BPHS Ch.85 — 14 Inauspicious Birth Doshas, Shanti Remedies & Ketu in 2nd House (Voice Quality)
BPHS Chapter 85 (Ashubha Janma): Parashara says even excellent lagna and planets are OVERRIDDEN by these 14 birth doshas. Complete list: (1) Amavasya (no-moon day); (2) Krishna Chaturdashi (14th waning tithi = Naraka Chaturdashi); (3) Vishthikarana/Bhadra (one of 11 karanas); (4) Sodharabheta = same nakshatra as a sibling; (5) Pitrubheta = same nakshatra as father; (6) Surya Sankranti = day Sun changes sign (entire civil day, ~1/30 probability); (7) Pata (celestial fall/comet); (8) Eclipse (solar or lunar); (9) Vettipata/Atiganda/Duryogas (inauspicious Panchanga yogas from 27-yoga list); (10) Gandanta (sign-nakshatra junctions); (11) Yamakanta time; (12) Dagdha Yoga (burnt yoga); (13) Trikarajanma (3 children of same sex, then opposite); (14) Deformed birth. Sankranti dosha: "I know cases where charts were brilliant on paper — perfect yoga, good lagna — but nothing worked; each traceable to this dosha." Shanti (pacification ritual) remedies all doshas: ideally in first 21-41 days; can be done at any age — "If 15 years remain, do the Shanti." Ketu in 2nd house: when weak = stammering/unclear speech; when strong = crystal-clear audible voice (Vaikhari pure). "Ketu destroys the house first, then purifies it — after the destruction phase, the voice becomes crystal clear."
"Parashara says: even if lagna is auspicious and planets are auspicious, these conditions can make the birth inauspicious. It is never too late for Shanti. If 15 years remain in life, do the Shanti."
— P.V.R. Narasimha Rao
BPHS Chapter 85 — Ashubha Janma (Inauspicious Births)
Opening Verse
— PVNR"Sulagneye sugraheshu api — even if lagna is auspicious and planets are auspicious — these other conditions can make the birth inauspicious. I will tell you those reasons."
Parashara explicitly says these doshas override even an excellent lagna and planetary positions — the entire life can be affected unless remedies (Shanti) are performed.
The Complete List of Inauspicious Birth Conditions
| Condition | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amavasya | Birth on no-moon day (or beginning of Shukla Pratipada, when Moon first becomes visible) |
| 2 | Krishna Chaturdashi | Birth on 14th tithi of waning Moon (Naraka Chaturdashi) — auspicious for Shiva, inauspicious for birth |
| 3 | Vishthikarana | Birth during Vishthikarana (also called Bhadra) — one of the 11 karanas, considered very inauspicious |
| 4 | Sodharabheta (sibling nakshatra) | Born in the same nakshatra as any sibling (brother or sister) |
| 5 | Pitruvibeta (father nakshatra) | Born in the same nakshatra as father |
| 6 | Surya Sankranti | Born on the day when Sun changes sign (solar ingress day) |
| 7 | Pata | Some celestial event (literally "fall"); possibly a comet or similar astronomical event |
| 8 | Arka Indu Graha | Born during solar or lunar eclipse (Arka = Sun, Indu = Moon, Graha = eclipse/taking) |
| 9 | Vettipata and Duryogas | Birth during one of the inauspicious Panchanga yogas (e.g., Atiganda, Vettipata — from the 27 yogas) |
| 10 | Gandanta | Birth at a Gandanta junction (3 kinds of Gandanta) |
| 11 | Yamakanta | Birth during Yamakanta time period (associated with Yama, the lord of death) |
| 12 | Dagdha Yoga | Birth in "burnt yoga" — literally, the burnt/scorched yoga |
| 13 | Trikarajanma (tri-gender birth) | After 3 consecutive children of one sex, the 4th of opposite sex; also: if more, the later child in the sequence |
| 14 | Prasava Vikalapi | Abnormal or deformed birth — multiple heads, extra limbs, severe physical anomalies |
Important Notes on Each
Amavasya (darsha):
- PVNR notes the Sanskrit word "darsha" literally means "visibility" = when Moon is just seeable
- Classical interpretation = Amavasya (no moon day)
- But could also mean Shukla Pratipada (first crescent appearance)
- "Amavasya is NOT the new moon — Amavasya is the day when Moon is going toward zero. The actual new moon (zero) is after Amavasya ends."
Surya Sankranti:
- Applies the entire day on which Sun changes sign (civil day interpretation)
- Happens once per month (~12 times/year) = roughly 1/30 births affected
- Even if Sun changes sign at night, the entire calendar day is questionable
- PVNR: "I know several cases of Sankranti birth where the chart was brilliant on paper — perfect yoga, good lagna — but career never took off, or marriage was a mess, or health was terrible. Each traceable to this dosha."
Nakshatra Dosha (sodharabheta/pitrubheta):
- Any pada or all padas = unclear; Parashara does not specify
- Roughly 1/27 probability
- "If a traditional Indian family, they would have done the Shanti."
Vishthikarana: One of the 11 Karanas of the Panchanga; considered highly inauspicious
Vettipata / Atiganda / Duryogas:
- 27 Panchanga yogas exist; many are inauspicious
- Atiganda = "terrible danger" (one of the duryogas)
- Students advised to go through the list of 27 and identify the inauspicious ones
Trikarajanma:
- After 3 daughters → 1 son born = dosha; or after 3 sons → 1 daughter born
- Miscarriages: debated; likely not counted if sex is unknown (give benefit of doubt)
Remedy for All These Doshas
Shanti (pacification ritual) can remedy all of the above:
— PVNR"By doing Shanti, auspicious results (kalyana) will come. I will tell you the remedies."
- Ideally done in the first 21–41 days after birth
- Can be done at any age — PVNR knows cases where Shanti was done at age 27–28 with significant life improvement afterward
- If the person is already 70+ and not much life remains, consider accepting the karma as purification
- "It is never too late. If 15 years remain, do the Shanti."
Interesting Real-Time Observation
PVNR notes: "As we start this chapter on inauspicious births, Sun is 27 minutes from changing sign (Sankranti), we are in Vishthikarana (Bhadra), and Atiganda yoga is running. So if a child is born right now, they would need a lot of Shanti! This is auspicious for us — we will get many examples to study."
Ketu in 2nd House — Speech Clarification
Two possible results of Ketu in 2nd house:
- When weak: Stammering, unclear speech, halting communication
- When strong: Extremely clear, audible voice — you know exactly what the person is saying; no murmuring
"Ketu is like a big explosion — he can destroy any house he is in. So in 2nd house, he can give speech problems first. But the scriptures say Ketu in 2nd also gives the clearest voice. When the problems are over, the voice will be crystal clear."
Distinction being made: Not eloquence or choice of words — but the quality of the sound/voice itself:
- Clear audible voice (Ketu strong) = Vaikhari is pure
- Murmuring, unclear sound (Ketu weak) = Vaikhari is impure/unclear