Karma and miseries of men

Since ancient times an individual’s experience of suffering, aversion, misery is

associated with harm.  The pain has always been related to mental and physical
level and often found in leading to deterioration and decay with multiple
complexities.  In adverse situations time has always been a passage that led men to
misery through age and morbid situations.  Ancient Vedic seers have ascribed this to
fruits of Karma (resultant cycle of cause and effect).  They devised various methods
to figure out the origin and causes of human miseries that are influencing invisible
forces in the current life cycle and find remedial measures.  Vedic astrology is one of
the time-tested tools to identify, foresee, seek relief and apprehend the misery. 

Learned practitioners of Vedic astrology can trace and foresee falls and human
miseries through natal horoscopy (chart based on birth data of individuals) on a
timeline.  Prashna or horary, a branch of Vedic astrology that exclusively deals with
questions on any subject based on the chart erected at the time of query, supported
by various omens during consultation and pronouncement, directional indices of
querent, flame of the lamp, breath of the astrologer and many others factors
contribute in unfolding minutest details and find remedies.

Prashna method or horary astrology is often employed after finding vulnerability to miseries
in the nativity, on aligning with the primary natal data or is applied directly.  This branch of
astrology works on the principles of predictive natal astrology, however the applications at
the interpretations vary greatly, reach and identify beyond the common means and assess
through the state, positions and dignity of planets by their assumed forms that relate to divine,
semi-divine, demonic or evil forces and influences. 
Ancient seers have categorized the misery causing agents under six heads, parted
their wisdom through timeless classical texts and described as under:

1. Afflictions due to deity, anger of devas (Benevolent supernatural beings)

2. Evil eye or Dhristi badha
3. Wrath of Serpents (fury of serpents)
4. Parental, elders, preceptors & Brahmins (custodians of Dharma through self-
abnegation, priests of fire)
5. Troubles from ghosts or Preta badha (spirit of dead, departed person)
6. Abhichara (invocation of negative energies, employing charm or spell for
malevolent purposes) 

Afflictions due to deity, anger of devas

One of the common causes of human miseries is caused due to afflictions due to
anger of deities.  The root may have single or multiple causes that may be
disrespect to deity by depriving what is due to it by way of gifts, pujas, and offerings
that collectively become a debt.  The same debt is rolled down to the generations in
resulting in untold misery, failure, waning of luck.  Misappropriation of any mineral
wealth such as gold, silver or copper, lands, trees, plants or using the servants or
animals of the temples for personal purposes tend to cause anger of the deity.  
Commercial exploitations of any kind properties of the temples, occupying temple
lands other than serving or assigned purposes.  The other causes include polluting,
desecrating or breaking the images or statues of the temple or places of worship.  
The assumption of various forms of planets and sub-planets include recognition of
the deities, associated demonic or evil spirits that are controlled by these bodies, the
primary recognition tool is to locate the dispositions of planets in zodiacal signs and
their association through the lords of respective signs, afflictions, exaltations,
debilitations and their aspects.  Understanding of various forms of planets is ascribed
to the parting of ancient wisdom by various seers through celebrated classics.
Planets assume various forms in different signs as Sun takes form of Parasurama
within the exalted stretch of Aries, Yakshee in Taurus, Vishnu in Gemini, Snakes in
cancer, querent’s family deity in Leo, Avatars of Vishnu in Virgo, Bhadrakali in Libra,
Lord Shiva in Scorpio, male Gandharva & Yakshi in Sagittarius, Gandharva and
Yakshi in Capricorn & Pisces. Pishacha and hunter’s deities in Aquarius.  All the
heavenly bodies represent different forms at various slots of zodiacal signs and their
transit through Nakshatras (lunar asterisms) at the time of query or birth makes the
representations sharper in contributions.  
Following planetary states/combinations indicate afflictions due to anger of devas: 
1.       Malefic in the 12  house from the lord of house of harm. 
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2.      Lord of harm occupying 4  house or vice versa. 

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3.      Lord of harm occupying the sign of lord of 4  house

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4.      Presence of Sun or Moon or their conjoining the house of harm

5.      Lord of 4  house occupying the sign owned by lord of harm. 
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Solutions in dealing with anger of God or devatas is through a complex and time
consuming exercise, that requires multiple applications and in-depth analysis of all
the disposed planets and their direct and indirect influences on other bodies. 
Specific remedies are to be chosen based on identifying the transit and disposition of
‘angered divine force’ after identifying its presumed form. The solutions include
gifting of idol, mantras, worship, construction/restoration/renov- ation of the temple,
feeding or presenting of oil, gifts, clothes, remedial offerings, performance of divine
dances, oblations, invocations, ritual offerings and dedications (tarpana) and
music/devotional songs.  In addition to any of the single primary solution a
supplementary pacification measure needs be followed. The secondary measure
includes worship of deity, distribution of rice & water to poor, illumination and fire
sacrifice, undertaking festivals and performing ceremonial dances, feeding of
Brahmins and offering ornaments, free feeding people and in some cases
undertaking feeding of the socially deprived classes.  This additional pacification
measure needs to be followed upon identification of the lord of the sign in which the
‘angered divine force’ is posited at the time of Prashna. 
Evil eye or Dhristi badha
The troubles that originate from the evil eye or dhristi badha have origin in the
wrath of Rudra (fierce and destructive form of Shiva, commonly associated wind or
storm and hunt) that caused 26 spirits comprising of 18 mahagrahas (great spirits)
and 8 laghu grahas (light spirits). These are further categorized as aggressive and
passive and distinguished for three different motives in attacking the victims.   
Ancient Vedic treatises have indicated that the types of people that are vulnerable
and their places of attacks.  Men in disappointment, sick, unclean, over joyful,
attractive, mentally weak, lone wonderers in night, fearful, exhausted and fatigued
by sexual indulgence, ruined in wealth and deserted class are easily susceptible to
these spirits.  Women anointed with perfumes and oils, in confinement, engaged in
sexual union for the first time in puberty, under influence of intoxication, physically
exposed, in pregnancy, lonely women in streets – specially at the intersections of
highways, during menstrual cycles, engaged in immoral acts, highly sensual and
fatigued by acts of sex are prone to fall prey to these spirits. Usually these spirits
attack men and women in caves, spots of amusements, rocky regions, hill tops,
forests, gardens, summits of mountains, banks of rivers, sides of wells, river
confluences, whirls, cowsheds, vacant houses, isolated places, cremation grounds,
ruined temples, near treasure troves, outskirts of villages, at the places of worship of
female deities, palatial mansions and places where people engage into acts of sex. 
The motives of attacking persons are to (1) to
consume oblations (bali), (2) to enjoy (kama), and indulge in sex and mediums of
intoxications and  (3) to destroy (hanthu) the victim through driving the soul by
causing death by employing various means, such as causing accidents, death
through self inflicted injury, suicide, provoking others in violence and getting killed in
the act. 
All the planets and sub-planets are allied to these spirits through governance and
give a clear reference to its association with specific spirit in Prashna chart at the
time of query.  It helps in finding the cause, place of attack. For instance, Venus is
associated with Yakshee, Matrus and nagas.  Likewise, all the 26 spirits are
associated with all the recognized heavenly bodies.   
Following planetary states/combinations indicate evil eye or dhristi badha: 
1.       Lagna or lord of Lagna is aspected by lord of House of harm, in addition
to this aspects of Saturn and Mars should also be considered. 
2.      Lord of 7  house is occupying the house of harm or its conjoining the lord
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of house of harm, or mutual aspects.  

3.      Lagna is occupied by malefic and Saturn occupies 7th house while Moon
is under malefic aspect.
4.      Lagna is in a movable sign with a malefic while Mars is in the 7  house.
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5.      Association of lord of house of harm with lords of 6  or 8  houses. 

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Persons affected by evil eye or Dhristi badha are easily identified through clear
change in the their behavioral patterns. Such changes vary greatly depending upon
the influencing spirits, a few of them relate to sudden over indulgence in sex, alcohol
& drug abuse, death wish or attempting to injure self, increase in appetite –
especially desire to consume meat, turning violent or exhibiting provocative nature,
increase of activity during nighttime. Bathing and anointing body with scented
perfumes many a times in day, extreme fondness for flowers and perfumes, hating
Brahmins and divine scriptures, laughing and weeping alternately for no reason,
talking much without any purpose or on any specific subject, men getting irritated
with women, terrifying animals, mocking at physicians, remains in addiction of
sweets & curds, climbing hills or trees, aping others, incoherent in speech, collecting
white garlands, flowers or wearing white robes, plunging into deep waters, jumping
off trees, hillocks, jumping into fire. A stronger beneficial planetary transit or change
in major periods (of planets) regulates the victim in overruling the evil effects. 
Wearing specific gemstones in order to bring strong counteracting planetary
vibrations and worship of specific deity (based on the Prashna chart) are of greater
help in getting rid of ill effects.  
Wrath of Serpents
Innumerable ancient texts have explained the effects of wrath of serpents in
systematic destruction of wealth and problems related to progeny, blindness, health
and sufferings through generations and various life cycles.  Scriptures mention of
Nagas divided into 4 classes as heavenly, divine, earthly and hidden and are
assigned different functions in guarding palaces, bringing rainfall, draining rivers or
guarding treasures. Wrath or curse of serpents comes in many ways in killing or
destroying the eggs of serpents, felling or setting fire of trees near their dwelling
places, breaking their anthills, blocking their regular paths by engaging in
construction for human dwelling or any other purposes.  
Following planetary states/combinations indicate wrath/fury of serpents: 
1.       Disposition of Jupiter as lord of house of harm in 6  ,8  or 12  house while
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these houses happen to be kendras of Rahu or of Gulika.

2.      Rahu occupying the house of harm, if the association is further linked to Sun
then the cause is divine serpents, moon indicates the reverse. 
3.      Conjoining of Rahu and Mandi or Rahu’s occupation of 5 , 7  or 9  house from
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Mandi.
4.      Mars occupying kendras of Rahu.
5.      Conjoining of Gulika and Saturn, or Gulika singularly occupying kendras of
Rahu.  
Remedies for fury of serpents should carefully be made based on various
observations.  Sarpa bali, installation of image of respective Sarpa devata, dedication
of Chitra kuta stone, conducting Sarpa samskara or tarpana over the dwelling places
of serpents, arranging devotional music, singing and dancing, planting of trees,
offering /or installations of images of snakes made of gold, silver, copper are a few
remedial measures in overcoming the afflictions of wrath of serpents.  
Parental, elders, preceptors & Brahmins curses
Harassing parents and elders by way of physical assault, threatening, abuse and
mental torture when alive and not performing annual ceremonies for the deceased
can result as their curse.  Parental, preceptor’s, elders and Brahmins curse makes
one remain without a male issue and its effects can also influence next birth cycle,
obstructs prolongation of the lineage of the family, especially when the men remain
in the state of power and wealth.    
Following planetary states/combinations indicate curses of Parents, elders,
preceptors and Brahmins:  
1.       Lord of 6  house in 9  house or lord of 9  house in 12  house
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2.      Sun and Moon occupying the 6  house or conjoining 6  lord.

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3.      Sun or Moon occupying the house of harm in the sign or navamsa of Mars.
4.      Malefic presence in Leo or Cancer, being the sign having located in
unfavorable position from lagna.
5.      Evil planets occupying the house of harm in association with Jupiter or in the
sign owned by him.  
6.      If the house of harm happens to be Leo or Cancer and subsequently Sun or
Moon occupying these signs or having the presence of Mars therein.    
Corrective measures include performing annual ceremonies for the dead and seeking
reconciliation and pardon if parents, elders, preceptors or Brahmins  are alive.   
Troubles from ghosts or Preta badha
Men and women who died without their wishes fulfilled wander in the world and
haunt the living. Spirits of pregnant women (owing to the omission of ceremonies
while formation of the embryo) are known to cause havoc as they operate with
multiple magnitude of maleficent impact. Similarly, persons died in violent accidents,
suicide, and capital punishment through improper funeral rites haunt the living.
These spirits are often localized or hover around the vicinity at the place of their
death or stay closest in the secluded area, abandoned homes and in certain trees.
These spirits attack and possess certain vulnerable class of people and bring
sickness, depression, cause change in behavioral pattern, death of the children in
the family, miscarriages of pregnancies, bring ruin and poverty.  
Following planetary states/combinations indicate troubles from ghosts or preta
badha: 

1. Gulika occupying the house of harm.

2. Gulika occupying the sign or Navamsa of Mars or being associated or
aspected by him.  
3. Gulika being associated with Saturn or Rahu by way of aspects or
conjoining.  
4. Gulika being associated with 4  house or its lord. 
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Gulika in the Prashna chart plays major role in understanding the cause, time  and
place of death of spirit.  Various planetary combinations reveal whether the spirit is
of someone within the family or foreign.  Caste, age and sex can also be ascertained
with careful analysis of the sign in which Gulika is posited, its amsa and by
association with other planets in the chart. Remedial measures include Kshetra
pindas, tilavahana followed by feeding of Brahmins.   
Abhichara
All miseries that are listed above are caused due to known or unknown involvement
of the affected individual himself, whereas Abhichara is a left hand path practice
under Vamachara (Tantric in orientation) that is caused by the humanly acts directed
by enemies.  This involves invocation of negative energies, employing charm or spell
for malevolent purposes.  This practice can inflict harm in two passages known as
Maha abhichara and Kshudra abhichara.  Maha abhichara is route to attack and
destroy the victim causing imbalance in Tridoshas (combination of three basic
principles of energy, or biological humor, that comprise life), thus affecting the
health and bringing death. Khshudra abhichara is to cause exile, dissentions, ruin,
lunacy and death of victim.   
Following planetary states/combinations indicate Abhichara: 

1. Aspect of lord of house of harm on 6  house or vice-versa.

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2. Conjoining or interchanging of lords of house of harm and 6  house.

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3. Lords of 6  house or house of harm occupying their own houses.  

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Position of Mercury and strength of 6  & 8  lords need to be assessed to distinguish

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type of spell (Maha abhichara or Khshudra abhichara) used on the victim. Caste,
physical stature of the enemy, whereabouts, and details on his accomplice can be
found through the chart. Motive of the enemy, relationship with the victim,
placement and form of the Kshudra (incanted articles) can also be known through
minute observations involving Rahu, Ketu, Gulika, Mandi and Saturn by their
occupied signs and positions.  
Counteracting the ill effects of the mantric machinations involves calculations to
locate the zodiac sign or spot that receives aspect of any of the 7 planets.  The spot
is found by adding longitudes of lords of lagna and 6  house. In case if the resultant
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spot/sign does not get any aspects then 10  house from Arudha lagna should be
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marked to check the aspects or associations. Corrective measures involve performing

suitable homa (offerings into a consecrated fire) such as Aghora Rudra Bali (Sun),
Kapala homa (Moon), Bhuta marana/Khangaravna/Krittika Bali (Mars), Charka homa
(Mercury), Prathikarabali (Jupiter, Saturn), Bhuta marina bali (Venus).  The choice of
offering is made after determining the planet that influences the spot by aspect.