Every question, answered

Pandit Rakesh Shukla Guruji is a Vedic priest at Trimbakeshwar with more than 20 years of experience performing Kaal Sarp Dosh, Narayan Nagbali, Tripindi Shradh, Pitra Dosh Nivaran, Kumbh Vivah, Maha Mrityunjay Jaap and Rudrabhishek pujas.

Call or WhatsApp +91 77679 85045, any time. Share your birth details for the free Kundali check, and Guruji fixes the muhurat and tells you what to bring.

Yes. Guruji reads your Kundali first, free of charge, to confirm which dosh is present before suggesting any puja.

Yes. Guruji performs the puja at Trimbakeshwar with your sankalp and you join live on a video call. Prasad can be sent to your address.

Near Nathji Gift Stall, At Post Trimbakeshwar Temple, Trimbak, Nashik, Maharashtra 422212 — right by the temple.

Trimbakeshwar is about 28 km from Nashik. The nearest railway station is Nashik Road and the nearest airport is Nashik (Ozar); Mumbai and Pune are a few hours by road.

Speak to the pandit directly, ask for a clear explanation of the vidhi before the day, and be wary of anyone promising guaranteed results. Guruji explains everything on the first call.

Yes. Guruji arranges the full puja samagri, so you only need to bring yourself, your family and new clothes for the puja.

Kaal Sarp Dosh (Kaal Sarp Yog) forms in a birth chart when all seven planets fall between Rahu (the snake's head) and Ketu (its tail). It is believed to cause delays and obstacles in career, marriage, health and money.

Trimbakeshwar is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, with the Godavari rising at Kushavarta. It is regarded as the most powerful place in India for Kaal Sarp, Narayan Nagbali and Pitra Dosh rituals.

Usually about 3–4 hours in a single morning. Depending on the chart, Guruji may advise a longer puja, up to three days.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Men wear a new white dhoti and women a new saree, after the bath at Kushavarta. Avoid black clothes. Guruji will guide you on the day.

Yes. Guruji can perform the puja on your behalf with your sankalp and you join live over video call. Call or WhatsApp to arrange it.

Amavasya, Nag Panchami and Mahashivratri are considered very auspicious, but the right muhurat depends on your chart — Guruji fixes it after the free Kundali check.

Avoid non-vegetarian food and alcohol during the puja period. Come with faith and patience.

It is two rituals done in sequence — Narayan Bali for the ancestors and Nagbali for the snake dosh — followed by shraddha and havan. The vidhi needs three days.

Anyone whose Kundali shows Pitra Dosh, whose family has had untimely deaths, or who has harmed a snake. Guruji confirms after a free Kundali check.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Yes, couples can perform Narayan Nagbali together. Guruji explains the rules for your family on the call.

Guruji helps arrange simple accommodation and satvik food near the temple for the family during the puja.

Pitra Dosh is a dosh in the Kundali linked to ancestors whose souls are not at peace, often because their shraddha was not done or they died untimely. It is believed to bring obstacles to the family.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Pitra Dosh Puja is a one-day rite for ancestors. Tripindi Shradh honours three generations whose shraddha was missed. Narayan Nagbali is a three-day ritual for untimely deaths and snake dosh. Guruji tells you which one your chart needs.

Traditionally the elder son of the family, though Guruji will guide other family members where needed.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Most often in Pitru Paksha or on an Amavasya, but it can be performed on other suitable days fixed by Guruji.

The full anushthan is 1,25,000 (sava lakh) chants over eight days with havan on the ninth. Smaller jaaps of 11,000 or 51,000 chants are also performed — Guruji advises which suits the situation.

Yes. The pandits chant with your sankalp; you can join live online for the sankalp and havan.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

A mixture of five offerings — milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar or holy water — used to bathe the Shivling.

Rudrabhishek is a single recitation of the Rudri with abhishek. Laghu Rudra is eleven recitations, usually by several pandits over a day; Maha Rudra is eleven Laghu Rudras over several days. Guruji advises which suits your sankalp.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

No. Kaal Sarp Puja is for the specific yog where all planets are between Rahu and Ketu. Rahu–Ketu shanti is for difficult dashas or placements of these two planets. Guruji tells you which you need.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Navgrah Shanti is the worship of all nine planets of Vedic astrology, with their mantras and havan, to reduce the harmful effect of planets that are weak or badly placed in the birth chart.

If one planet — such as Rahu, Ketu or Shani — is the main problem, a shanti for that planet is enough. When several planets are afflicted, or before a major new beginning, Navgrah Shanti is advised. Guruji decides from the Kundali.

Commonly before marriage, griha pravesh or a new business, and at the start of a difficult dasha. Guruji fixes a muhurat from your chart.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Manglik (Mangal) dosh is said to form when Mars sits in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house of the birth chart. Tradition links it to delays and friction in marriage, which is why its shanti is done before the wedding.

For a bride with Manglik dosh, a symbolic marriage is first performed with a kumbh (clay pot) representing Lord Vishnu, so the dosh is spent on the kumbh and not on the real marriage. For a groom the equivalent is Ark Vivah.

Yes. If both charts have dosh, or if the match has been delayed for other reasons, Guruji can perform the shanti for both.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Grahan (eclipse) Dosh is said to form when the Sun or the Moon is conjoined with Rahu or Ketu in the birth chart, or when a person is born during an eclipse. Tradition links it to fear, low confidence and health worries.

No. Kaal Sarp Dosh needs all planets between Rahu and Ketu. Grahan Dosh concerns only the Sun or Moon being with Rahu or Ketu. A chart can have either or both — Guruji checks for free.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Six nakshatras — Ashwini, Ashlesha, Magha, Jyeshtha, Mool and Revati — fall at the junctions of the zodiac signs and are called Gandmool. A birth in them is traditionally followed by a shanti puja.

Ideally on the 27th day after birth, when the same nakshatra returns, but it can be done at any later time, including for adults. Guruji fixes a suitable day.

Yes. Traditionally both parents sit for the puja with the child, and part of the ritual is for the parents themselves.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Commonly the Maha Mrityunjay mantra, Gayatri mantra, the beej mantras of the nine planets, Om Namah Shivaya and the Durga mantras. Guruji chooses from the Kundali and the purpose.

Traditional counts are 11,000, 21,000, 51,000 or 1,25,000. The count sets the number of pandits and days.

Yes — in person for the sankalp and havan, or live online. The family may also chant a share of the count at home.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Yes. Chandi Paath is the recitation of the Durga Saptashati — the 700 verses of the Devi Mahatmya from the Markandeya Purana. When the paath is completed with a havan it is called Chandi Havan or Chandi Yagya.

Nine complete recitations of the Saptashati followed by a havan, usually over several days with several pandits. It is done for a major sankalp or during Navratri.

Any day is suitable, but Navratri, Durga Ashtami and Fridays are especially favoured. Guruji fixes the day from your purpose.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.

Vastu Shanti is normally performed at the home or workplace itself. Guruji can travel for it, or guide a sankalp and the shanti rites at Trimbakeshwar with the family joining online.

Before you start living or working in a new place — before griha pravesh — or as soon as a vastu dosh is identified in an existing one.

Griha Pravesh is the ceremony of entering the new home; Vastu Shanti is the puja that pacifies the vastu of the place. They are usually done together on the same muhurat.

Guruji tells each family the dakshina and the samagri arrangements on the call, after the free Kundali check, so there are no surprises on the day.