aries navamsha provides that energy. This is why Mercury may prove more destructive in Aries navamsha of Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra compared to Taurus and Gemini navamsha. Likewise, when Sun is placed in Gemini navamsha and Mercury is placed in Aries navamsha, this combination may prove destructive.
Taurus and Gemini are softer signs and they may not create destruction of high quantum in most cases. On the other hand, fiery signs are the most destructive among all signs. It means Aries, Leo and Sagittarius can prove much more destructive than all other signs. Ketu represents destruction among other things. It is interesting to see that the three nakshatras Ashwini, Magha and Moola ruled by Ketu are all placed in fiery signs; Aries, Leo and Sagittarius respectively. The placement of Ketu’s nakshatras in these signs help these signs with the acts of destruction.
When it comes to relief; much depends on Moon and Saturn. Moon represents emotional wellbeing in general and Saturn represents the fourth house in this case. Therefore, if Moon and Saturn are strong and clean in this horoscope, the native may not face serious or significant problems related to his mental health; though he may still face problems. On the other hand, if Moon and Saturn are weak, afflicted or troubled in this horoscope; the native may suffer from serious psychological problems. Taking an example, if benefic exalted Moon is placed in the seventh house of this horoscope in Taurus and Saturn is placed in the eleventh house in Virgo; the problem may reduce significantly. In this case, the native may suffer from psychological issues like restlessness and anxiety from time to time.
However, such issues may be managed with medicines and therapies. The exceptions in this case are the planetary periods of Mercury and Rahu. If the planetary period of one of these planets hits the native; he may face significant or serious psychological problems; depending on his overall horoscope. Planetary periods are decided on the basis of placements of Moon in various nakshatras. Since Moon is placed in Taurus, it can be placed in Krittika, Rohini or Mrigshira nakshatra. In all these cases; the native may not face the planetary period of Mercury till 80 years of his age. Hence Mercury’s period may not be a concern. However, the native may face the 18 year Rahu period anywhere between his age of 4 and 40 years.
For example, if Moon is placed in the first navamsha of Taurus, ruled by the second part of Krittika nakshatra; Rahu period may rule the native between his age of 19 and 37. On the other hand, if Moon is placed in the ninth and the last navamsha of Taurus, ruled by the second part of Mrigashira nakshatra; Rahu period may rule this native between his age of 4 and 22 years. In both these cases; the native may suffer from significant or serious psychological problems.
The sooner this period hits the native; more intense and prolonged the problems may be. This is because if you are affected by serious psychological problems during your childhood; you may not fully recover throughout your life. However, if your childhood is clean and such problems hit you during the twenties or thirties; you have good chances of getting out of them. Hence much depends on the placement of Moon within the sign of Taurus.
This all may sound troublesome but remember; this is what may happen in case Moon and Saturn are supportive for mental health. Let’s now look at the state of affairs when Moon and Saturn are also troubled in this horoscope. Suppose debilitated Saturn is placed in the sixth house of this horoscope in Aries and debilitated Moon is placed in the first house in Scorpio in the first part of Anuradha nakshatra, falling in Leo navamsha. In this case, the native may suffer from serious psychological problems and he may not be able to get out of them; throughout his life.
Both Moon and Saturn are debilitated and hence they may not be capable of protecting their significances. Debilitated Saturn is placed in the sixth house which rules diseases among other things. The placement of Moon in the first part of Anuradha nakshatra means that the native is born during the beginning phase of Saturn Mahadasha (planetary period). Saturn is in serious trouble in this horoscope. The planetary period of Saturn lasts for 19 years followed by the 17 year planetary period of Mercury. It means the native may remain under the impact of very troublesome planetary periods for about 35 years of his life; counting from the time of his birth.
As a result, the native is likely to be born with significant or serious psychological disorders; depending on the rest of his horoscope. In addition to that, he may never get rid of such disorders, throughout his life. This is because he may suffer from them for the first 35 years of his life; which is a very long period of time. Apart from that, the 7 year Ketu period follows Mercury period and the 20 year Venus period follows Ketu period. Since Ketu is malefic in this horoscope and Venus has high probability of being malefic in this horoscope as it rules the twelfth house; the native may never get out of such problems.
This may seem a lot to digest but even this is not the extreme. Within the sign of Aquarius; the placements of Sun, Mercury and Rahu may dictate the type of psychological disorders the native may suffer from. Within the sign of Aquarius, there are about 729 probable combinations that these three planets can form by virtue of their placements in various nakshatras and navamshas. It means within Aquarius; 729 sub-types of such Pitra Dosh can be formed. This gives us an idea about the complexity of calculations in astrology. Discussing all these combinations may not be possible here. Let’s look at some significant ones.
If all three planets are placed in Dhanishtha nakshatra; the native may suffer from serious problems like anxiety, restlessness, depression and other likewise problems. This is the minimum such native may get away with. If all three planets are placed in Shatabhisha nakshatra; madness or insanity may be the common outcome in most cases. In this case, the native may have to spend many years of his life in a mental asylum and he may even die in a mental asylum in extreme cases of this type. If all three planets are placed in Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra; the native may suffer from problems like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia (commonly known as split personality disorder). Poorvabhadrapada is all about duality and destruction. Hence the native may keep moving from one extreme of emotions or personality type to another; almost throughout his life.
Himanshu Shangari