How Many Doshas Are There in Astrology? A Complete Guide
Every birth chart tells a story. Some of that story is filled with positive planetary combinations called yogas. But some of it carries challenges known as doshas. If you have ever consulted an astrologer and been told your chart has a dosha, you probably asked yourself: how many doshas are there in astrology and which ones actually matter?
This guide answers that question completely. We cover the most significant doshas in Vedic astrology, what causes them, how they affect your life, and what remedies can neutralise their effects.
What is a Dosha in Astrology?
The word “dosha” comes from Sanskrit and translates roughly as “fault” or “affliction.” In Vedic astrology, a dosha is an unfavourable planetary condition in a person’s birth chart. It arises when specific planets occupy particular houses, form certain conjunctions, or create problematic angular relationships.
Doshas are not curses. They are karmic imprints – energetic patterns carried from past life actions that manifest as obstacles, delays, or challenges in the current life. Understanding your doshas gives you a map of where life may feel harder and where remedial measures can bring relief.
Every Vedic astrology chart contains both yogas (blessings) and doshas (challenges). The goal is not to fear doshas but to understand and address them with awareness.
How Many Doshas Are There in Astrology?
Vedic astrology recognises a wide range of doshas. While texts list dozens of minor ones, the most recognised and widely studied doshas in astrology number around 12 to 15 major types. These are the ones that appear most commonly in birth charts and carry the most significant life impact.
The most important doshas in astrology are:
- Mangal Dosha (Manglik Dosha)
- Kaal Sarp Dosha
- Pitra Dosha
- Nadi Dosha
- Guru Chandal Dosha
- Shrapit Dosha
- Kemdrum Dosha
- Angarak Dosha
- Vish Dosha (Shani-Chandra Dosha)
- Grahan Dosha
- Bhakoot Dosha
- Shani Dosha (Sade Sati)
Each of these doshas carries its own cause, effects, and remedies. Let us explore the most impactful ones in detail.
The Major Doshas in Astrology Explained
1. Mangal Dosha (Manglik Dosha)
Mangal Dosha is one of the most commonly discussed doshas in astrology, especially in the context of marriage. It occurs when Mars (Mangal) is placed in the 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house of the birth chart.
Mars is a planet of aggression, energy, and conflict. When placed in these sensitive houses, it can create friction in relationships, delays in marriage, and a tendency toward anger and impulsiveness.
In a marriage context, two Manglik individuals marrying each other is believed to neutralise the dosha’s negative effects. Additionally, the dosha is said to reduce significantly after the age of 28.
Learning more about what is Mangal in astrology helps you understand not just the dosha but also the full planetary character of Mars and how its placement shapes your personality and relationships.
Key effects:
- Delays or obstacles in marriage
- Marital conflicts and incompatibility
- Increased aggression and emotional volatility
- Financial instability in specific cases
Remedies:
- Chant the Hanuman Chalisa every Tuesday
- Perform Mangal Dosha Nivaran Puja
- Fast on Tuesdays and donate red-coloured items
2. Kaal Sarp Dosha
Kaal Sarp Dosha is one of the most feared doshas in astrology. It forms when all seven main planets – Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn – are positioned between Rahu (North Node) and Ketu (South Node) in the birth chart.
This dosha can persist for up to 47 years, depending on the individual’s horoscope. It creates a sense of being repeatedly held back despite consistent effort.
Understanding Rahu in Western astrology and its shadow planet influence helps clarify why Kaal Sarp Dosha carries such a strong karmic charge. Rahu represents unfulfilled desires and worldly obsessions that can trap the soul in cycles of struggle.
Key effects:
- Repeated failures despite hard work
- Obstacles in career, business, and finances
- Health issues, nightmares, and mental unrest
- Delays in marriage and childbirth
Remedies:
- Perform Kaal Sarp Dosha Puja at Trimbakeshwar or Ujjain
- Chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra 108 times daily
- Worship Lord Shiva on Mondays with devotion
3. Pitra Dosha
Pitra Dosha arises from ancestral karmic debt. In astrology, it forms when Saturn and Rahu are positioned with the Sun or Moon in the birth chart, particularly in the 1st, 5th, 8th, or 9th house. It represents unresolved karma from the ancestors that the current generation carries forward.
This dosha brings suffering related to family relationships, health struggles, and blocked progress in life. Many astrologers interpret it as a signal to honour ancestors through rituals and prayers.
Key effects:
- Family conflicts and strained relationships
- Repeated health issues without a clear cause
- Blocked financial growth despite efforts
- Challenges in conceiving or childlessness
Remedies:
- Perform Pitru Tarpan rituals during Pitru Paksha
- Feed Brahmins, crows, and cows on Amavasya (New Moon day)
- Donate in the name of your ancestors
Reciting the Bajrang Baan regularly is also considered a powerful protective prayer that reduces ancestral afflictions and creates spiritual shielding around the family lineage.
4. Nadi Dosha
Nadi Dosha is specific to marriage compatibility. It forms when both partners have the same Nadi – Adi, Madhya, or Antya in the Ashtakoota matching system. It is assigned the highest points (8 out of 36) in Guna Milan because it relates directly to biological and health compatibility between partners.
To understand the full significance of this dosha, reading about what is meant by Nadi in astrology provides essential context. Nadi reflects a person’s fundamental physical constitution and genetic tendencies, which is why a mismatch here carries such importance for marriage.
Key effects:
- Health issues for one or both partners post-marriage
- Challenges related to childbirth and progeny
- Incompatibility in physical constitution and temperament
- Risk of separation in severe cases
Remedies:
- Perform Nadi Dosha Nivaran Puja before marriage
- Donate gold, clothes, or food to Brahmins
- Worship Lord Vishnu and recite Vishnu Sahasranama
5. Guru Chandal Dosha
Guru Chandal Dosha forms when Jupiter (Guru) conjuncts Rahu or Ketu in the birth chart. Jupiter is the planet of wisdom, dharma, education, and optimism. When Rahu or Ketu overshadow Jupiter’s energy, these positive qualities get distorted or suppressed.
This dosha is particularly notorious for bringing instability to a person’s belief systems, ethical judgment, and educational journey. The combination of Jupiter and Rahu is considered especially harmful, creating confusion between genuine wisdom and material desire.
Key effects:
- Difficulty in completing education or frequent disruptions
- Lack of moral clarity and poor decision-making
- Financial instability despite intellectual ability
- Health challenges, particularly liver and digestive issues
Remedies:
- Chant the Jupiter Beej Mantra: “Om Graam Greem Groum Sah Gurave Namah”
- Donate yellow items – turmeric, yellow cloth, gold – on Thursdays
- Perform Guru Chandal Dosha Shanti Puja
6. Shrapit Dosha
Shrapit means “cursed” in Sanskrit. This dosha forms when Saturn and Rahu are conjunct in the birth chart. It is considered a karmic carry-over from past life actions where the person may have wronged others or seriously violated dharma.
Key effects:
- Persistent delays and blocked opportunities
- Relationship difficulties and loneliness
- Health struggles that recur without resolution
- Financial hardships and career stagnation
Remedies:
- Perform Shrapit Dosha Nivaran Puja on Saturdays
- Feed black sesame seeds, black clothes, and mustard oil to the needy
- Chant the Shani Mantra regularly
Devotional recitations like Bhairav Kavach are considered especially potent for individuals with Shrapit Dosha, as Bhairav is a fierce form of Shiva who governs Saturn’s energy and karmic justice.
7. Kemdrum Dosha
Kemdrum Dosha forms when the Moon has no planets in the houses immediately before or after it in the birth chart. The Moon rules the mind and emotions. Without planetary support on either side, the Moon feels isolated and its qualities – emotional stability, mental peace, intuitive clarity – weaken significantly.
Key effects:
- Mental instability, anxiety, and depression
- Emotional loneliness and difficulty forming bonds
- Financial unpredictability
- Lack of consistent support in life
Remedies:
- Worship the Moon on Mondays and during full moons
- Offer milk and white flowers to Lord Shiva
- Wear a pearl gemstone after astrological consultation
8. Vish Dosha (Saturn-Moon Conjunction)
Vish Dosha literally means “poison dosha.” It forms when Saturn and the Moon are conjunct in the same house. Saturn’s restrictive, cold energy clashes with the Moon’s emotional, nurturing nature, creating internal tension.
Key effects:
- Chronic emotional suffering and pessimism
- Difficulty in expressing feelings openly
- Health issues related to the mind and nervous system
- Strained maternal relationships
Remedies:
- Chant the Chandra Mantra on Mondays
- Fast on Saturdays and offer oil to Saturn
- Perform Moon-related rituals during Purnima (Full Moon)
Reciting the Om Jai Jagdish Hare Aarti during Monday worship helps soothe the Moon’s afflicted energy and invites emotional calm and divine protection into daily life.
9. Bhakoot Dosha
Bhakoot Dosha is a marriage compatibility dosha. It forms when the Moon signs of the bride and groom are in a 2-12, 5-9, or 6-8 relationship in the Ashtakoota system. Each combination carries different challenges – financial issues, progeny difficulties, or health challenges respectively.
Guna Milan in astrology is the broader compatibility framework within which Bhakoot Dosha is checked. With 7 out of 36 total points at stake, Bhakoot is the second most important Koota in the entire matching system.
Key effects:
- Financial instability after marriage (2-12 combination)
- Challenges with childbirth (5-9 combination)
- Health deterioration in the couple (6-8 combination)
Remedies:
- Perform Bhakoot Dosha Shanti Puja before marriage
- Chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra jointly as a couple
- Donate to charitable causes linked to the afflicted planets
10. Grahan Dosha
Grahan Dosha forms when the Sun or Moon is conjunct with Rahu or Ketu in the birth chart. This placement mirrors the astronomical phenomenon of an eclipse, hence the name “Grahan” (eclipse). It creates a shadow over the native’s life force (Sun) or emotional mind (Moon).
Key effects:
- Loss of confidence and identity issues (Sun-Rahu/Ketu)
- Emotional confusion and instability (Moon-Rahu/Ketu)
- Challenges related to authority and father figures
- Health issues related to eyesight and nerves
Remedies:
- Perform Surya or Chandra Grahan Shanti Puja
- Offer water to the Sun every morning
- Recite the Aditya Hridayam stotra daily
Reciting the Sankat Nashan Ganesh Stotram before any new beginning is especially beneficial for those with Grahan Dosha, as Ganesha removes obstacles created by shadowed planetary energies.
How Do You Know If You Have a Dosha?
A dosha can only be accurately identified through a detailed analysis of your birth chart. Each dosha has specific planetary combinations, house placements, and degree conditions that must all be verified together.
Here are clear signals that warrant a dosha check:
- Repeated failures in a specific life area despite genuine effort
- Unexplained health issues that do not resolve easily
- Persistent delays in marriage, children, or career milestones
- A family pattern of similar challenges across generations
- Feelings of being blocked or cursed despite doing everything right
The placement of planets in Kendra and Trikona houses in astrology – the most powerful positions in the chart – determines whether a dosha is active and how intensely it influences your life. A dosha in a Kendra house often has stronger effects than the same dosha in a weaker house position.
Can All Doshas Be Remedied?
Yes. This is one of the most empowering teachings of Vedic astrology. Every dosha has a corresponding remedy. Remedies work on the karmic level, gradually reducing the intensity of planetary afflictions through spiritual practice, charitable acts, and conscious living.
The most universally effective remedies across all doshas include:
- Mantra chanting – specific planetary mantras repeated consistently
- Puja and ritual – targeted worship at temples or at home
- Fasting – on the day ruled by the afflicted planet
- Donation – giving items associated with the problematic planet
- Gemstone therapy – only after personalised astrological consultation
- Devotional prayer – daily spiritual practice aligned with benefic planetary energies
Final Thoughts
Understanding how many doshas are in astrology is only the beginning. The real value lies in knowing which doshas affect your specific chart, how strongly they operate, and which remedies are most effective for your unique situation.
Doshas are not destiny. They are karmic patterns that, once understood and addressed, can be transformed into sources of strength, awareness, and spiritual growth.
For a personalised dosha analysis and customised remedies based on your birth chart, connect with an expert Vedic astrologer on the VAMA app. Download VAMA on the Google Play Store and get clarity on your chart today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many doshas are there in astrology?
Vedic astrology recognises around 12 to 15 major doshas, including Mangal, Kaal Sarp, Pitra, Nadi, Guru Chandal, Shrapit, Kemdrum, Vish, Bhakoot, and Grahan Dosha. Minor doshas can number in the dozens depending on the astrological system used.
Q2. Which dosha is considered the most dangerous in astrology?
Kaal Sarp Dosha and Mangal Dosha are widely considered the most impactful. Kaal Sarp affects multiple life areas simultaneously, while Mangal Dosha strongly influences marriage and relationships. However, severity always depends on the individual chart and house placements.
Q3. Can a person have more than one dosha in their birth chart?
Yes. Multiple doshas can exist simultaneously in one birth chart. However, the presence of strong yogas, benefic planetary placements, or dosha cancellation conditions can significantly reduce the combined negative impact on the native’s life.
Q4. Do doshas affect everyone equally?
No. The intensity of a dosha depends on the house it occupies, the strength of the planets involved, the presence of cancellation conditions, and the overall chart strength. Two people with the same dosha may experience very different outcomes based on these variables.
Q5. How can I find out which doshas I have in my Kundli?
Consult an experienced Vedic astrologer for a full birth chart analysis. Provide accurate birth details – date, time, and place of birth. The astrologer will identify active doshas, assess their intensity, and recommend personalised remedies suited specifically to your chart.
