Cancer and Vedic astrology: analysis of planetary configurations, disease-related houses and Vimshottari Dasha
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Cancer is a complex group of diseases arising through biological processes involving genetic, cellular, environmental, metabolic and immunological factors. Modern oncology provides the established framework for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Traditional Indian knowledge systems, however, have historically interpreted health and illness through different conceptual frameworks. Vedic astrology, or Jyotisha, is one such traditional system in which planetary positions, houses, planetary relationships, Nakshatras, Dashas and transits are interpreted symbolically in relation to health and life events. This exploratory study presents a structured Jyotish analysis of 15 illustrative cancer profiles, comprising three cases each of Breast, Lung, Oral/Head & Neck, Colorectal and Prostate cancer, anonymised as C01-C15. Each profile is described with plausible but invented demographic and clinical detail (age, sex, city, year of diagnosis, stage/subtype) alongside a standardised Jyotish observation protocol using the sidereal zodiac with Lahiri Ayanamsha, whole-sign houses, D1/Rashi charts, Vimshottari Dasha, Moon Nakshatra and selected planetary relationships. Particular attention was given to the Lagna, 6th, 8th and 12th houses and their lords, together with Saturn, Mars, Rahu and Ketu. Diagnosis-period Mahadasha, Antardasha and Pratyantar Dasha were also examined. The objective was not to statistically test or medically validate astrology, but to identify recurring symbolic configurations across the cases. Across the dataset, Saturn occupies the 6th, 8th or 12th house in 12 of 15 cases; a Rahu or Ketu period is active at diagnosis in 11 of 15 cases; a direct 6th-8th lord relationship appears in all three Lung cases; and two cases (one Oral/Head & Neck, one Prostate) show a complete, closed 6th→8th→12th lord chain. These observations illustrate how a systematic Jyotish case-analysis framework can be constructed and compared across categories.
Authors: Vidya Hattangadi, Shilpa Shinde
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7203574280