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KARAKAS
~ definition and use ~
The Sanskrit word Karaka means “significator”. In simpler English we could translate it as
“stands for”. For example, in Vedic Astrology the Moon signifies or stands for the mind of the
person. Jupiter is the Karaka for children, which means that we look to Jupiter in one’s chart
to know something about their children. However, the fifth house and it’s lord also have
much to do with children in one’s chart. Speaking very strictly, we would say that Jupiter is
the Karaka for children, while the fifth house and it’s lord, although having much to do
with children for certain, are not directly referred to as “karakas” for the subject of children.
However, the student of astrology needs to know which houses, signs and planets affect each
particular aspect or subject in life. In order to be able to accurately assess charts and give true
predictions, the astrologer must know where to look in a chart for each subject they attempt to
understand through the chart. Therefore, the following indexes of Karakas has been
assembled. Even though, as stated, the houses and signs are not strictly referred to as
“karakas” of the subject items attached to them, still, the word karaka is the most accurate
single word we could find to use to summarize what we have assembled herein. We apologize
to the erudite Sanskrit grammarian for this liberality on our part.
The karaka listing herein are presented in various sections, the first being a complete list of
all karakas for all planets, signs and houses that could be assembled from all the classic works
we could find that listed karakas of any type. This was a large task. Many karakas are listed
more than once, in rearranged wordings in hopes that you would find them where you looked
for them. For example, the item of “property of the brother” might be listed also under
“brother, property of”. Similarly, “higher education” might also be listed as “education,
higher”.
Following the first section which contains all the items listed, are sections which repeat the
exact same items, but listed underneath their karaka. For example, all the items whose
karaka is the first house, can be found listed together under First House. Similarly,
everything that the Sun is karaka for can be found in the section under Sun. These
individualized chapters (sometimes only single pages) are included especially for studying a
planet, sign or house in detail. Reading these sections greatly enhances one’s understanding of
what each of the planets, signs and houses stands for. Whereas the first and largest section,
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which contains all the listed items, is the place to look up a particular item fast. For
example, you can look up “travel” in the first section, and see all the planets, signs and houses
that affect this important life subject.
Some items are indicated by their karaka only when the same is afflicted. This means that
when the planet, sign or house karaka listed with the item is afflicted by the aspect or
conjunction of a malefic planet, then that item will be found to be caused by the listed karaka
(planet, sign or house). For example, if the item “bad accounting” is said to be caused by
afflicted Mercury, then bad accounting can be expected if the person gets involved with the
subject of accounting in a Mercury ruled period (any level of Dasha) and if in their chart
Mercury is indeed afflicted by a malefic planet. This is a very general and unreliable
example. In all aspects of life, the astrologer will have to look to numerous places before
deciding any prediction. It is very rare to find predictions coming true based on only one
placement.
The elegant blending of karakas, based on developed intuition through experience, is a yogic
art achieved by few. These lists point out the things that the planets, signs and houses stand
for, but it is up to the astrologer to then correctly blend the items together for a real prediction
to take shape.
From my own chart I can present an example. I have Saturn and Jupiter in the ninth house in
Sagittarius. Now, in the following lists, you could find that Saturn in the ninth house stands
for “an apostate”, which is a person who goes against the standard religion presented in their
life. On the other hand, Jupiter in the ninth, in it’s own sign especially, stands for “following
the traditional religion”. So, which will it be for me? How should the astrologer blend these
two items which are seemingly contradictory?
The truth about this subject so far in my life goes like this: I did switch from the religion of my
birth family, Catholicism, when I was 19 and in Jupiter Major Dasha, to the Vaisnava faith,
which is a Hindu sect. However, now that I am in Saturn Major Dasha, and all my close
friends are Vaisnavas, I still have some “apostate” karma to endure, in that I am initiated
underneath a more “standard, old fashioned” branch of our sampradaya, when compared to
that of all my Vaisnava friends. So although they see that I am in a slightly different branch
of the sampradaya (the apostate, or Saturnian part), the fact is that it is the older, more
traditional branch of the sampradaya, since it is their Gurudeva who liberalized things a bit
for the West. So, you can see the Jupiter-karaka items coming through, such as attachment to
the traditional ways of the religion. Yet, you can see that I have to deal with being seen as a
bit of an outsider of the norm, which is the “apostate” part of the karma indicated. I may be
an apostate, but not for the usual cause of the apostate, which is to liberalize the faith. In my
case, I’m rooting for some of the older ways of the faith, which have been dropped, in my
opinion by the accident of lack of education about our sampradaya. So, this is an example of
how the blending of karmas indicated must be carried out by the astrologer. It is tricky, but
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possible with deliberate study and practice with the real charts of persons whose lives you
know well.
All Karakas
~ Sorted Alphabetically ~
There are two columns or items on each page. The columns have 3 sections. The item in question
is the first section. The second section is the affliction indicator. If a check mark appears, i t
indicates that the item is indicated only when the Karaka is afflicted. The third section is
the Karaka itself. For example, in the page below, right column, we see the following entry:
“Accuracy missing.....]....Mercury”. This means that when Mercury is afflicted, accuracy will
be missing. Another example seen below: “Accumulated wealth......2nd House”. We see no
check mark, therefore the 2nd house stands for accumulated wealth always, not just when t h e
house is afflicted.
1st House
2nd House
3rd House
4th House
5th House
5th House
strangers, contracts
with
tantra
theaters
traditional laws
uncle, maternal,
change in pos.
unfruitful
unions, illegal
wisdom
Karakas 65
6th House
7th House
7th House
reputation in other
countries
reputation overseas
residence, change of
rivals in election
royal citadel
royal favor
royal favor, acquisition
of
second child
selling and buying
semen, losing
sexual enjoyment
sexual life
sisters of brothers
social relationships
sons of friends
soul must rise out of
speculations in
business
spouse
strife
substance of servants
suits, law
sun sets here,
significant
thief
thief, place of
thieves, encounter with
things opposed
ties, earthly
trade
travelers
union
union, legal
uterus
Venus
vertebrae
victory over enemies
war
wealth of servants
west
wife
68 Vedic Astrology Reference
8th House
8th House
9th House
10th House
11th House
12th House
Sun (Ravi/Surya)
(Ravi/Surya) Sun
Moon (Chandra)
(Chandra) Moon
Moon (Chandra)
(Kuja/Mangal) Mars
Mars (Kuja/Mangal)
(Kuja/Mangal) Mars
Mars (Kuja/Mangal)
(Budhi) Mercury
Mercury (Budhi)
(Budhi) Mercury
Jupiter (Guru/Brhaspati)
(Guru/Brhaspati) Jupiter
financial dealings grain: bengal gram intestinal troubles (a) mars/sun good with
fine flowers gram, bengal jovial jupiter
flatulence (a) grantor of god's joy, doesn't give martial order, good
flesh benediction jubilation masculine
flexible mind greater fortune judgment, sound matters related to
flowers, fine green judges lawyers
foreign affairs growth, it's aspect jupiter means earnings
foreigners, contact with causes jupiter makes one law medicine
fortune, the greater guardianships abiding medicine
fortunes, good guides us on the path justice mental caliber
frivolous contentions guru kapha merchants
(a) guru, respect for karma, good meritorious karma, if in
fruitful happiness in conjugal ketu harms jupiter's 9th
gain in business life good metal gold
gain through families health kidney mind, flexible
and public health affected by knowledge mind, intelligent, quick
gain through legacies greatly knowledge, imparts ministers
gambling (a) health favorably large popular misfortune (a)
general lassitude influenced, in 9th enterprises misjudgment (a)
generosity healthy body, in 1st lassitude, general mixture of red and
generosity of hernia (a) lavish (a) indigo
disposition high status in an law morality
generous advisory capacity law abiding morals
get rid of evil higher education law suits (a) much excitement (a)
giddiness (a) honesty lawful, makes one ninth house, at it's
god's grace in this honor laws, perpetuation of best
world honors lawyers noble
gods, believes in hope lawyers, related to noble by nature
personal hotels laziness north east
gold human welfare legal matters north-eastern direction
good (righteous) hurt by nodes liberal (a) occult science
behavior imparting knowledge liberation, not exactly offspring (especially
good conduct and wisdom causing-see ketu male)
good fortune improvidence (a) life, a positive one's knowledge
good in fifth house ingratitude (a) approach opportunities, good
good karma inheritance limitless expansion optimistic
good life, the inspire confidence liver optimistic, overly (a)
good luck if well placed institutions, religious liver complaints (a) opulence
good martial order insurance location ordinary clothes
governor of production intellect logical mind outlook, broad one
and expansion intelligent, long journeys over optimistic (a)
governs expansion exceptionally lucky peace
governs the blood intercedes with gods magnanimity of heart peace
govt. favor for men manliness perform rituals
88 Vedic Astrology Reference
Jupiter (Guru/Brhaspati)
(Guru/Brhaspati) Jupiter
traditional systems of
relationships
traveling for business
travels by air
trees bearing sweet
fruits
trees, coconut and
betel
tries to guide us on the
path
troubles from brahmins
curse (a)
true
trust
truthful
truthfulness
tumors
unpopular (a)
vain pomps (a)
vaisakha
vedanta
vedas
veins
veneration
vertigo
violet
vocation in religion
wealth
welfare of humanity
well placed in the fifth
house
winner in law suits if
sun aspects
wisdom
wisdom, imparts
wisdom, philosophical
wisdom, sacred,
possesses
wit, quick
witty
wood work in houses
yellow color
yellow sapphire
90 Vedic Astrology Reference
Venus (Shukra)
(Shukra) Venus
Venus (Shukra)
(Shani) Saturn
Saturn (Shani)
(Shani) Saturn
Rahu
Rahu
Ketu
Ketu
Aries (Mesha)
(Vrishaba) Taurus
Gemini (Mithuna)
(Karkataka) Cancer
Leo (Simha)
(Kanya) Virgo
Libra (Thula)
(Vrischika) Scorpio
Sagittarius (Dhanus)
(Makara) Capricorn
Aquarius (Kumbha)
(Meena) Pisces