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The detailed version of this article is featured in the book ‘Pitra Dosh – Ancestors are Calling (Revised Edition 2020).
Pitra Dosh in Third House
The third house of horoscope represents brothers, sisters, courage, communication, neighbours, profession, efforts, colleagues and teammates among other things.
As we know, there are three categories of Pitra Dosh on the basis of formation. The first one is formed due to affliction to Sun, the second one is formed due to affliction to the ninth house and the third one is formed due to affliction to the lord of the ninth house. Let’s discuss the first and third category of Pitra Dosh formed in the third house. Since Pitra Dosh due to affliction to the ninth house may not form in the third house; this category can’t be discussed here.
Let’s start with Pitra Dosh formed due to affliction to Sun. Suppose benefic Sun and malefic Ketu form Pitra Dosh in the third house of a horoscope in Sagittarius. Sun and Ketu are both strong in Sagittarius. Hence the overall strength of such Pitra Dosh depends on their nakshatra as well as navamsha placements. Sun rules the eleventh house in this horoscope.
Therefore, the native suffering from such Pitra Dosh may face problems related to profession, siblings, friends, health, finances, father and children among other issues. Whichever of these spheres are protected by benefic planets in this horoscope; they may not suffer much. The spheres which are neither protected nor troubled may face significant damage. The spheres which are troubled by other malefic planets also; may face maximum damage due to such Pitra Dosh. Let’s look into some of these spheres and explore various options.
Starting with the sphere of profession; such Pitra Dosh affects two houses related to profession. The eleventh house deals with financial gains through profession as well as with expansion of profession. The third house deals with the desire or ability to choose suitable profession. The formation of such Pitra Dosh may cause problems related to all these spheres. Hence the native may not be able to decide which line of profession he should engage in. He may like some specific fields of profession but he may not be able to engage in them, due to such Pitra Dosh. It may happen due to the influence of family members or friends who may try to push the native into some other field of profession. Hence the native may end up engaging in a profession that he may not like.
In some cases, such Pitra Dosh may cause confusion related to the field of profession. Hence the native may have to change jobs or field of profession; a number of times in his life. Between such changes; periods of being jobless may trouble this native. For instance, the native may start a business venture, he may neither like it nor succeed in it. Hence he may face losses and he may quit such business. He may have to wait for significant or long period of time before he may engage in a job or a new business.
If the overall horoscope of this native is suitable for job, he may have to change his job a number of times. In some cases, the jobs may be terminated by the employers as they may not find the native suitable for such jobs. In some other cases, the native may himself quit the jobs as he may not like such jobs or he may face issues with his colleagues and teammates.
There are a number of other problems related to profession that such Pitra Dosh may create; depending on the overall horoscope of the native in question. The quantum of such problems significantly depends on the strength of such Pitra Dosh. The strength of such Pitra Dosh depends on the placements of Sun and Ketu in various nakshatras as well as navamshas, influences of benefic and malefic planets on these two planets and on the running times.
Let’s find out how the influences of benefic and malefic planets, the overall horoscope and the running times may change the results indicated by such Pitra Dosh. Moon represents the tenth house of this horoscope, Jupiter represents the third house and Venus represents the first house of this horoscope. Sun and Mars represent profession in general. Hence more is the number of favourable factors for these planets and houses in the horoscope; less will be the damage caused by such Pitra Dosh. On the other hand, more is the number of malefic influences on these houses and planets; more will be the quantum of problems caused by such Pitra Dosh.
When it comes to the running times; the planetary periods of benefic planets other than Sun may reduce the effect of such Pitra Dosh to significant extents. The planetary period of Sun may reduce this effect to maximum possible extent. The planetary periods of malefic planets other than Ketu may increase the negativity of such Pitra Dosh. When the planetary period of Ketu is in effect; such Pitra Dosh may gain maximum possible strength in the horoscope. This is when the native may face the most serious problems caused by such Pitra Dosh.
Let’s consider an example when the overall horoscope is malefic. Suppose benefic Sun and Malefic Ketu form Pitra Dosh in the third house of a horoscope in Sagittarius. Sun is placed in Cancer navamsha and Ketu is placed in Aries navamsha of Magha nakshatra. Let’s see what type of problems such Pitra Dosh may cause, based on the remaining factors in this horoscope. Venus is placed in the first house in Libra and malefic Mercury is placed in the third house in Sagittarius along with Sun and Ketu. Benefic Saturn is placed in the fourth house in Capricorn along with malefic debilitated retrograde Jupiter; and malefic Rahu is placed in the ninth house in Gemini. Benefic Mars is placed in the eighth house in Taurus.
Benefic Saturn forms Shasha Yoga in this horoscope though this yoga is diluted by malefic Jupiter. Placement of malefic Mercury adds more negativity to Pitra Dosh in the third house. In general, Mercury acts as a partly malefic planet for Libra ascendant; though the benefic part may be much higher than the malefic part. However, the percentages of benefic and malefic parts of Mercury may increase or decrease; depending on its placements in various houses, signs, nakshatras and navamshas; as well as on the influences of benefic and malefic planets on Mercury; and on the overall theme of the horoscope. Due to strong malefic influence of Ketu; Mercury may turn 50 to 70% malefic in this case; depending on other relevant factors.
According to the basic setup of this horoscope, the native may join defence forces like police force or the army. However, the overall horoscope is troubled for the lifespan of this native. Hence he may die or get killed while doing his duty. The timing of death depends on the finer factors as well as on the running times. For instance, if Moon is placed in the sixth house in Pisces in Poorvabhadrapada nakshatra, the native may die between his age of 45 and 50. However, if Moon is placed in the sixth house in Revati nakshatra, the native may die between his age of 25 and 35; unless the finer factors oppose this event.
Let’s consider an example where the overall horoscope is benefic and strong. Suppose Pitra Dosh is formed in the third house in Sagittarius. Sun is placed in Uttarashada nakshatra and Ketu is placed in Poorvashada nakshatra. A combination of Venus and Mercury is placed in the fourth house in Capricorn and Rahu is placed in the ninth house in Gemini. Mars forms Ruchaka Yoga in the seventh house in Aries and Saturn forms Shasha Yoga in the first house in Libra. Benefic Moon is placed in the seventh house along with Mars; forming Chandra Mangal Yoga and Jupiter is placed in the eleventh house in Leo.
In this case, the overall horoscope becomes benefic and strong. Hence this horoscope may become capable of drawing benefic results from the malefic planets and malefic combinations. The concept of malefic planets turning into benefic planets by virtue of overall strong and benefic horoscope has been explained in the chapter ‘Vipreet Rajyoga’ of the book ‘Important Yogas in Vedic Astrology’.
As a result, the native may achieve a post of high authority in defence services. Such native is likely to become a high rank police officer or an army officer. This native may enjoy very good career and his lifespan may also not be in trouble. Since Moon is placed in Aries, the native may be born under Ketu, Venus or Sun Mahadasha. Even if the native is born during Ketu Mahadasha, he may remain safe and he may not face Ketu Mahadasha again during his lifetime; since it repeats after 120 years. The benefic influence of Chandra Mangal Yoga in the seventh house may also bless this native with wife who may be a renowned doctor or a high authority government officer.
Let’s discuss Pitra Dosh formed in the third house due to affliction to the lord of the ninth house by one or more than one malefic planet. Suppose benefic Saturn and malefic exalted Jupiter form Pitra Dosh in the third house of a horoscope in Cancer. Saturn represents the ninth as well as the tenth house. Jupiter represents the eighth and eleventh house. Jupiter is exalted and hence much stronger than Saturn in Cancer.
As a result, the native may face problems related to profession, father, spiritual growth, religion, luck factor, patience, discipline, authority, reputation, siblings, colleagues, properties and many other types of problems.
Such Pitra Dosh may attack a number of spheres of this native’s life. Among them; whichever spheres are protected by benefic planets; they may not suffer much. Whichever spheres are neither protected nor troubled; may witness significant problems. The spheres which are troubled by other malefic planets also; may witness maximum damage due to such Pitra Dosh.
Let’s consider the field of profession. Since the third house is afflicted and the lord of the tenth house is also afflicted; such Pitra Dosh may create serious problems related to profession of this native. Hence the first house should be strong and the tenth house should have benefic planet or planets in it; so that the problems related to profession may be reduced or rectified. Taking an example, suppose a benefic combination of Sun and Mercury forms Budhaditya Yoga in the tenth house of this horoscope in Aquarius. Benefic exalted Moon is placed in the first house in Taurus, Mars is placed in the fourth house in Leo and exalted Venus is placed in the eleventh house in Pisces.
In this case, the lord of the third house as well as the lord of the first house is exalted. The tenth house is empowered by benefic planets. The first house in particular becomes very strong since benefic exalted Moon is placed in this house and the lord of this house is exalted. Hence Pitra Dosh formed in the third house may not cause significant problems related to the profession of this native. Since Sun receives support from Mercury; the father of this native should also do fine. In the same way, the other fields affected by such Pitra Dosh may recover; if they are blessed by benefic influences.
Let’s look at this equation from the opposite angle. Suppose Pitra Dosh is formed by benefic Saturn and malefic exalted Jupiter in the third house in Cancer. A malefic combination of Sun and Ketu is placed in the tenth house in Aquarius, debilitated Mercury is placed in the eleventh house in Pisces and Venus is placed in the twelfth house in Aries. Malefic Rahu is placed in the fourth house in Leo and a malefic combination of debilitated Moon and Mars is placed in the seventh house in Scorpio.
In this case, the overall theme of this horoscope turns malefic; especially for profession, marriage and father. Hence the native may not witness professional establishment till late in his life or throughout his life; depending on the finer factors and running times. Due to such Pitra Dosh, the native may lose his father early in his life. Ketu forms another Pitra Dosh in the tenth house of this horoscope in Aquarius; by afflicting Sun. Hence the combined effect of both types of Pitra Dosh may not let the native enjoy the company of his father for long. When it comes to marriage; malefic Mars forms Manglik Dosh in the seventh house. Apart from that, Venus is not well placed in this horoscope. Hence the native may witness delay in his marriage and he may also face a number of problems after he gets married.
Similarly; the type and quantum of problems related to the other spheres may also be assessed by looking into the factors relevant to those spheres as well as by looking into the overall theme of the horoscope. Looking at the running times, when the planetary periods of benefic planets are in effect; the problems posed by such Pitra Dosh may reduce. On the other hand, the planetary periods of malefic planets other than the ones involved in the formation of Pitra Dosh may increase the quantum of such problems. When the planetary periods of malefic planets involved in the formation of Pitra Dosh are in effect, this defect may cause maximum possible damage.
Himanshu Shangari