“Karaka Bhava Nasthi” is often quoted to mean that a karaka placed in its respective bhava harms the results of that bhava. In the same vein, Jupiter, the karaka for childbirth (putrakaraka), if placed in the 5th house is said to be harmful to putra bhava and that it denies children (putradosha). Let’s check whether this concept holds good when we analyse the horoscopes in Saptarishi Nadi.

Saptarishi Nadi

Saptarishi Nadi is a collection of books containing discussions of horoscopes by the seven sages (saptarishis) and the consort of Lord Siva, Devi Parvati, herself. It is written in poetic form in the Tamil language. These books were compiled from palm manuscripts found in various parts of Tamilnadu, India, and published by the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras. Most importantly, they are a treasure house for those who want to analyze the predictions of the horoscopes by the ancient sages. I have discussed at length about this collection in the Saptarishi Nadi section. I have compiled the portions where the saptarishis put forth their arguments in favor of/against some of their predictions in the form of an eBook titled, “Elucidation of astrological predictions by saptarishis: Saptarishi Nadi, Aries ascendant collection.”

Upon analysis of the horoscopes in the Aries ascendant (mesha lagna) collection, I found that Jupiter is placed in the 5th house (Leo, in this instance) in the following horoscopes as mentioned in the table below. This table also lists the number of male and female children who are long-lived.

Horoscope number
(Aries ascendant)

Male children

Female children

18

0

2

19

2

2

24*

1

1

25

2

2

28*

2

2

41

2

3

42

2

2

56

2

2

64

2

4

66

3

2

69

2

3

72

2

2

*In both these horoscopes the location of Jupiter is mentioned as பொன்அரி, meaning Jupiter is in Leo — அரி means Leo — but was placed elsewhere in the book.

Clearly, all the jatakas with Jupiter in the 5th house are endowed with children — both male and female. But, this seems contrary to the argument that Jupiter in the 5th house harms the putra bhava. You may ask, “ahaa.. the first entry in the table (horoscope 18) has no male child and this must be due to Jupiter in the 5th house.” Well… you got me there!

Horoscope 18 – Aries ascendant collection

The position of the planets in horoscope 18 is given below for analysis.

AscendantMoonVenusSunRahuJupiterMarsKetuSaturnMercury

We see that Jupiter is in the 5th house. Regarding children, sage Athiri says in verse 16:


(Sage’s speech is color-coded in violet and Parvati’s speech in brown)

புத்திர விருத்திதன்னைப் புகலுவோ மாண்பால்காணோம்
பத்தினி யிரண்டுமாகும் பருகிடும் தீர்க்கமாக
அத்திரி சொல்லும்போது அம்மனும் கேட்கலுற்றாள்
வித்தகன் தனக்குஆண்பால் வளங்காது என்றுசொன்னீர்

Talking about children, there is no possibility of a male child;
(But) two female children will be long-lived.
When Athiri says so, Parvati Devi asked
(As) You said that the jataka will not have a male child,

என்னகா ரணங்களதை இயம்புவீ ரென்றுசொல்ல
மன்னிய குடும்பராகு மங்கலன் பார்த்துமேதான்
துன்னுபுத் திரதானத்தோன் சூரிய னாகிநிற்க
சொன்னேனே இதனால்ஆண்பால் துலங்காது என்றுசொன்னொம்

Tell me the reason for that.
As Rahu is in the 2nd house (family), which is aspected by Mars,
and the lord of putra sthana being the Sun,
I told that the male child will not survive.

அஞ்சினில் மறையோனிற்க அஞ்சவ னுச்சமாக
மிஞ்சிய அஞ்சோனோடே வெள்ளியு நிலவுகூட
தஞ்சமாய் ஆண்பாலொன்று சனித்திடும் தீர்க்கமாக
வஞ்சியே தசமந்தன்னில் னைந்தனு மிருப்பதாலே

As Jupiter is in the 5th house and the 5th lord is exalted,
and Venus and the Moon are with the 5th lord,
one male child will be born and long-lived.
As Saturn is in the 10th house,

முன்சென்ம வினையினாலே மொழிந்திட்டோம் மதலைதோஷம்
என்னஊழ் தன்னைநீங்கள் இயம்புவீ ரென்றுகேட்க
இன்னவன் முன்சென்மத்தை இயம்புவோம் .....

We declared putra dosha because of past-life karma.
Kindly tell (me) about the past-life karma.
I will tell (you) about the past life of the jataka …..

And the sage goes on to explain the past life of the jataka.

Factors for and against putradosha

The factors for and against childbirth and, in this case, a male child are discussed in these verses. First, let’s check out the factors against childbirth; the negative factors for the birth of a male child (as said by sage Athiri) are:

  1. Rahu is in the second house of family
  2. Mars (8th lord) aspects the second house
  3. The Sun being the lord of putra sthana
  4. Saturn is in the 10th house (this spoils the possibility of a male child to perform the funeral rites of the jataka)

Next, let’s list the factors favouring childbirth (as said by Parvati):

  1. Jupiter is in the 5th house
  2. The Lord of 5th house (Sun) is exalted
  3. Venus and the Moon are with the 5th lord
அஞ்சினில் மறையோனிற்க ........ ஆண்பாலொன்று சனித்திடும் தீர்க்கமாக

Parvati Devi argues that Jupiter in the 5th house is a favourable factor for a male child, in addition to other factors. If “Karaka Bhava Nasyo” is true, She would not have said so. In fact, her statement proves the opposite. Therefore, Jupiter in the 5th house is good for begetting children. 

To bolster this fact, let’s consider two other horoscopes.

Horoscope 60 – Aries ascendant collection

AscendantMoonJupiterVenusSunMercuryRahuMarsSaturnKetu

In horoscope 60 (Aries ascendant collection), verse 19, for the following planetary position, we see that Rahu and Mercury occupy the 5th house. As a result, sage Parasharar declares putradosha for this jataka. Most importantly, he clarifies:


... சௌமியன் ராகுஅஞ்சில்
பங்குமே பார்த்ததாலே பருகாது பத்திரரென்றோம்

As Mercury and Rahu are in the 5th house,
which is aspected by Saturn, he will not beget children.

Here, the sage specifically mentions that the presence of Mercury (as the 6th lord) is deleterious to the putra bhava, unlike the previous example where no mention of Jupiter was made when speaking about the reasons for putradosha.

Horoscope 3 – Virgo ascendant collection

By contrast, there is another horoscope in the Virgo ascendant (kanya lagna) collection where both Jupiter and Rahu are placed in the 5th house. In horoscope 3, the following planetary position is depicted:

AscendantMarsSunVenusMoonMercuryRahuJupiterSaturnKetu

In verse 34, sage Vashistar explains:


சாதகன் தனக்குப் புத்திரர் சாற்று மாண் பலத்தைக் காணோம்
மேதினில் பெண்பால் ரெண்டு விருத்தியா மிவனுக்கே தான்
மாதவர் சொல்லும் போது வதிஷ்டரைக் கேழ்க்கலுற்றார்
தீதுகள் ஆண் பாலுக்குச் செப்பினீர் இந்தச் சேதி

The jataka is not blessed with a male child;
(But) he will beget two female children.
Now Parvati asks sage Vashistar
You told that the male child will not survive.

ஏதுகாரணத்தி னாலேயியம் பினீர்முனியே யென்றாள்
ஓதுவேன் அஞ்சில் ராகு உரைந்துமே அஷ்ட மத்தோன்
கோதிலா பார்த்த தாலே குறித்தன மந்தச் சங்கை
பாதகன் முன் சென்மத்தில் பண்ணின தோஷத் தாலே 
சுதர்களு மில்லை யென்றோம் .....

What is the reason for saying so?
As Rahu is in the 5th house and 8th lord
aspects it, I have declared so.
Also, because of past-life dosha,
I told that he will not have a male child …..

Sage Vashistar says that the reasons for the denial of a male child are the presence of Rahu in the 5th house and the 5th house being aspected by Mars (8th lord). However, he doesn’t say that the presence of Jupiter is deleterious to putra bhava. He would have, if it was so.

Summing it up

Based on the evidence listed above, we can safely conclude that Jupiter in the 5th house does not cause putradosha (obviously, he should not be the 6th or 8th lord) and, in fact, is favourable for begetting children . Also, this evidence discredits the concept of “Karaka bhava nasthi”.

Please note that the saptarishis used a tropical zodiac with sidereal nakshatras — which I have established conclusively in another article — and the rules discussed in Saptarishi Nadi were intended for interpretation of a chart computed with tropical zodiac, as opposed to sidereal zodiac.