We keep on hearing about multiple yogas in astrology — some are good, some are bad. But one yoga that is dreadful not only by its name but also by the results expected from it is Kal Sarpa Yoga. Let us try to decode this yoga today.
Kal means time and Sarpa is a reptile, which is believed to live for eternity. So, what I understand by Kal Sarpa Yoga is that it signifies time eternal. But then why is it so dreaded? Because time is eternal — that is a reality, and there is no denial in that so what is so dreadful about it.
We should understand that astrology, as a science, discipline, or subject, was born thousands of years ago when philosophically, people believed that moksha or liberation was the ultimate goal of this birth. But if someone is locked in the trap of eternal time — bound by karma — then he will have to take rebirth again and again and will not be able to attain liberation. Therefore, according to me, this karma creates situations in a person's life that bind him in one karma after another. As a result, he will always carry the burden of huge karmic debt into his next birth. May be this is the reason why Kal Sarpa Yoga was considered a dreaded yoga in ancient time.
But keep reading — there’s a lot more to come...
We are now living in Kalyug and not in the age of saints when people thrived for liberation. Today, real liberation is seen through material success. People now strive to get bound in the clutches of karma. No one wants things like moksha or the complete annihilation of karma.
Let us now understand how this yoga is formed astrologically. When all the planets are within the Rahu and Ketu axis, this yoga is formed. This yoga is considered more dreadful when all the planets in their forward journey meet Rahu — i.e., in a horoscope, all the planets are on the right side of the Rahu-Ketu axis.
The reason is that Rahu, a planet of material desire and pleasure, tries to engulf all the planets, i.e., it influences all the planets with material energy. Just imagine — isn’t that what we all want in this world? Then why do we consider this yoga dreadful? I will leave it to readers and lovers of astrology to decide and think about this.
But still, I am sure we will find people with this yoga who are struggling to attain material success. So, this also proves that Kal Sarpa Yoga is not a sureshot indication of material success.
I know people with this combination, and I have seen him struggling for material success. But at the same time, I have also seen that the person owns his own home. Even after facing multiple losses in business, he always finds someone by his side to support him.
My personal observation is that Kal Sarpa Yoga's effects are negative when a person lets Rahu go astray, i.e., when they do not channelize Rahu's energy properly.
Let’s understand this with one simple example. Suppose two people have Kal Sarpa Yoga. Both will have the desire to achieve big in their life, and success needs struggle.
One chooses a shortcut — tries to gamble, steal, and earn unethically by cheating. He faces setbacks or minor successes, celebrates by drinking and spending money in brothels, and falls into the vicious cycle of burning desires.
Another uses sharp intellect, takes calculated risks, and doesn’t fall into Rahu’s negative trap. He may do fair or unfair things to achieve success, but he uses his intellect to circumvent challenges and turn them in his favor.
This is the difference where other planets play their role — and the house from which Rahu forms Kal Sarpa Yoga is also crucial.
Now, let’s discuss how Kal Sarpa Yoga made a few people extremely successful in life.
The first horoscope I want to discuss is that of Shri Jawaharlal Nehru ji. In his horoscope, Rahu is in Gemini and Ketu is in Sagittarius — often considered exalted houses or the best houses for these two planets. Second, Ketu is with its dispositor Jupiter, which makes Ketu highly beneficial. Rahu’s dispositor Mercury is placed with Venus in Venus’s own house — Libra. This makes both Rahu and Ketu positive. Let’s check this in Navamsha also. In Navamsha, Rahu is placed in Capricorn, which is a good sign for Rahu and is also aspected by its dispositor Saturn, who signifies karma and is sitting with Sun — government.
Another example is Sir Abraham Lincoln. He also had Kal Sarpa Yoga. His Rahu was in Libra, which is again a good house for Rahu. Its dispositor sits with Jupiter, exalted in Pisces, making Rahu extremely benefic and powerful. Similarly, Ketu is in Aries and is aspected by Mars, making Ketu powerful as well. But since this led to a Rahu-Mars combination, may be this position cost him his life. In his Navamsha chart also, Rahu was in Aquarius, which is considered Rahu’s own house, making Rahu beneficial.
Thus, we can understand how Kal Sarpa Yoga can also be beneficial if the energy is channelized in the right direction and correct efforts are made.
One more thing to notice — for both Mr. Nehru and Sir Lincoln, Rahu and Ketu were in the 12th and 6th house axis, and both of them were in politics, where they constantly struggled for the political upliftment of their people. They were constantly surrounded by enemies and defeated them to come out victorious.
This is how Kal Sarpa Yoga shows its power.
To conclude, Kal Sarpa Yoga — like every planetary combination in astrology — is a tool, not a verdict. It holds the potential for both growth and struggle. The outcomes depend not just on its formation, but on the strength of dispositor planets, aspects, conjunctions, house placements, and above all, the conscious choices we make in life.
It is essential to understand and respect the energies rather than fear them. A well-informed and spiritually aware person can transform even the most dreaded yogas into a path of evolution, success, and transformation. The stories of Nehru and Lincoln are powerful reminders that greatness often arises from deep karmic challenges.
I know there is so much I still want to discuss — especially the effects of Kal Sarpa Yoga being formed from different houses. So stay tuned to my blog, as the next article in line is to see what is the effect when Kal Sarpa Yoga is formed from different houses.
Till then, let’s try to channelize the energy we receive from these cosmic entities so that they vibrate in a way that resonates with our inner desires and help us achieve what we want in our life.
