These doshas are part of Vedic astrology that explains the occurence of unhappy circumstances of life on the basis of planetary configuration, especially of Rahu, Ketu, Shani. Grah refers to the nine celestial bodies, navagrahas and their placement / alignment with regard to each other. Pitru refers to the forefathers indicating influences coming from the past including heredity. Sarp or Kaal Sarp means a dangerous time ahead. Accordingly rituals and prayers have been described to appease these celestial forces to either change the course of destiny but more often to mitigate the effects.
In my view these celestial forces and charts are at best hieroglyphs, patterns or a language that communicates certain possibilities and challenges. They are not the original cause of anything but only a notation, a body of words that mean something but not the author of the script itself. To believe or not to believe in them is a personal matter but even during the time of the Vedas and subsequently as well Astrology (of which these things are a part) has been regarded as a lower knowledge. It is a partial knowledge and hence belongs to realm of ignorance like other forms of occult knowledge. The higher knowledge is that there is One Divine Power from which all these subordinate celestial forces and cosmic powers are derived and to whom they obey. The straight and simple (as well as logical) thing therefore is to invoke that One Divine Power in one’s life through whatever Name or Form one feels drawn towards it. Generally Sri Krishna and Kali are regarded as the highest among the cosmic powers whose invocation takes care of all else. Behind and above them of course is the Divine Mother, the Supreme Original Power, Aadya Shakti and there is none other beyond Her. Therefore invoking the Divine Mother with full faith and confidence in Her Grace is indeed the best way open to man.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
