Kaal Sarp Doshaकाल सर्प दोष
Occurs when all 7 classical planets (Sun through Saturn, excluding the lunar nodes themselves) fall on one side of the Rahu-Ketu axis — considered to create a specific kind of karmic pressure or obstacle pattern running through the whole life, with 12 different named variants depending on exactly which house Rahu occupies.
This app also flags a "Partial" Kaal Sarp condition when most (but not quite all) planets fall on one side — traditionally considered a milder version of the full dosha. It also separately flags a "cancelled" case: if all planets are hemmed but a planet sits conjunct with Rahu or Ketu itself, this is considered to break the pattern. Severity and the specific named type are both shown when detected.
Checks whether all 7 classical planets fall within the arc between Rahu and Ketu (hemmed on one side); which specific house (1-12) Rahu occupies determines the named variant — Anant, Kulik, Vasuki, Shankhpal, Padma, Mahapadma, Takshak, Karkotak, Shankhachur, Ghatak, Vishdhar, and Sheshnag, one name per possible Rahu house position.
Kaal Sarp Dosha occurs when all 7 classical planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn) fall within the arc between Rahu and Ketu — hemmed on one side of the Rahu-Ketu axis. Rahu and Ketu are always exactly 180° apart, dividing the zodiac into two halves; when all other planets cluster in one half, the chart is said to have Kaal Sarp. The name means "serpent of time" — Rahu and Ketu are the serpent's head and tail, and the planets are swallowed within.
There are 12 named variants, one for each possible house position of Rahu: Anant (Rahu in 1st), Kulik (2nd), Vasuki (3rd), Shankhpal (4th), Padma (5th), Mahapadma (6th), Takshak (7th), Karkotak (8th), Shankhachur (9th), Ghatak (10th), Vishdhar (11th), and Sheshnag (12th). Each variant is associated with different life themes based on which houses the Rahu-Ketu axis activates. The 8th house variant (Karkotak) is generally considered the most challenging.
Classical texts associate Kaal Sarp with obstacles, delays, and a sense of karmic pressure running through the life — but the actual severity depends heavily on which houses are activated, the strength of Rahu and Ketu in the chart, and whether any planet sits conjunct with Rahu or Ketu (which this app flags as a cancellation). A partial Kaal Sarp (most but not all planets on one side) is considered milder. Common remedies include Rahu-Ketu puja, Nag Panchami observance, and specific mantras — this app's Remedies section shows chart-specific suggestions.