Understanding the Karaka or Significators in Astrology
The word Karaka in Astrology means Significator. Mother Nature creates them to represent something.
There are primarily three kinds of Karakas in Astrology that correspond to never never-ending process of change: Creation, Sustenance, and Destruction.
In addition to this, there are Bhava Karaka as well in Astrology, which are also described in the article.
1.Naisargik Karaka in Astrology: Creation
“Naisargik” means natural by definition and “Karaka” means significator, which signifies something or represents something very fundamentally in astrology. Naisargik Karaka means something that naturally represents something because of its basic instincts or natural characteristics.
They are the same for all, as it is part of nature or creation. Lord Brahma rules them and uses them for the creation of all. They have Rajo Guna: passion and excessive energy, hence they create an imbalance in the Sat-Chit- Anand, state of ParBrahma (Supreme Soul, Un-manifested Supreme) and make the creation possible.
For example, Jupiter is Naisargik Karaka (Natural Significator) for children, wealth, knowledge, discrimination, law, social order, hearing, sweets in astrology.
Learn about all the 9 Planets and Their Characteristics in Astrology: A Complete Guide
2. Chara Karaka in Jyotish: Sustenance
They represent variable (char) soul-level signification that varies from person to person in every birth. Lord Vishnu rules Chara Karaka in astrology for the sustenance of a Soul (us) in material existence. They have Satwo guna: balance energy, light, and knowledge.
For example, people having Venus as Atmakaraka have their souls attached to the Shukra Dev. Therefore, they are passionate, romantic, clever, a knowledgeable critic, artistic, and adequately self-motivated. They like luxurious places and vehicles like cars and yachts.
There are two kinds of Chara Karaka Schemes:
8 Chara Karaka Scheme:
In this scheme planets from the Sun to Rahu are included. It should be used for all living beings. The 8 Char Karaka are: Atma Karaka, Amatya Karaka, Bhratri Karaka, Matri Karaka, Pitri Karaka, Putra Karaka, Gnatikaraka and Dara Karaka. .
7 Char Karaka Scheme:
In this scheme, the Putra Karaka does not exist, rest of the other Karakas are there. Matri Karaka and Putra Karaka are considered one. Planets from the Sun to Saturn are included & Rahu is not included. So it is good for Jad Atma and Mundane astrology.
So the 7 Chara Karakas included in this scheme are: Atma Karaka, Amatya Karaka, Bhratri Karaka, Matri Karaka, Pitri Karaka, Gnatikaraka and Dara Karaka.
3. Sthira Karaka in Astrology: Destruction
The job of Sthira Karaka in astrology is to stop an individual or make someone inactive and are to be seen for death and destruction or great suffering.
Lord Shiva rules them and their selection is based on an individual chart. They have Tamo guna: destructive energy or final transformative energy. For example, Sun and Venus are the sthir karakas in astrology for father, whoever is strong. So to see the sufferings or death of the father of a native, we use the stronger of Venus and Sun and then analyze the chart for the native. Sun represents the Soul in Jyotish and Venus rules the purest substance of our body, the semen.
The Soul and the Mind unite together (the stage of conception or Adhana) and the development of a body begins in the womb of of mother. At birth, the Soul identifies himself with his body, and his existence in limited perception begins. Now he is away from Supreme Soul and hence he is in Maya or Illusion. It starts automatically with our birth and we are then under the influence of 3 Gunas: Satwa, Rajas, and Tamas!
Bhava Karaka or Significator of Houses in Astrology:
Bhava Karaka literally means significator of houses. Some planets are globally in charge of the affairs of a house irrespective of their placement and lordships in a birth chart. The natural makeup and intrinsic characteristics of the planets enable them to become Bhava Karaka of a house in astrology. The personality of the planet is a perfect match to the significance of the house/bhava.
Phaladeepika describes the Bhava Karaka planets for all the 12 houses:
1st house: Sun
2nd house: Jupiter
3rd house: Mars
4th house: Moon, Venus, Mars
5th house: Jupiter
6th house: Saturn, Mars
7th house: Venus
8th house: Saturn
9th house: Sun, Jupiter
10th house: Sun, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury
11th house: Jupiter
12th house: Saturn
Jyotish Video Lesson Bhava Karaka: Planets as significator of 12 Houses from Phaladeepika/भाव कारक ग्रह (फलदीपिका ):
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