KARAKAS IN VEDIC ASTROLOGY

The student of vedic astrology comes across the word „karaka‟ quite often in various contexts. In fact
most standard texts devote an entire chapter for the „karaka‟ . For instance Parasara‟s magnum opus
the „Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra‟ has an entire chapter titled „kaarakaadhyaaya‟ . Even the dasa
delineation depends on how accurately one identifies all the karakas involved. Every prediction is
based on these karakatwas. In fact any successful astrologer will tell you that your understanding of
the chart is directly proportional to how thorough your knowledge of the karakas and their
appropriate use is.

The word Karaka means a „significator‟ or “one who causes”. Karaka of a matter is the significator of
that particular matter and signifies / causes events related to that matter. Significators can be
classified according to various criteria.

Significations may be Natural or Acquired

Natural significations of planets are permanent or fixed in a way and are based on their innate nature.
For instance Sun is the karaka for the soul, Moon for the mind, Mercury for the intellect, Mars for
courage and Jupiter for children. The detailed natural significations for various planets are given
elsewhere.

Planets acquire the power to signify a matter by virtue of their lordships and positions too. These
significations are Acquired and change in each chart. For instance the lord of the first house (who ever
the planet maybe) acquires signification over all the matters governed by that house. Likewise the
second lord acquires signification over matters governed by the second house such as speech,
possessions, food/diet etc. The detailed l significations for various houses are given elsewhere.

Acquired or Temporary or Variable karakatwas of planets are defined in another way too in Jaimini
system. The Charakarakas of Jaimini are discussed elsewhere in this article.

The above is the simplest and most basic approach to a karaka. As the student progresses, he/she will
come across a more in-depth approach to the concept of karakas.

In accordance with tradition, Somanatha Misra writes in Kalpalata (his vrtti on the Jaimini Sutras ) that
Karakas are of many kinds ( Kaarakaa bahu vidhaah ) and then deals with the following

Five kinds of karakas

• Karaka

• Atmakaraka

• Swakaraka

• Dasakaraka and
• Bhavakaraka.

Among these five, Jain astrologers are said to favour Atmakaraka and Swakaraka . Atmakaraka is the
most favoured planet in Jaimini system and its extensive use is a unique feature of Jaimini astrology.

Swakaraka is the most dependable of all in determining the results of a chart though one should study
the chart with reference to other kinds of karakas too. I will deal with the „swakaraka‟ later. First let me
define each of these karakas.

ATMAKARAKA

Atmakaraka is the planet that has advanced to the highest degree in any sign. I have written more on
the charakarakas and atmakaraka elsewhere in this article.

DASAKARAKA

Dasakaraka is the planet whose influence is prominent during a particular dasa. The lord of the dasa
(in a planetary dasa) is the single most influential planet for that particular dasa. But planets conjunct
or aspecting or aspected by the dasa lord too influence the dasa. In a rasi dasa, planets in that rasi as
well planets involved in aspects with the rasi also determine the results. All such planets become the
Dasa karakas in some manner though the Dasa lord is the single most influential planet as the
Dasakaraka. Simply put for most practical purposes Dasakaraka is the planet whose dasa is operating.

BHAVAKARAKA

Bhavakaraka is the significator of a house. Bhavakarakas are of two kinds:

Permanent ( Nitya ) and Temporary ( Anitya )

Nitya (Permanent) bhavakarakas :

The permanent significators for the twelve houses are fixed for all charts. Hence the name Nitya
indicating „permanent‟. These are:

1 st house: Sun

2 nd : Jupiter

3 rd : Mars

4 th : Moon, Mercury

5 th : Jupiter

6 th : Mars, Saturn

7 th : Venus

8 th : Saturn

9 th : Sun, Jupiter