Jaimini Karakas

Jaimini Astrology names 7 planets as 7 karakas (significators) in each

persons natal chart. These are listed below;
Atmakaraka the planet that decides the own self (physical body, soul and
mind)
Amatyakaraka the planet that decides the Career and close accomplices
Bhratrukaraka the planet that rules the Siblings, Father, Guru
Matrukaraka the planet that rules the house of Mother
Putrakaraka the planet that governs the Children
Gnatikaraka

the

planet

that

governs

the

relations

as

Cousins,

obstructions, struggles
Darakaraka the planet that governs the spouse/s
Atma means soul and Karaka means significator. Atmakaraka is the
significator of the souls desire; the reason for which soul has entered a body
and the peculiar desire/s which would keep it going on in the present birth.
There are two types of Atmakaraka (1) Fixed Atmakaraka (2) Movable
Atmakarka. If the Atmakaraka favours the activity done by the native then
the work desired by the soul is accomplished. The Sun is considered as fixed
(or natural) Atmakaraka in all natal charts.
According to Rig Veda, the Sun is represented at the microcosmic,
macrocosmic and megacosmic levels in grand unification. It is identified with
the soul of the universe as well as the soul of the individual. Thus, the
Atmakaraka planet is seeker and doer.
Atmakaraka is the most important planet in the chart. It is from the
Atmakaraka that the (1) Ishta Devta of the person is known (2) Purpose of
rebirth is hinted at

The chara Atmakaraka or movable Atmakaraka is the planet that has

maximum degrees of all the planets in the natal chart. Hence, any of the
planet from the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus having the
highest degree in the horoscope becomes the Atmakarka. The planets in
descending degrees become the respective karakas as mentioned above.
The

sequence

(1)

Atmakaraka,

AK

(2)

Amatyakaraka,

AmK

(3)

Bhratrukaraka, BK (4) Matrukaraka, MK (5) Putrakaraka, PK (6) Gnatikaraka,

GK (7) Darakaraka, DK is unchanged and is in the decreasing order of degree
of the planets in the natal chart.

If we see the degrees of the planets in the above chart, we can appreciate
that Mercury has the highest degree of all the planets. Hence it is the
Atmakaraka (AK). Next in the degrees is Mars and is aptly doing the role of
Amatyakaraka (Amk). Going along the similar lines, Sun becomes the
Bhratrukaraka (BK), Venus becomes the Matrukaraka (MK), Jupiter becomes
the Putrakaraka (PK), Moon becomes the Gnatikaraka (GK) and Saturn, with
the lowest degrees in the natal chart amongst all the planets, becomes the
Darakaraka (GK).
(1) Atmakaraka, AK: Mercury
(2) Amatyakaraka, AmK: Mars
(3) Bhratrukaraka, BK: Sun

(4) Matrukaraka, MK: Venus

(5) Putrakaraka, PK: Jupiter
(6) Gnatikaraka, GK: Moon
(7) Darakaraka, DK: Saturn

This matches with the houses scheme pertinently.

First house deals with own self.
Third house deals with siblings. (Planet with the third lowest degree is
Bhratrukaraka)
Fourth house is that of mother. (Planet with the fourth lowest degree is
Matrukaraka)
Fifth house relates with ones children. (Planet with the fifth lowest degree is
Putrakaraka)
Sixth house deals with relatives and obstructions, struggles. (Planet with the
sixth lowest degree is Gnatikaraka)
Seventh house is that of spouse. (Planet with the seventh lowest degree is
Darakaraka)