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 its 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 its 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, 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 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, it 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 the house is afflicted.
Item Afflicted Karaka
abdomen 5th house
abdomen Libra
abdomen Mercury
ability 3rd house
ability absent ✔ Mercury
ability to cope 3rd house
ability to doctor Sun
ability to learn 9th house
ability to memorize Mercury
ability to organize Mars
ability to reproduce Mercury
ability to understand 9th house
able Mars
abortions 5th house
abortions Mars
abortions Venus
abscess ✔ Jupiter
absence of religious faith Ketu
absence of sincerity/truth ✔ Mercury
accidents 1st house
accidents 8th house
accidents Mars
accidents Rahu
accidents Saturn
accidents ✔ Venus
accidents by fire Ketu
accidents, protection from Jupiter
accidents, sudden Rahu
accidents, wounds thereof 12th house
according to law Rahu
accountant, bad ✔ Mercury
accountants Mercury
accounting 3rd house
accounts Mercury
accumulated wealth 2nd house
accumulation of wealth 11th house
accumulator of wealth Saturn
accuracy missing ✔ Mercury
achievement in material world 10th house
achievement, thirst for Libra
achievements not yet reached Aries
achievements, degree of 5th house
acme of achievement Pisces
acquaintances 11th house
acquaintances, casual 3rd house
acquisition of beautiful clothes 7th house
acquisitions of royal favour 7th house
acquisitive ✔ Saturn
action is his nature Mars
action, fierce in Leo
action, it is decisive in it Cancer
action, not Saturn
action, physical, averse to Mercury
actions of heroism Mars
actions, diabolical 6th house
actions, obstacles to 6th house
activating the intellect Ketu
active Cancer