Shadripu In Astrology: The Six Internal Enemies

Have you ever lost control over your emotions or desires? Do you feel that sometimes things just go out of hand for you? The reason for all this can be Shadripu! Read below to understand it in detail!

What Is Shadripu Meaning In Astrology?

In Hinduism and Vedic Astrology, the Shadripu are also known as arishadvarga. These are internal psychological weaknesses that block your spiritual path to peace and success. 

Understanding them is the first step toward self-mastery. When you look at your birth chart, these ‘enemies’ are often linked to specific planets, showing your biggest challenges.

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Understanding The Six Enemies

In Vedic Astrology, each of these six enemies is primarily governed by a planet. When a planet is afflicted in your birth chart, it highlights the internal enemy that will be your greatest obstacle.

• Kama (Lust): Venus
• Krodha (Anger): Mars
• Lobha (Greed): Rahu
• Mada (Pride):  Ketu
• Moha (Attachment): Saturn 
• Matsarya (Jealousy): Mercury

Shadripu & Astrology: Knowing The Divine Connection

Let us now understand each arishadvarga in detail and know more about its effects on one’s life. These are as follows:

1. Kama

• Meaning: Lust
• Associated Planet: Venus
• Termed To Be: Path To Hell
• Action To Practice: Practice gratitude and simplicity in your life

Kama is not just physical lust, but any overpowering desire or craving for worldly pleasures, possessions, or experiences. It’s the constant need for “more.”

When Venus is afflicted, it enhances the need for pleasure. It also makes the person struggle with commitment or become a slave to luxurious habits, mistaking them for lasting happiness.

2. Lobha

• Meaning: Greed
• Associated Planet: Mars
• Termed To Be: Path To Hell
• Action To Practice: Perform charitable acts of time, money or knowledge

Lobha is the desire to acquire and collect wealth, power, or material things. It blinds one to their needs and leads to isolation.

An afflicted Saturn creates a mean nature, intense attachment to wealth, and a general lack of generosity. This person may always feel poor, even if they have much.

3. Krodha

• Meaning: Anger
• Associated Planet: Rahu
• Termed To Be: Path To Hell
• Action To Practice: Think before speaking and practice forgiveness

Krodha relates to explosive rage, irritation, or bitter resentment. It’s the reaction that occurs when a desire is blocked or unfulfilled. It destroys peace, reason, and relationships.

Mars is the driving force; when unchecked, it erupts as aggression, conflict, and arguments. An afflicted Mars can make a person volatile, prone to arguments, impatient, and unable to forgive.

4. Mada 

• Meaning: Pride
• Associated Planet: Ketu
• Termed To Be: Difficult Experience On Earth
• Action To Practice: Doing selfless service

Mada refers to an inflated sense of self-importance. It is the ego that makes you look down on others based on wealth, caste, beauty, or knowledge. It prevents one from learning and accepting.

Malefic Rahu makes one highly arrogant, boastful, and obsessed with status. It’s the “look-at-me” energy that prevents actual inner growth.

5. Moha 

• Meaning: Attachment
• Associated Planet: Saturn
• Termed To Be: Difficult Experience On Earth
• Action To Practice: Deep meditation to see the truth

Moha is a deep, blinding illusion that makes you believe temporary things are the source of your happiness. It’s a powerful form of ignorance that leads to pain.

Moha is the illusion that binds us, and Ketu’s negative energy creates a mental fog that stops us from seeing the truth. Moha confuses you and blinds you to reality.

6. Matsarya

• Meaning: Jealousy
• Associated Planet: Mercury
• Termed To Be: Difficult Experience On Earth
• Action To Practice: Genuinely celebrating others’ success & wishing them well

Matsarya refers to a feeling of ill will towards another person’s success or happiness. It’s the inability to celebrate another’s good fortune. It causes constant inner turmoil and bitterness.

Mercury governs this internal Ripu. When malefic, Mercury makes one constantly compare oneself and one’s fortune to others, leading to bitterness and an inability to be happy for a rival’s success.

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Two Paths Of Shadripu: Hell and Difficult Experience

The ancient texts often group the Shadripu into two distinct categories based on their immediate consequences on the soul:

1. The Path to Hell (Narakasya Dwaaram)

Kama, Krodha, and Lobha are considered the most destructive because they are the raw, driving forces that motivate immediate, harmful actions against others.

• Kama makes you exploit to fulfil a desire.
• Krodha makes you lash out in a moment of fury.
• Lobha makes you steal or cheat for gain.

2. Difficult Experience on Earth

Mada, Moha, and Matsarya are primarily internal mental states that cause intense, prolonged inner suffering, making the experience of human life extremely difficult.

• Mada traps you in the prison of your own ego.
• Moha ensures that the inevitable loss of anything you love will cause maximum devastation.
• Matsarya makes you a constant prisoner of comparison and bitterness.

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Shadripu: How To Conquer

Conquering the Shadr ipu isn’t about eliminating desire; it’s about purifying your motivations and regaining control over your mind.

1. Identify Your Primary Enemy (Your Afflicted Planet)
2. Practice the Positive Counterpart
3. Embrace the Power of a Higher Purpose

Summary

By understanding the Shadripu through the lens of astrology, you gain a map to your own inner battleground. You can stop blaming outside circumstances and start controlling the internal forces that truly determine your peace and success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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