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The detailed version of this article is featured in the book ‘Match Making & Manglik Dosh (Revised Edition 2020)’.
Tara Dosh in Horoscope Matching
Tara koot carries 3 points or Gunas in the system of Gun Milaan. Different number of points are assigned for Tara matching, based on how the Taras of male and female match with each other; according to the rules of Gun Milaan.
Let’s try to understand what a Tara is in a horoscope and what the importance of Tara matching is, in the process of Gun Milaan. All planets among navagraha move from one sign to another and from one nakshatra to another, in cyclic motion. Accordingly, Moon also travels from Ashwini to Revati nakshatra and from Aries to Pisces in a cyclic movement. At any given point in time; Moon is present in a particular nakshatra and in a particular sign. Suppose Moon is present in Rohini nakshatra and Taurus sign at this time. It means that the natives born during this time will have Moon placed in Rohini nakshatra and in Taurus sign, in their birth charts. Hence the birth nakshatra of these natives is Rohini and the birth sign or Raashi of these natives is Taurus.
Vedic astrology assigns nine types of Taras to different nakshatras. Hence all 27 nakshatras are divided into 9 groups of Taras, with each group containing 3 nakshatras. Tara is calculated from the birth nakshatra of native according to the following rules laid by Vedic astrology.
Birth nakshatra is taken as the 1st nakshatra and it is called Janma Tara.
The 2nd nakshatra from birth nakshatra is called Sampat Tara.
The 3rd nakshatra from birth nakshatra is called Vipat Tara.
The 4th nakshatra from birth nakshatra is called Kshem or Chhem Tara.
The 5th nakshatra from birth nakshatra is called Pratyari Tara.
The 6th nakshatra from birth nakshatra is called Saadhak Tara.
The 7th nakshatra from birth nakshatra is called Vadh Tara.
The 8th nakshatra form birth nakshatra is called Mitra Tara.
The 9th nakshatra from birth nakshatra is called Ati-Mitra Tara.
The 10th nakshatra from birth nakshatra is taken as the 1st nakshatra and the 11th nakshatra from birth nakshatra is taken as the 2nd nakshatra. This process goes on like this up to 27th nakshatra from birth nakshatra, which is taken as the 9th nakshatra and it is called Ati-Mitra Tara. Taking an example, if Moon is placed in Ashwini nakshatra in the birth chart of a native, Ashwini is this native’s birth nakshatra and Janma Tara. The rest of the nakshatras are called Sampat to Ati-Mitra Taras as per the above mentioned rules.
Here is a table showing Tara relationships for a native having his birth nakshatra as Ashwini.
| Janma Tara | Ashwini | Magha | Moola |
| Sampat Tara | Bharani | Poorvaphalguni | Poorvashada |
| Vipat Tara | Krittika | Uttaraphalguni | Uttarashada |
| Kshem Tara | Rohini | Hasta | Shravana |
| Pratyari Tara | Mrigashira | Chitra | Dhanishtha |
| Saadhak Tara | Ardra | Swati | Shatabhisha |
| Vadh Tara | Punarvasu | Vishakha | Poorvabhadrapada |
| Mitra Tara | Pushya | Anuradha | Uttarabhadrapada |
| Ati-Mitra Tara | Ashlesha | Jyeshtha | Revati |
Similarly, Tara relationship can be found for all other birth nakshatras, using this procedure. According to the rules of Vedic astrology; 3rd, 5th and 7th nakshatra from the birth nakshatra of a native are considered as malefic or inauspicious nakshatras for the native. The same rule is applied in the process of Gun Milaan. Hence for a native with Ashwini as his birth nakshatra; Krittika, Uttaraphalguni and Uttarashada are 3rd nakshatras which means they represent Vipat Tara for him.
If Tara of male is 3rd, 5th or 7th with respect to birth nakshatra of female, it is considered as a malefic or inauspicious Tara. Similarly, if Tara of female is 3rd, 5th or 7th with respect to Janma nakshatra of male, it is considered as a malefic or inauspicious Tara. This way, the mutual Tara relationship for male and female is calculated. If Taras for both male and female are auspicious, 3 out of 3 Gunas are assigned for Tara match.
However, if there is a match of Shubh (auspicious) and Ashubh (inauspicious) Taras, Tara Dosh is formed. According to this system, both Taras can’t be Ashubh at the same time though they can be Shubh at the same time. Taking an example, suppose male’s Tara is Ashwini (1st nakshatra) and female’s Tara is Krittika (3rd nakshatra). Counting from male’s Tara, female’s Tara is 3rd and counting from female’s Tara, male’s Tara is 26th.
When we get a number higher than 9, it is divided by 9 and the remainder is considered. When we divide 26 by 9, the remainder is 8. Hence male’s Tara is 8th from female’s Tara. Accordingly, the relationship we get is 3-8. If such number is fully divided by 9, then 9 is considered as the Tara. For example, the 18th and 27th nakshatra from every nakshatra give us numbers 18 and 27 respectively. Both these numbers are fully divided by 9, leaving no remainder. Hence the Taras represented by such nakshatras will be counted as 9th Taras. In the table; the 9th, 18th and 27th nakshatras which are Ashlesha, Jyeshtha and Revati respectively; represent 9th Tara which is Ati-Mitra (best friend) Tara; for the native having Ashwini as his birth nakshatra.
Moving on, for Ashwini and Mrigashira (5th nakshatra), we get a relationship of 5-6. Similarly, for Ashwini and Punarvasu (7th nakshatra), we get a relationship of 7-4. Hence both Taras can’t be Ashubh at the same time. However, both Taras can be Shubh at the same time. Taking an example; for Ashwini and Bharani (2nd Nakshatra), we get a relationship of 2-9. None of these numbers is 3, 5 or 7. Therefore, both Taras are Shubh.
Hence if there is a match of Shubh and Ashubh Taras, Tara Dosh is formed. Vedic astrology associates Tara with destiny and other important aspects of the native. It is believed that the presence of Tara Dosh in horoscope matching can create various types problems for the couple. These problems may range from delays and disturbances in many spheres of their lives and they may go up to divorce or death of one of the partners. Hence Tara Dosh is considered as a significant defect.
Now that we know the relevance of Tara matching in Gun Milaan, let’s look at its actual relevance in the process of horoscope matching. There are no doubts that the specific problems indicated by three types of Tara Dosh may trouble one of the partners if one such marriage is conducted. However, these tendencies are mild compared to those indicated by various planets in both horoscopes. Hence Tara Dosh may create serious problems in marriage; only if it is supported by the overall horoscopes of both natives. If the overall horoscopes match well; Tara Dosh may not be able to create serious or even significant problems.
Let’s try to understand this concept with the help of an example and let’s consider the most difficult Tara; the 7th one called Vadh Tara. Suppose Moon is placed in the first house of a male native’s horoscope in Aries in Ashwini nakshatra. Suppose Moon is placed in the seventh house of a female native’s horoscope in Libra in Vishakha nakshatra. In this case, Tara relationship of 7-4 is formed where female’s Tara is 7th from male’s Tara. Hence this combination may trouble the male with serious problems or it may cause his death; if this marriage is conducted.
Let’s consider female’s horoscope. Moon is benefic and it is placed in the seventh house, which represents marriage as well as husband and wife. Benefic Moon placed in this house may prove good for the wellbeing of marriage as well as for the lifespan of husband or wife; which is husband in this case. Suppose benefic Venus is placed in the second house of this horoscope in Taurus and exalted Jupiter is placed in the fourth house of this horoscope in Cancer.
Jupiter is the general signifier of husband for a female and Venus is the specific signifier of husband, since it rules the seventh house in this horoscope. Hence the three most important factors for marriage and wellbeing of husband for this female native are Jupiter, Venus and the seventh house. Jupiter as well as Venus is strong and the seventh house is empowered by benefic Moon. Hence Tara Dosh may not cause even mild problems related to the wellbeing of husband of this female in this case; provided the rest of her horoscope is supportive.
Let’s look at this equation from the opposite angle. Suppose malefic Ketu is placed with Moon in the seventh house in Libra and Grahan Yoga is formed. Suppose debilitated Venus is placed in the sixth house in Virgo and Jupiter is placed in the eighth house in Scorpio along with malefic retrograde Mercury. In this case; the seventh house, Jupiter and Venus are all troubled. Hence Tara Dosh may become duly effective in this case.
As a result, such female native may lose her husband to death; if the rest of her horoscope doesn’t rectify these problems and if the horoscope of her husband is also not supportive for long life. In case the rest of her horoscope is also malefic but her husband’s horoscope is strong enough to protect him; he may not die but the marriage may break or he may suffer from serious health issues.
Similarly, there are a number of other probable malefic combinations in both the horoscopes, which may increase the strength of Tara Dosh. On the other hand, there are a number of other probable benefic combinations in both the horoscopes, which may reduce the strength of Tara Dosh. Hence each and every relevant factor in both horoscopes should be checked properly, in order to determine whether or not Tara Dosh may create problems in the marriage of two natives, under consideration for horoscope matching.
Himanshu Shangari