Dosha (in astrology)
In Vedic astrology a dosha is a fault or affliction in a chart, such as Manglik dosha or Kaal Sarp dosha. Most doshas are conditional: classical texts list ways they are reduced or cancelled.
Also known as: Dosh, Astrological dosha
Dosha simply means “fault”. Astrologers use it for a placement that may bring difficulty to one area of life: Mars in certain houses (Manglik dosha), every planet between Rahu and Ketu (Kaal Sarp), Jupiter with Rahu (Guru Chandal), or a mismatch in Kundli matching, such as Nadi or Bhakoot dosha.
Ayurveda uses the same word for its three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha. That is a different idea; the Nadi koota in matching borrows the three names, but a chart dosha is not a health diagnosis.
A dosha is rarely all-or-nothing. Its strength depends on the planets’ signs and aspects and on the rest of the chart, and many doshas have classical cancellations. Some, such as Kaal Sarp, are not found in the classical texts at all, and astrologers differ on how much weight to give them.
Doshas are often overstated. No single dosha should decide a marriage, a career or any important step. For serious decisions, ask a qualified astrologer to look at the whole chart.