"If the Sun, Mars, Rähu and Saturn duly strong are posited in the 5^th house and Jupiter, the käraka for children is weak, it will give rise to a yoga for childlessness." (BPHS 85.8)
There are countless combinations for childlessness, but the above two are listed by the Mahärñi in the chapter dealing with curses from the past life. So these specific combinations will indicate that the reason leading for childlessness is a curse from the native’s previous life. Jupiter is the natural käraka for children, in charts of both males and females. The implication of the lord of the 5^th house is clear, as it denotes children and childbirth. The lagna lord will indicate the situation of the native both physically and karmically. The 7^th lord on the other hand will indicate the situation of the wife, also in these two senses. This is important, because if there’s a curse in the spouse’s chart, then childbirth may also become impossible. In this regard Paräçara mentions the following three combinations in Chapter 18 of BPHS (çlokas 4-6), which indicate that the native’s wife will be käkabandhyä (i.e. the first child will die, and she will become sterile after the first pregnancy):
1) The 5th lord is in the 6th house, and the lagna lord is in conjunction with Mars;
2) The 5th lord is in debility, and is situated in the 12th, 6th or 8th house, while Mercury is in
     the 5th;
3) The 5th lord is in debility or does not aspect the 5th, while Saturn and Mercury are in the
     5th

1.2. Curse of the Snakes (Nägas)

1.5. Curse of the Brother

1.6. Curse of the Maternal Uncle

The remedies for this kind of curse, which can reprieve someone of knowledge, wisdom and the sense of discrimination, are:

1) installation of Lord Viñëu’s Deity,
2) construction of a water pond, well or embankment.

The curses of brähmaëas appear when the native was disrespectful to brähmaëas or his teachers, Gurus in his previous life or if he has committed any sins against them like criticising them, stealing from them, killing a brähmaëa or breaking his wows of purity. The brähmaëas are the topmost members of the society, and they are especially favoured by the Lord. Mahärñi Paräçara specifically mentions that this offensive mentality may develop if one becomes proud of his excessive power, property, physical strength, status, wealth etc. The combinations are the following (BPHS 85.71-78.):

1) Rähu is in Jupiter’s sign, and 5^th house has Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, while the 9^th lord is in
     the 8^th.
2) 9^th lord in 5^th, 5^th lord in 8^th with Jupiter, Mars and Rähu or aspected by them.
3) 9^th lord in debility, 12^th lord in 5^th conjoined or aspected by Rähu.
4) Jupiter is debilitated, Rähu is in the lagna or 5th, and 5^th lord is in 6^th, 8^th or 12^th.
5) Jupiter as 5^th lord is in 8^th conjoined with malefics.
6) 5^th lord is in 8^th with Sun and Moon.
7) Jupiter is in the naväàça of Saturn, while Saturn, Mars and 5^th lord are in the 12^th.
8 ) Jupiter and Saturn in lagna, while Rähu is in the 9^th.
9 ) Rähu and Jupiter are in the 12^th house.

The remedies suggested are:
1) observance of the cändräyaëa fast;
2) donation of a cow, money, païcaratna and gold to a brähmaëa.
3) Also feeding the brähmaëas is a good remedial measure.

The wife should be protected and the husband should be faithful to her. If he divorces her, abandons or betrays her, especially after she has born children, then the effects of the curse may be expected in his next life. The following combinations will indicate this (BPHS 85.82-92.):
1 ) 7^th lord is in the 5^th, Saturn is in the naväàça of the 7^th lord, while 5^th lord is in the 8th.
2)  7^th and 5^th lords are in the 8^th; Jupiter conjoins malefics.
3)  Venus is in the 5^th, 7^th lord in the 8^th, and Jupiter conjoins malefics.
4)  2^nd and 5^th houses have malefics, while 7^th lord is in the 8^th.
5)  Venus is in the 9^th, 7^th lord in 8^th, while lagna and 5^th have malefics
6)  Venus is lord of 9^th, 5^th lord is in inimical sign, while Jupiter, lagna and 7^th lords are in 6^th,
     8^th or 12^th houses.
7) Moon and Rähu are in 5^th lorded by Venus, and malefics are in 12^th, lagna and 2^nd.
8) Saturn and Venus in the 7^th, 8^th lord is in 5^th, and Sun with Rähu in lagna.
9) Mars in 2^nd, Jupiter in 12^th, Venus in 5^th, under the aspect of Saturn and Rähu.
10) 2^nd and 7^th lords are in the 8^th, Mars and Saturn are in lagna, while 5^th and Jupiter
     conjoined by malefics.
11) Rähu in lagna, Saturn in 5^th, and Mars in 9^th, while 5^th and 7th lords are in the 8^th.

Upäyas recommended for this curse are:

	1) kanyädänam, i.e. performing the marriage of an unmarried girl,
	2) or donation of golden mürtis of Lakñmé-Näräyaëa, ten cows, a bed, jewellery and garments to a brähmaëa.
	3) Helping others to get married and settle down will also be a favourable upäya.

• 

  Saturn and Sun are in the 5^th, weak Moon in the 7^th, while Rähu in lagna and Jupiter in the 12^th.

• 

  Saturn as 5^th lord is in the 8^th with Jupiter.

• 

  Malefic in lagna, Sun in 12^th, while Mars, Saturn and Mercury in 5^th, and 5^th lord in 8^th.

• 

  Rähu in lagna, Saturn in 5^th, and Jupiter in 8^th.

• 

  Venus, Jupiter and Rähu in lagna, Saturn conjoins Moon, and lagna lord in 8^th.

• 

  Jupiter and 5^th lord are debilitated, and aspected by debilitated planets.

• 

  Saturn in lagna, Rähu in 5^th, Sun in 8^th and Mars in 12^th.

• 

  7^th lord is in 6^th, 8^th or 12^th; Moon is in 5^th, while Mars and Gulika in lagna.

• 

  8^th lord, Saturn and Venus in the 5^th, and Jupiter in the 8^th.

The propitiatory measures recommended for preta-doña are:

• 

  1) performance of çräddha at Gayä, abhiñeka of Rudra or Kürmadeva,

• 

  2) donating the Deity of the same, or of a cow, silver and blue sapphire or other items connected with Saturn should be performed.

• 

  3) The donation should be given to brähmaëas along with feeding them and offering dakñiëä.

In this chart we see that the 5^th house is afflicted by the presence of Ketu, which is 6^th lord. This combination is mentioned a number of times by Paräçara as indicating a curse for childlessness. Also the aspects of the Sun and Mars on the 5^th house add to the affliction. According to the general definition, the lords of the lagna, 5^th and 7^th should also be weak along with Jupiter, the käraka for children. Lagna lord Mercury is in the 9^th house, but is partially combust and also retrograde, which tends to decrease its strength to support childbirth. 7^th lord is Jupiter (naisargika putrakäraka) is in own house, so he is not weak. 5^th lord Venus is also exalted in the 10^th, and none of them receive malefic aspects, aside from the Graha Dåñöi of retrograde Mars.

Still, the real life events of the native confirm the fact of childlessness; therefore we should try to find the cause for this. In this chart the curses from the mother and father in previous life are most likely. The Moon is conjoined by Mars and aspected by the nodes, while she aspects the 5^th house. She is also in the 12^th from the 4^th house, while 4^th lord Mercury conjoined by a malefic also aspects the 5^th house. 4^th lord is also a bädhakeça for the 5^th lord Venus situated in Pisces, and it takes part in a päpakartaré yoga formed by Sun, Mercury and Rähu on Venus. Mercury is also bädhakeça from the käraka Jupiter.

However the curse from the father or pitås looks to be stronger, because the Sun directly aspects the 5^th house from the 9^th, which is the strongest aspecting house because of the bhäväö bhäväëäm principle (9^th is 5^th from the 5^th). Also the Sun receives the aspect of the nodes and the retrograde Saturn, which being the debilitated ätmäkäraka, is able to cause a tremendous trouble in the chart. Aside from that the Sun is also disposited by Saturn, so the influence is very strong. We should also note that Venus is situated in the 10^th house, again pointing to the curse of the father, and also the käraka Jupiter is the lord of the 10^th house and despite being in own house, is situated as bädhaka from the lagna. Another factor is that the Sun is the bädhakeça of the 5^th house while Mars and moon are situated in this same bädhaka house (Leo). Now to ascertain whether any remedial measures are able to uplift the effect of the curse from the chart, an analysis of the saptäàça (D-7) should be undertaken.

In the saptäàça the 9^th house from lagna would be the käraka house for children, being that we are studying a female chart. It has retrograde Saturn situated in the sign of Mercury (both are eunuch planets), thereby the possibility to have children is almost nil. Though a Gajakeçaré yoga formed by the Moon and Jupiter aspects it giving some hope, but the aspect of the nodes placed in mülatrikoëa signs totally destroy this benefic influence. Saturn is in trines from saptäàça lagna and we find Venus and Mercury in a Saturnine sign, and as we have mentioned in section 1.1. this combination in the trikoëas from the D-7 lagna completely destroys the native’s ability to have children. The three retrograde planets in the chart are also another factor contributing to its karmic complexity.

2. General Combinations for Curses

The combinations mentioned in chapter 85 of BPHS were specifically indicating curses resulting in childlessness, and the sources of curses were also likewise indicated. Obviously a curse may afflict not only the area of childbirth but also practically any other areas indicated by the twelve houses. For this we should derive a general principle on the basis of which we can ascertain that a certain house of the birth chart is afflicted by a curse. This is delineated in the following:

	If a house, its lord and its natural käraka are all afflicted by weak or malefic planets, then that life area is under a curse.
	The person cursing can be ascertained from the strongest planet influencing.
	The strength of the curse can be seen from the collective strength of the afflicting planets.
	The timing of the effect should be done with the help of the Müla Daçä scheme.

For this let us draw up a list of the houses and their respective kärakas. As each house has several significations, different kärakas are to be used to analyse them.

If we apply the two combinations given in section 1.1. in a general way then the following principles will also ensure that:

	b) If the käraka of the house, the house itself and the houses closely connected to them (like 1st and 7th are the native and his wife, which are sources of the child indicated by the 5th) are equally weak or afflicted, then the result of the house is destroyed by a curse.
	c) If a house is occupied by four malefics and its käraka is weak, then the same result may be expected.

Now, generalizing the yogas given in section 1, we can come up with the following conclusions:

• 

  If a house, its lord and its käraka are afflicted by Rähu together with Mars or Saturn, then the curse is by the nägas. This will result in gradual destruction of the results of the house, because the poison from the snakes (literally or allegorically) will spread in the house. The sarpa yoga and kälasarpa yoga also reflect similar effects (Refer to section 3.).

• 

  The forefathers and the father are represented by the Sun. Although the father is represented by the 9^th house, the artha-trikoëa (2^nd, 6^th and 10^th houses) especially the 10^th house indicates the transmission of karma or work from the father to the son. Therefore in the Vedic society most sons adopted the profession of their fathers. The 2^nd house also indicates the parentage of the native. Therefore, if the Sun and other malefics afflict a house, its lord and its käraka as well, then this indicates the curse of the father (or the king). Besides that, the position of the 10^th lord, and malefics in artha-trikoëas may also indicate debts towards the forefathers.

• 

  If the Moon conjoins or aspects a house under the influence of malefics, while the lords of lagna and 4^th are also afflicted, then the curse of the mother is expected. Besides that the afflicted house’s lord and käraka should also come under the affliction.

• 

  If Mars afflicts a house, the lord and käraka of which are also afflicted in trikoëas, then this indicates the curse of the younger siblings. If the 3^rd lord is in parivartaëa with Mars, then also this curse is indicated. Similarly for Saturn and 11^th house these combinations would indicate curses by elder siblings.

• 

  Mercury, the 6th house and its lord indicate maternal uncles. If these are afflicted and in turn influence any house, then they indicate the curse of the uncles.

• 

  If Saturn, Mars or Rähu afflicts Jupiter, then this indicates the curse of a brähmaëa from previous life. The houses lorded by Saturn would indicate the area where the curse will take effect. The curse will be fulfilled by another brähmaëa who is of very bad temper and nature.

• 

  Venus, the 7th house and its lord indicate the wife. If all of these are afflicted and they influence any other house, then they will indicate the curse of the wife from previous life.

• 

  The combination of Saturn-Moon or Saturn-Sun in any of the houses or their joint aspect will indicate curses from departed souls connected to the family of the mother or father respectively. This may not only be relatives, but servants, pets, or any other dependants or friends. If Saturn afflicts a house together with other malefics, while the lord of that house is connected to the 8^th, then the same curse is expected. If Saturn conjoins a node in a visible sign (7^th through 12^th houses), then the last rites of the father will not be performed by the native. If the same is in an invisible house (1^st through 6^th) then the same holds true for the mother.

Now let us compile all this information in a reference table:

In the above chart, Rähu in the 1^st house indicates the most strongly afflicted area, the body. He has got progressively increasing paralysis from a relatively young age. The only planet aspecting the 1^st house is the Moon from the 9^th. Therefore we can suspect a curse from the mother from previous life to affect his health. The Moon is aspected by Rähu and Ketu, and is also in parivartaëa with the debilitated Mars. Thus at least three malefics afflict the Moon, which is the natural käraka of mother. Also because of the parivartaëa we can assume that Moon acts also like she is in Cancer, and then she would receive the aspect of Saturn as well. Now for the curse to affect the area of body, it should also afflict the lord of the 1^st house and its käraka, which is in this case the Sun. Interestingly, if the lord of the house is simultaneously its natural käraka as well, the käraka bhäva näçaya principle becomes applicable, so in this case any affliction to the Sun would strongly influence the physical health.

The Sun is conjoined by two benefics, and receives no evil aspects. However, Saturn and Mars form a päpakartaré yoga on it while considering the parivartaëa Moon (acting as Mars) and Rähu would form a bandhana yoga as well, so in this way three or four malefics afflict the Sun. Despite the excellent combination for intellectual powers in the 11^th house, the above-mentioned evil yogas on the same house curtail its influence. Also Moon is in the bädhaka sthäna from lagna, forming a parivartaëa yoga with Mars the bädhakeça. Now for further information it is useful to check the triàçäàça (D-30) position of the planets, although the lagna was not rectified to that accuracy.

Five planets occupy the aàças lorded by Jupiter, which is the lord of the ethereal element, or äkäça-tattva. This could indicate the disorder of life airs leading to paralysis, which can’t be explained by mere neurophysiological reasons. We see that besides the nodes, which manifest the effect of the curse, the lords of the 6^th Saturn and lord of the 8^th Jupiter are also in aàças lorded by Jupiter. The lagna lord Sun is in the aàça of Mercury, thereby indicating problems manifesting in the earth element (priöhivé-tattva), thereby indicating degeneration of bones and other structural tissues of the body.

3. Other Evil Yogas in the Birth Chart

Sarpa yoga is created when three or more malefics occupy the kendras from the lagna, while no benefics are present. According to BPHS (37.22.) the native born with this yoga will be crooked, cruel, poor, always remains miserable and will always depend on others for food and drinks. If there’s any benefics in the kendras then they will break the effect of this yoga, and upäyas should be applied to strengthen the influence of this benefic.

Kälasarpa yoga is created when all the planets are situated between the nodes, while Rähu is in the front (zodiacally). The opposite situation, where Ketu is in the front is called Kälämåta yoga, and its effects although not so destructive, are still far from favourable. The effects of Kälasarpa yoga however are quite similar to the curse of the snakes, as the native will suffer general setbacks in his life during the first 45 years, and as a result he will turn a way from dharma and degrade himself especially in the area of the house occupied by Rähu. If there are any benefic planets conjoining the nodes or the 1^st or 7^th house, then the yoga will be broken. If the Moon breaks the yoga, then Mahäçaìkha yoga is created, so to strengthen its benefic effects fasting on Mondays and worship of Çiva and Saìkarçaëa is recommended. If Jupiter breaks the yoga, then fasting on Thursdays is recommended, along with worship of Lord Viñëu and Balaräma.

The gaëòänta yogas, although cannot be strictly considered yogas, but rather flaws in time, still find their place here because the effect is similar to curses from previous births, especially if all three gaëòänta doñas are present in a chart.

• 

  b) Tithi Gaëòänta occurs when the native is born in the last ghaöi of the pürëa tithis (païcamé or 5^th, daçamé or 10^th, amavasya or new moon and pürëima or full moon day) or in the first ghaöi of the nanda tithis (praöipata or 1^st, çañöhé or 6^th and ekädaçé or 11^th).

• 

  c) Nakñatra Gaëòänta occurs when the native is born in the last to ghaöis of the Moon’s passing in Äçleñä, Jyeñöhä and Revaté Nakñatras or in the first two ghaöis after the Moon entered the Açviné, Mägha and Müla Nakñatras.

• 

  d) Lagna Gaëòänta occurs when the lagna is less then half ghaöis before or after crossing the junction point of the signs Pisces-Aries, Cancer-Leo and Scorpio-Sagittarius.

The junction points of these pairs of signs conjoin with the junction points of the three paryäyas of nakñatras. Here the fiery and watery signs meet, so obviously these points are disharmonic. If all three doñas are present in someone’s chart, then the child is almost sure to die shortly after birth, while if he remains alive, he will suffer a lot and he will always be subservient to poor and unfortunate persons. Lagna gaëòänta causes loss of intelligence, Nakñatra gaëòänta causes short life, while tiöhi gaëòänta causes loss of fortune. If someone is born in the last pada of Äçleñä or first pada of Açviëé, then loss of father; in first pada of Mägha, loss of mother; in last pada of Revaté, many difficulties; in last pada of Jyeñöhä short life may be expected.

The general effect in the case all three or at least two gaëòäntas are present is that the native may die right after birth, or during travel or auspicious ceremonies like wedding. However, if only nakñatra gaëòänta is present, and there are other beneficial yogas in the chart, the child may survive and become fortunate. One example of this is the chart of Mahätmä Gandhi, who was born in the end of Äçleñä Nakñatra, but had a relatively successful life.

3.3. Abhukta Müla and other evil Nakñatras

The lords of Jyeñöhä and Müla Nakñatras are Indra and Räkñasa respectively. Therefore the period of the last five ghaöis of Jyeñöhä and first eight ghaöis of Müla are called Abhukta Müla, and this period is very dangerous, especially if the birth happens in the Märgaçira, Phälguëa, Vaiçäkha or Jyaiñöha lunar months. According to Paräçara, such a child should be deserted, or else the whole family will suffer. Another solution to the problem is that the father should not see the child up to eight years from birth, or according to other sources for one lunar month. If a female is born in the Jyeñöhä Nakñatra, then she will cause the death of her husband’s elder brother, while if at the end of the Viçäkhä, then the death of her husband’s younger brother. At the marriage of such a female, a cow should be donated. If the child is born in the last three quarters of Äçleñä Nakñatra then the death of his mother-in-law, and if in the first three quarters of Müla then the death of his father-in-law should be expected. The kumbha-viväha remedy is suitable for removal of these blemishes. Another negative combination occurs if the child is born in the same Nakñatra as his or her elder siblings, or parents.

If the child is born during amavasya tithi, then both parents will become poor. This tithi is ruled by Rähu, so the effect is akin to näga doña. In the case of birth during kåñëa caturdaçé, the evil effects include loss of parents, uncles, children or short life. Venus rules this tiöhi, so remedies should be applied according to this.
If the native is born during bhadra or viñöi karaëa or some evil upagraha rises in his lagna, then the effect is also negative. The saìkräntis (the days when the Sun changes signs) and the lunar and solar eclipses are also negative periods, so if the child is born during these times, then again suitable remedies should be performed in order to protect the child from the evil effects of the curse. The effects include poverty, suffering, disease and death.

Mahärñi Paräçara specifically mentions that if someone has three boys then they have received the blessings of the tridevas (Çiva, Viñëu and Brahmä respectively); and if they have three girls, then they receive the blessings of the tridevés (Pärvaté, Lakñmé and Sarasvaté). But if someone is dissatisfied with this and they want a fourth child that is of the opposite sex, then they will attract the curse of the tridevas or tridevés.
Also, if an abnormal human child or animal is born, then this could bring ruin to the whole village or community. These include children born too early or too late, the child misses some limbs or has extra limbs, or has two genders, or looks like an animal, or are born as Siamese twins. In this case, the appropriate remedies are very important.

Apart from being born during viñöi karaëa, his Moon is in the 2^nd pada of the Müla Nakñatra, which is lorded by Räkçasa, and especially during the month of Vaiçäkha when he was born, the residence of Müla Nakñatra is in hell (pätäla). This is also confirmed by his lagna being in a fixed sign. Besides that, the effect of Kälavela on the lagna is also there, as it is situated just about 2-3 degrees behind the lagna degree. The Guru-caëòäla yoga formed by the Jupiter and Rähu indicates the curse of a brähmaëa from previous life, which is most likely to afflict his mother as it is situated in the 4^th while Moon is conjoined by the evil Saturn.

4. Combinations for Black Magic from Naväàça

"If two malefics are in trikoëas, the native gains expertise in spells (mantras) and occult knowledge. The malefic in trikoëas when aspected by other malefics gives expertise in black magic. The malefic in trikoëas when aspected by benefics gives expertise in white magic." (Jaimini Sütram 1.2.83-85.)

The two authors have identical opinions on this, however a few finer points may be considered for a fuller understanding of this combination.

Kärakäàça is the sign in the naväàça chart, which is occupied by the ätmäkäraka planet. Lagnäàça is the sign occupied by the lagna in naväàça. The sväàça means both kärakäàça and lagnäàça. What is the difference between the two? If a combination in the naväàça chart is analysed from the vantage point of lagnäàça, then it refers more to the physical level, while it is reckoned from the kärakäàça, then the soul’s spiritual force is added to the strength of the combination. Paräçara does not distinguish between the two, however Jaimini does, and from the above we can derive the following subtleties for the interpretation of the combination for mystic knowledge:

• 

  If the combination is in trikoëas only from lagnäàça, then the magic is not so strong, and the native learns it in this life and uses for commercial gains etc.

• 

  If the combination is in trikoëas from kärakäàça, then the native has been practicing tantra etc. in his previous life, and thus his mystic power in this life will grow very strong. We should also note that if the ätmäkäraka planet itself is a malefic, then the native has very strong will power.

• 

  The strength even increases if the malefics are in trikoëas to sväàça (i.e. both lagnäàça and kärakäàça), especially if the two conjoin. This combination enables the native to realise his ambitions in full.

• 

  At least one malefic gives knowledge of mantra (sacred incantations), two that of yantras (mystical diagrams) while three or more give knowledge of tantra (mystical rituals). The nature of these may be understood on the basis of the strongest malefic influencing.

• 

  If these planets are aspected by a malefic, the native uses it for nefarious purposes (black magic) while if aspected by benefics, he will use it for acceptable purposes (white magic). Mixed aspects indicate mixed results.

The above chart is that of Aleister Crowley, a very famous English author and black magician. His ätmäkäraka is the retrograde Saturn, conjoined by a very strong exalted Mars, which is also vargottama. The malefic ätmäkäraka indicates will power, while its retrogression indicates a strong unfulfilled desire harboured from last life, which becomes the cause of rebirth in this life. Mars is yogakäraka, being the lord of 5^th and 10^th, thus indicates a very good potential for success in this area. Also note that Mars is the dispositor of the ärudha lagna and ghaöika lagna (situated in Scorpio and Aries respectively), which adds to the strength of the combination.

The satanic motives of the native are also seen from Rähu being lord of the 8^th house conjoining the Moon, lord of lagna in the 9^th house of religion. This combination is also called Candra-caëòäla yoga and suits different kinds of sexual aberration, including paedophilia. A the same time this is a çakti yoga in which the Sun’s significations (dharma) also get destroyed. The native’s orientation towards sexual magic is also seen from the strong 7^th house occupied by the exalted Mars and ätmäkäraka Saturn in own house, which is simultaneously the lord of the 8^th house of mystical knowledge. Mars in the 7^th house usually indicates a kind hearted person, but here the retrograde ätmäkäraka Saturn overpowers it, making him sacrifice kindness for the desire to acquire mystic powers and manipulate others. Now let’s see the combinations in the naväàça chart.

The naväàça lagna is in the 5^th house from the räçi lagna, which is the house of power and knowledge. It contains Rähu, which is 8^th lord in räçi. So analysing from lagnäàça we find only Rähu as a malefic, while 9^th house has Moon in her own house, aspected by the three benefics Jupiter, Mercury and Venus. It may be derived that this combination helped him a lot in concealing his nefarious intentions and gave him a good ground to deceive people. However if we check the combination from the kärakäàça, we find that the Sun conjoins Saturn, while Mars is exalted in the 5^th, and Ketu is positioned in the 9^th house. So there are three malefics in trikoëas to the kärakäàça, while the ätmäkäraka itself is a retrograde malefic planet. With this, there’s not many planets remaining to aspect the combination, though the strongest planet of the combination, Mars receives the aspect of Rähu and Ketu (Räçi Dåñöi), thereby gaining additional strength to do evil. Ketu is also aspected by Mars (this is the strongest aspect) and also by Moon and Venus, which however were unable to turn his will into a positive direction, they just served to conceal the cruelty, as mentioned above in connection to Moon. Venus is also afflicted by a Päpakartaré yoga (see section 5 for details) from Rähu, Saturn and the Sun, and it again indicates that the main interest lies in sexual magic. Venus in the 2^nd from kärakäàça indicates uncontrollable sexual passion, although the aspect of Ketu on it tends to control it. However this manifests in full only if Saturn also aspects, which is missing in this case, so the native has concealed sexual aberrations.

5. Curses and Black Magic in this Life

The evil effects of these three planets are called Véra Bandha (Saturn), Näga Bandha (Rähu) and Ähi Bandha (Ketu). These can be caused by curses in the past or present life and result in some type of bondage or difficulties. Véra Bandha is caused by Saturn and its results are that the person is overpowered by enemies and made immobile either by enemies or disease or some other weakness like sex, alcohol etc. The best remedy for this affliction is any mantra of Kåñna like the Krñëa-täraka mantra or Gopäla-matra:

The doñas mentioned in the previous and this point are usually results of past karma, but often times they are manifest in the form of inimical action like curses or black magic on the native in this life. Kaëöaka means a thorn, so there are special transits for Saturn, when it gives great obstacles in life. This effect occurs when Saturn has a special aspect (his graha dåñöi on the 3^rd and 10^th house from him) on the 10^th house (reckoned from lagna, ärudha lagna and the Moon) or occupies it. This literally means the Saturn’s transit through the 1^st, 10^th and 8^th houses from lagna, ärudha lagna and the Moon. The native may lose his job, business may face failures or other adverse career-related effects are indicated for this doña. The remedy lies in worshipping Çré Rudra or Çré Kåñëa.
The transit of Saturn through the 12^th, 1^st and 2^nd houses from the Moon comprise the 7.5-year period of Sade-saté. It is divided into three parts.
When Saturn transits the 12th house from the Moon, problems occur in domestic affairs, tensions with spouse, parents and children are also possible. Change of residence may also occur.

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  1) Worship of Yogamäyä is recommended during this period.

The transit of Saturn through the Moon sign may cause bad company, failure in undertakings, and many personal problems like loss of reputation, danger from accidents etc.

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  2) Worship of Çré Haëumän is recommended.

The third part of Sade-saté results in many enemies and financial losses, loss of livelihood and danger from government action.

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  3) Worship of Çré Krñëa is recommended along with general remedies for Saturn during the whole period.

Päpakartaré yoga is formed when there are malefic planets in the 12^th and 2^nd from the lagna or any other house. If it is formed on the lagna, then the native becomes sensual, will do sinful acts and will usurp others’ wealth. If it forms in the other houses, then it will also harm the significations of those houses. On the other hand, benefic planets form çubhakartaré yoga, and they indicate blessings or help from other people regarding the affected life area in the native’s chart. A specific version of the kartaré yogas is the bandhana yoga, which usually causes bondage. This is formed when the native has an equal number of equally strong planets in either side of the lagna, ärudha lagna, Moon or any other house. They need not be only malefics, benefics or mixed planets may also form the yoga, and their nature will indicate the nature of bondage. If for example the bondage is caused by benefics, the native may be held in custody for the purposes of protection or healing etc. If malefics cause the bandhana yoga, then the bondage is painful and the native suffers a lot, plus his custodians are cruel people. If mixed planets cause the bandhana yoga, then the results are also mixed. Some points regarding the nature of bandhana yoga are listed below:

Similarly for other houses.

	Equal number and equal strength of planets indicate that the native is unable to escape the bondage. If one side of the bandhana is weaker, he has chances to escape.
	Planets in the following house pairs form the yoga: 2/12, 3/11, 4/10, 5/9 and 6/8. The nature of the houses and planets will indicate the persons and motives causing bondage.
	The bandhana yoga formed on the lagna may give physical imprisonment, on the AL – ideological oppression; on the Moon – emotional constrictions; and on the lagna lord – physical inability due to diseases or accidents etc.

The combinations mentioned so far relate to the birth chart, and indicate general evils occurring in this lifetime of the native, because of past sins. The occurrences may often times be in the form of curses and evil eye or black magic performed on the native in this life. The following combinations are partially applicable to the birth chart, where they will show the tendency to be attacked by enemies, evil spirits etc., but for more exact determination of the native’s situation these rules should be applied on the ärudhas of the specific query charts also. These combinations come from the Prañëa Märga and another classic named Santana Dépikä.

The first principle to understand is the bädhaka. Each house has a bädhaka (obstructive or harmful) sign, and its lord is called bädhakeça. For cardinal signs the bädhaka is the 11^th house from them, for fixed signs the 9^th from them and for dual signs the 7^th from them is the bädhaka sign. The planets occupying the bädhaka house and its lord are also unfavourable to the significations of the house. The following principles may be applied to the janma lagna or the prañëa ärudha also.

	If the bädhakeça aspects the lagneça, then there is dåñöi bädha (the native is attacked by evil spirits). Both räçi and graha dåñöi may be considered.
	If the 7th lord is in the bädhaka sthäna or the bädhakeça and lagneça conjoin or mutually aspect, there is dåñöi bädha.
	Lagna in a cardinal sign with a malefic, and Mars is in the 7th house.
	Lagna is occupied by malefics, Saturn is in the 7th, and Moon is aspected by malefics.
	The diseases usually occur because of two reasons: one is the disorder of the tridoñas (biological elements of the body) and the other is due to the mantric machinations of the enemies that we are studying here. The 6th and 8th houses indicate disease. If Mercury is stronger than the lagna, then the diseases are more likely to occur because of äbhicara. Also, if lord of the 6th house is stronger than the lord of the 8th, then again the diseases are more likely to occur because of the enemies. Otherwise it is due to the disorder of the tridoñas.
	If Gulika or Rähu occupies the 4th, 5th, 7th or 8th, then the disease is due to poison, and if the 6th lord conjoins, then the poison was administered by the enemies. If the lord of lagna is in connection with the 6th lord, then the object of giving poison is to harm the person. If it is connected with the 7th lord, then the object is to win over the person (like making him fall in love or come under the control of someone).
	If bädhakeça occupies or aspects the 6th, or the 6th lord occupies or aspects the bädhaka (from lagna), or the bädhakeça and 6th lord are in parivartaëa, or conjoin, or are in mutual aspect, then the affliction is due to enemies.
	If the bädhakeça is a benefic, then the affliction is called mahäbhicara (incantations calculated to cause death etc.), and if it is a malefic, then kñudräbhicara (burying enchanted substances underground to bring about the native’s ruin). In the second case further information on the tantric object can be found on the basis of Gulika’s position.
	If Mars is in the bädhaka sthäna from lagna aspected by the 6th lord, then the native has sickness resorted to by an enemy.
	Mars in lagna or its kendras while 6th lord in lagna.
	6th lord in lagna, 7th or 10th while Mars is in lagna or aspects it.
	Ketu in the kendras excepting the 7th, while Mars is in lagna or aspects it, or Mändi occupies a kendra.
	Recovery from the disease after performing suitable remedial measures may be expected if the 9th lord is favourably disposed, or if the lagna lord is associated with or aspected by the Sun or Jupiter, but if they are afflicted, then recovery is unlikely. Also, if the lagna, 4th, 6th, 8th and 11th houses are free from malefics and benefics occupy the 4th, 7th and 10th houses, then recovery is possible. The above combinations should be examined both in the birth chart and in the query chart.