Use this Pitra Dosh Calculator to check whether the traditional yogas of Pitra Dosh (Pitru Dosha) appear in your birth chart. Enter your date, time and place of birth and the tool tests five popular conditions — the Sun with Rahu, Ketu or Saturn, Rahu or Ketu in the 9th house, and the 9th-house lord with Rahu or Ketu — showing each as yes or no with the reason. You also get a North Indian chart with the 9th house highlighted and a table of every planet.
What is Pitra Dosh?
In Hindu tradition, pitars are our departed ancestors — father, grandfather and the elders of the family line. Shraddh, tarpan and remembrance are believed to satisfy them, and in return they bless the family. When it is said that the ancestors are unsatisfied, or that a family karma is still being carried, this is popularly called Pitra Dosh.
In astrology, the Sun represents the father and the soul, and the 9th house stands for the father, ancestors, fortune and dharma. So when the Sun or the 9th house comes under Rahu, Ketu or Saturn, many astrologers read it as a sign of Pitra Dosh.
An honest note on the texts
The Pitra Dosh checks used today come mainly from popular tradition and later astrologers. Classical works such as Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS) discuss “pitri shaap” (the ancestors’ curse), but mostly in the context of progeny and the 5th house. Modern rules such as the Sun–Rahu conjunction or Rahu in the 9th house are applied differently by different astrologers, so treat the result as a traditional indication, not a verdict.
How the calculator checks Pitra Dosh
The tool calculates the sidereal positions (Lahiri ayanamsa) of all planets, Rahu, Ketu and the Lagna, counts the houses from the Lagna, and then tests:
- Sun and Rahu in the same sign — the strongest condition, also known as Grahan yog.
- Sun and Ketu in the same sign.
- Sun and Saturn in the same sign — traditionally father and son, and mutual enemies.
- Rahu or Ketu in the 9th house — the house of father, ancestors and dharma.
- The 9th-house lord in the same sign as Rahu or Ketu.
Conditions 4 and 5 depend on the houses, which depend on your Lagna, and the Lagna changes roughly every two hours. Enter your birth time as accurately as you can.
Reading the result
| Result | When it appears | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Pitra Dosh present | Sun and Rahu in the same sign, or any 2 or more conditions | The popular yogas of Pitra Dosh are clearly present |
| Mild / partial Pitra Dosh | Exactly one condition other than Sun–Rahu | Many astrologers treat this as mild; some don’t count it |
| No Pitra Dosh | None of the five conditions | By these popular rules, there is no Pitra Dosh |
For the full chart, make a free Kundli. For other Rahu–Ketu yogas, try the Kaal Sarp Yog calculator and the Guru Chandal Yog calculator.
“Symptoms” — what folk belief says
Folk belief links Pitra Dosh with things like repeated family discord, delayed marriage, worries about children or work that keeps getting stuck. These are signs mentioned in popular belief, not proven symptoms. Every life problem has many possible causes — health, circumstances, money, relationships and our own choices. For health, marriage or financial matters, please consult a qualified professional; astrology is not a substitute.
Traditional remedies
- Shraddh and tarpan in Pitru Paksha, the fortnight ending on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, on your ancestor’s tithi — or on Sarva Pitru Amavasya if the tithi is not known.
- Tarpan on every Amavasya with water, sesame and kusha. Check dates in the vrat calendar.
- Pind daan at Gaya, the best-known tirtha for it — or a sincere shraddh at home.
- Feeding cows, crows, dogs and people in need.
- Lighting a lamp under a peepal tree in the evening.
- Respecting and serving elders — considered the greatest service to the ancestors.
- Reading chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita or chanting “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” while remembering them.
Beliefs and facts
- Belief: Pitra Dosh rules are written in the ancient texts. Fact: classical texts speak of pitri shaap mainly for progeny; the five-condition check is popular tradition.
- Belief: nothing good can happen with Pitra Dosh. Fact: the rest of the chart, planetary strength and dasha matter far more.
- Belief: it means the ancestors are angry. Fact: tradition sees ancestors as a source of blessing; shraddh is about gratitude, not fear.
- Belief: only an expensive puja helps. Fact: shraddh at home, daan and care for elders carry equal weight in tradition.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pitra Dosh?
In Hindu tradition, Pitra Dosh is the belief that departed ancestors are unsatisfied or that a family karma is still being carried. Astrology links it with Rahu, Ketu or Saturn influencing the Sun and the 9th house.
How do I check Pitra Dosh in my Kundli?
Enter your date, time and place of birth in the Pitra Dosh calculator above. It tests five popular conditions and shows each as yes or no with the reason, plus an overall result.
Which house shows Pitra Dosh?
Mainly the 9th house, the house of father, ancestors, fortune and dharma. The Sun is also examined because it represents the father.
Why is the Sun–Rahu conjunction considered the strongest?
The Sun signifies the father and the soul, and Rahu is the shadow planet said to eclipse it. Their presence in the same sign, also called Grahan yog, is treated as the strongest Pitra Dosh condition.
What does mild or partial Pitra Dosh mean?
The tool shows mild or partial Pitra Dosh when exactly one condition other than Sun–Rahu is met. Many astrologers consider this mild, and some don’t count it at all.
What are the symptoms of Pitra Dosh?
Folk belief links it with family discord, delayed marriage or stalled work, but these are popular beliefs, not proven symptoms. Life problems have many causes, so seek professional advice where needed.
Is Pitra Dosh mentioned in classical texts?
Texts such as Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra discuss pitri shaap mainly in the context of progeny and the 5th house. The modern Pitra Dosh checks follow popular tradition, and astrologers use different rules.
Do I need my exact birth time?
Yes. The 9th house and its lord are counted from the Lagna, which depends on birth time, so a wrong time can change conditions 4 and 5.
Can Sun–Rahu and Sun–Ketu both be present?
No. Rahu and Ketu are always exactly opposite each other, so the Sun can share a sign with only one of them.
What are the traditional remedies for Pitra Dosh?
Shraddh and tarpan in Pitru Paksha and on Amavasya, pind daan at Gaya, feeding cows, crows, dogs and people in need, lighting a lamp under a peepal tree and respecting elders. Do them with devotion, not fear.
When is Pitru Paksha?
Pitru Paksha is the fortnight of about 15 to 16 days that ends on Sarva Pitru Amavasya in the month of Ashwin. Check the exact dates each year in a panchang or vrat calendar.
What if I don't know my ancestor's shraddh tithi?
Tradition says shraddh and tarpan can be done on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, the day on which all ancestors, known and unknown, are remembered.
Is Pitra Dosh the same as Kaal Sarp Yog?
No. Pitra Dosh looks at Rahu, Ketu or Saturn affecting the Sun and the 9th house, while Kaal Sarp Yog is said to form when all seven planets lie on one side of the Rahu–Ketu axis.
Is this Pitra Dosh calculator free?
Yes, it is completely free. Enter your date, time and place of birth and the result appears instantly.
How accurate is the result?
Planet positions are calculated precisely with the Lahiri ayanamsa, so the maths is reliable. But Pitra Dosh rules differ between astrologers, so treat the result as a traditional indication, not a final verdict.