Atmakara
Source: https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Atmakaraka (as on Apr 5, 2018)
Atmakaraka (Sanskrit atmakaraka, from atma- 'soul', and karaka-
'significator' .) Atmakaraka is the significator of the soul's desire
in Jyotisha.[1]
Overview
The natural Atmakaraka is the Sun in all natal charts. The
personal Atmakaraka is the Chara Atmakaraka. Chara in Sanskrit
means 'movable'
References
1. The Essentials of Vedic Astrology, by Komilla Sutton, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd, England.
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What is Your Soul Planet? {This is What it Can
Tell You About Your Incarnation}
Source: http://www.swatijrjyotish.com/past-blogs--articles/what-is-your-soul-planet-and-what-it-can-tell-you-about-your-incarnation
(as on Apr 5, 2018)
2/24/2015
10 Comments
Atma Karaka Planets
Karaka means indicator, to make or do, to produce or create, and also that which is
instrumental in bringing about an action. The Atma Karaka planet, or soul planet, is
the one that you have the most karma to work with in this life. It is the most important
karaka. This AK planet is the key that controls all other factors, elements and
significations of the chart, as a king influences the affairs of its subjects and its
lands.
The natural significations of the planet will share a lot about what you are working on
in this life time, what is most alive in your personal mythology, and what karmas are
an intimate part of your work. The work of the Atma Karaka planet is work that is
being done on the soul level of life, the Atma. How the AK planet interacts with the
rest of the chart will also share how your soul responds to life, your environment, and
ultimately others.
The AK planet is calculated from the highest degree planet of the chart. Ketu is not
used because he is not connected to a form, he is formless, and represents our
moksha; he is no longer earth bound. Rahu always moves backwards and therefore
his degrees are calculated backwards as well. Take Rahu’s degrees and subtract
them from 30 (there are 30 degrees in each sign) so you can see how far backwards
he has moved through the sign. Then see which planet has the highest degree in
your chart to determine your AK planet.
Saturn:
Your Atma Karaka planet is Saturn or Sani in Sanskrit. This is the planet that your
soul, inner nature and karmas are connected to and represented by. Saturn is the
planet of grief, suffering, sadness, hard work, cycles, rhythms and slow progress.
When one's AK is Saturn, it indicates that the person will experience sorrow and
sadness in life and will be connected to that sadness and the sadness of others.
You have a deep understanding of human suffering, and see it as the
transformational tool. We all suffer and you understand this with great compassion
and self-knowledge. Your dharma should be focused on helping to relieve suffering,
since you are so closely connected to it. You can help others with tools and practices
that can ease their grief and hardships. Saturn is also connected to ancient lineages
like the Vedic tradition as well as hard, disciplined practices like yoga asanas and
meditation, as well as physical movement like dance. Saturn likes to sweat. Routine
is good for you, sadhana is essential. Study the various meanings of Saturn, how he
operates, what he expects of you and how to be in harmony with him in order to
reduce health issues and mental/emotional burdens. Ayurveda is the master source
for keeping ones health in alignment with Saturn's wishes. Also, if you have
connections to death and grief, grief work may be a good fit for your personal healing
work- it will benefit you as well as the healing of others.
Saturn is a great friend to have on your side, as long as you know how to harmonize
with him. He does things slowly and represents old age. So these people tend to
ripen later in life. You need life and its process for your growth and with it you gain
deep and lasting knowledge, the kind that can only come with time.
Rahu:
Your AK planet is Rahu. Rahu is a shadow planet (the North Node) and brings us
strong desires and cravings. He wants and creates desires for us on this material
plane of existence. He has a strong drive and can be obsessive about his desires.
He can take us off the spiritual path and keeps us from the true meaning of life-
which is why the moksha planet, Ketu, always sits seven houses away from him.
(Ketu snips the ties that bind us to the material realm). Rahu as AK indicates that the
person is under the influence of the shadow and has to work hard at unveiling
him/herself. You may be cheated by others, feel cheated, or cheat. Ultimately you
are cheating your Self if you use deception so be aware of your actions and where
they come from.
These individuals may accidentally fall into difficult situations because of lack of
judgment. They need to be very clear about discerning between what is for their
highest good and the good of others. Learning to trust your Self above all else is very
important for you.
The cause of creation is our desire which is represented by Rahu. Without Rahu and
his appetite, his desire, we would not have incarnated and our innate ability to create
our lives would not be possible. Rahu expresses our souls desire to incarnate, to be
alive in this form on the earth plane. There are strong pulls here to grow, learn,
change and deepen one’s understanding of life.
You can use your Rahu instincts for harnessing great power and material expansion
because he is so worldly wise. Just don't lose sight of your inner spiritual goals and
the work that it takes to really advance in this life- which ultimately has nothing to do
with worldly treasures. Rahu also represents foreign affairs (that which seems
foreign to you) and you can use this fascination with the foreign to learn about
ancient knowledge. (Your interest in Vedic astrology is an example of this craving for
the foreign yet spiritual). Rahu needs discipline and routine to overcome him. Use
ancient spiritual techniques like yoga and meditation to bring your light out, just make
sure that there is a very ancient, pure lineage attached to the techniques. Nothing
new agey or created by a "modern master". You can use this Rahu awareness to be
two steps ahead of others, two steps ahead of your Self, and make choices that are
more dharmic, rather than adharmic as a result. For you, finding the meaning of
purity (sattya) and truth is an excellent Path to follow.
Mercury:
Your Atma Karaka planet is Mercury or Budha in Sanskrit. When one's Atma Karaka
is Mercury, there is a great connection to communications of all sorts. Mercury
represents the mind, the mental functions. It also has to do with computers,
communicating through computers (email, websites, social media etc.) and is also an
indicator of cell phones, lecturing and talking. Mercury is known as Saumyagraha,
the friendly planet. These people are helpful and like to connect, need to connect
and create a life based on their connections. There is also a propensity for gaining
knowledge- reading books, growing mentally, seeking wisdom etc. Working with any
of the above: computers, networking, communication, speech, writing, the mind and
wisdom, are all intrinsic to your dharma. You may find that they all work together for
you! Mercury is charming and jovial, is ruled by the color green. Mercury has sharp
business skills, has an innate awareness of the markets and is a natural merchant.
Mercury is a prince, studious and good at lecturing and is an independent thinker.
Giving and receiving information are key traits here.
The key things to remember as a Mercury AK are to be truthful in your thoughts,
purify your thoughts and mind through meditation and pure knowledge. Watch your
speech and what you say, be truthful. Remember that not everything is a debate nor
a verbal competition. Avoid mind games. Don't dominate conversations. Since
Mercury is very mutable, and adapts to the environment that it is in, it is essential to
be careful of the company you keep and the environments that you are in.
Moon:
Having an AK Moon (Chandra in Sanskrit) indicates that an individual is connected
deeply to the emotional body and must learn to surf these inner tides in this life. The
primary work is to learn the emotions and work with them, not against them, to use
them, not fight them. Moon AK also indicates a person who is very much connected
to the things that moon represents: mother, intuition, land, home, heart, nurturing and
compassion. These are very caring people and need comfort and support in their life
in order to feel safe and grounded. Family and social life is a central part of their lives
and they may become overly attached to family and friends. Realizing that the whole
world is here to support and nurture is a good reminder and focus.
Moon (Chandra) is also related to soma, the nectar of life. The moon is wise and
strongly intuitive, has sweet speech and gentle manners but is fickle minded and a
hopeless romantic. The moon is merely a reflection of the Sun, so the family
dynamics between father and mother are particularly important for these individuals.
Likely, though, a moon AK will be more attached to the mother if the chart supports
this. If the Sun is not a strong support for the Moon, the Moon cannot thrive. The Sun
shows the dharma passed to an individual from the father, while the Moon shows the
emotional and psychological health of the child passed through the mother- in the
womb during gestation, at the time of birth and throughout early childhood.
The Moon is friendly towards all the planets and doesn't make enemies- Moon
people are the same. Conflict is extremely uncomfortable for these individuals. Moon
is very social and loves community, neighbors and social interactions. However,
Moon people are mutable and change to sync up with their surroundings. It is very
important that Moon people keep very good sattvic (pure) company so that they do
not become overburdened with dark energy. Being in water, near water and
cleansing in water daily is helpful for Moon people to clear any energy they may
have picked up during the day that is not their own.
Moon Atma Karaka need to feel comfort and a sense of security in order to thrive.
These people are sensitive and feel vulnerable, are easily hurt and damaged. Home,
mother, security, land and the emotional/psychological aspects of life are very
important to their sense of well being. Bhakti yoga and devotional practices will help
the heart expand and be soothed. Following the phases of the moon and making
adjustments with these cosmic tides can be helpful as well. Art and creativity are
excellent tools (especially singing) for Moon people to move the emotional tides they
are so connected to. Somatic and Expressive Art therapies are essential for these
individuals. Moon AK individuals are here to learn to nurture and be nurtured, to work
with the emotional realms and to expand their compassion and devotional abilities.
Venus:
Your Atma Karaka planet is Venus or Shukra in Sanskrit. Venus is the planet of
beauty, romance, love, passion, creativity, pro-creation, creative life force,
relationships, femininity, art and artistry, music. Physically, Venus relates to the
reproductive tissues of the body (semen and ovaries) hence the correlation to
procreation as well as the hormones that regulate sexuality. Venus also correlates to
the immune system and it is well known that love boost immunity and gives a new
propensity for life. Art and creativity are just another expression of the act of creation.
Venus is also water, which has a life-giving quality to it. Water literally gives life- to all
expressions of Nature. Venus can give rejuvenation and health as a result and is
responsible for the life-giving qualities that sustain us.
In Vedic lore, it is said that Venus can bring the dead back to life- metaphoric on
many different levels. On the physical level, when a person is sick or near death, it is
the power of Venus that can cure them and bring health back. (Recitation of the
Mrtyunjaya Mantra can be used for this purpose). It is also only through procreation
that a soul can be reborn into a human body, thus Venus give us an opportunity at
life. Venus is also a guru (teacher) to the demons (asuras), literally to those who
don't see the light. Jupiter is the guru of the devas (gods). Venus is considered our
"lower nature" because it represents our base desires, instincts. It can be connected
to overindulgences as a result. Because Venus is an expression of Rajas (guna), at
its worst it can create overindulgence and cravings for intoxicants- especially alcohol
and sugar- as well as lust and strong desires for "love". Pure love is a deva emotion,
while jealousy, greed and hatred are asura (demon) emotions.
Because Venus is naturally associate with art and creativity, including music and
singing, Venus Atma Karaka indicates that the soul is here to learn the elements of
creative acts and creative process. Beauty is important to you as well as being
involved with the act of creating and being creative- art is naturally an essential tool
for learning and growing in this awareness. Venus AK also means you will be
navigating sexual impulses and relationships as well. Part of your work will include
navigating and controlling your sexual energy, refraining from lust and illegitimate
sex. Working on relationships and being in relation are key concepts for you.
Lakshmi is the deity associated with Venus. She is the embodiment of wealth,
prosperity and the abundant flow of energy. She is good for you to be connected to.
Jupiter:
Your Atma Karaka is Jupiter, or Guru in Sanskrit. Jupiter is just that, a guru, a
teacher, the planet that gives us expansion and knowledge, assistance and support.
He is kapha in nature (somagenic), but relates to akasha (space) because of his all
pervasiveness. Jupiter, like the sanskrit meaning of guru, is the glue that holds the
universe together, creating harmony, health, wisdom and understanding. He is a
nonviolent force and rather than fighting a battle, he will win the opposition over to
his side. Since he rules the devas (gods), he likes to transform the asuras (demons)
within us. (We can think of this metpahor as good thoughts over bad thoughts, our
shadow self vs. our enlightened self).
In jyotish, Jupiter is considered the most benefic planet and he brings us our
blessings, graces, knowledge, expansion, wealth and wisdom wherever he is placed.
He gives support and nourishment to the houses he looks at (his drishti) and helps
us overcome the obstacles that come to us. He can also give luck and wealth.
Jupiter shows us our values, where our “expansion of self” is directed and what we
put importance on. Jupiter gives life, contentment and joy which arises from sattva
(purity). Jupiter is literally the manifestation of the Divine and gives us our
knowledge, truth and understanding.
When the Atma Karaka is Jupiter, the soul purpose is expansion. There is a strong
affinity for knowledge, growth, increased awareness and personal expansion. You
will need to learn to be open to other people’s needs, opinions and thoughts, while
always respecting the teacher, guru, and those that give knowledge and wisdom.
Respect the husband/spouse, father and children as these are big teachers for you
and help expand your awareness and enlightenment. Follow a guru that is
connected to an ancient lineage and has strong knowledge sources, only pure,
sattvic knowledge will suffice.
Sun:
Your Atma Karaka is Sun, or Surya in Sanskrit. The Sun is responsible for giving light
energy so that all things can grow and prosper, however, too much light and the Sun
burns and scorches. Sun represents resources and the things we need to survive as
well as the soul. It is the light within us that guides our lives. The soul is what insures
there is life- if the soul is not happy, the body grows sick and dies. In Jyotish, the Sun
represents father, king, rank and position, power and authority, respect and rulership.
The Sun will give us dharma (the proper path to follow). Traditionally, the father is
supposed to help guide the child on their path of dharma. Father is responsible for
instilling self-esteem, and ultimately gives the spark of life via his sperm. The Sun is
also responsible for illuminating the Moon through his reflection. Together Sun and
Moon represent God and Goddess who create life and our experienced reality. The
Sun represents spirituality and will show us our relationship to spirituality in this life.
Sun brings the light, showing us truth, sattya. The Sun is the most regular planet and
the one that sets the pace of time through days, seasons and bio-rhythms.
When Sun is the the Atma Karaka, power and authority are important. There is a
value and deep respect for those who hold high-level positions as well as for
masculine energy. These people need to learn the lessons about power and
authority- that power is not everything. With great power, comes great responsibility.
The lessons in this life are highly influenced by ego, overcoming karmas associated
with ego and working with humility and compassion are paramount.
Mars:
Mars (also Mangal or Kuja) is a warrior planet (Kshatriya) by nature. He is cruel,
aggressive, forces things, is inconsiderate, hasty, Pitta (fire) constitution, easily
angered and hot. He carries forward actions of the King (Sun) and has a soldier
mentality. Mars is a Tamas planet, does not think, he just carries out the orders he
has been given. His job is to protect and thus he is naturally related to people like
soldiers, policeman and guards. Since Mars is connected to the element of fire, on
the internal level, he is connected to agni- or stomach fire and digestion. Health of
the body is maintained when food is properly digested and toxins are eliminated;
Mars is essential for strong health, but can also bring problems with excess fire and
heat. He regulates energy levels of the body (digestion transforms food into life
giving resources) as well as the regulation of body tissues (dhatus) and nerve
tissues and nervous system. Excess heat in the physical body can bring a myriad of
disorders, however, mentally, this creates a need to control outcomes and situations.
Faith and trust are a huge part of taming this forceful fire nature.
Mars, or Kuja, is considered “of the earth” and is thus a personification of the Earth
as Ma, the Great Mother (think Kali Ma). As a result Mars relates to land, earth,
property as well as the protector of these significators. However, Mars is associated
with the Rudras (storm gods) as well as violence and violent acts that bring harm-
through fire, cutting, bleeding, tearing and killing. However, this Mars behavior can
be positive for actions that require penetrating thoughts, skills with cutting, physical
prowess, mechanical tendencies, depth and research. Surgeries, occult knowledge,
martial arts, things and situations that require cutting or force can be aided with the
help of Mars. He deals with matters of the earth plane (bhumi loka).
Mars Atma Karaka individuals need to manage their temper, aggression and anger.
They are here to learn more about ahimsa (non-harming) and need to create a life
for themselves free of killing and competition. Learning to be playful and
spontaneous is helpful. Keeping life light and carefree is essential, a lifestyle that
smooths out the harsh rigidity of the Mars tendencies.
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10 Comments
Anup kumar karmakar
5/13/2017 12:58:37 am
I want to know my progress in near future
Reply
Brad
12/14/2017 05:10:04 am
Rahu cannot be Atmakaraka by very simple knowledge that rahu is world of material
manifestation and worldly desire, it can not give moksha in anyway or form so
therefore cannot be atmakaraka. He is not in the 7 CK scheme. He is only used in
the 8 CK scheme when two planets have the same longitude as the move, rahu take
the place at the higher longitude of the two. Yet never become the AK. Read your
shastra. Do not propitiate wrong knowledge.
Reply
Patriot
12/15/2017 09:55:58 am
Thanks Brad for the info. Can Rahu be Darakaraka, PitruKaraka and so on? I need
to subtract the degrees from 30 to get the real value to decide, right?
Swati
12/15/2017 09:26:06 pm
Brad. I follow the Jaimini teachings. We use 8 planets in the carakaraka schemes
because Parashara teaches that 8 planets are used for all living beings, while 7
planets are used for all non living beings. Rahu indicates attachment, he is of this
world. Without him you would not have incarnated. From a soul level his purpose is
to support incarnation and your evolution by default. For charts of ALL living beings,
we use 8 carakarakas. Only for charts of non living beings would we use 7
carakarakas. There are differences in jyotish lineages, but I trust the wisdom and
teachings of my lineage and teachers. You can decide what works for you.
Swati
12/15/2017 09:29:05 pm
Yes Patriot. According to Jaimini, Rahu is one of the 8 carakarakas meaning he can
be assigned to any karaka. Rahu always moves backwards, therefor his degrees are
calculated backwards as well. Take the degree of RA and subtract it from 30.
Lakshmi Panchakshari
1/22/2018 08:07:04 am
RAHU is surely one of the ATMAKARAKAS. I had many experiences of RAHU like
dreams and incidents,and as I had no jyotish knowledge I was questioning the cause
of suffering.Then when I came across a website that showed RAHU as my
atmakaraka and I started worshipping RAHU and related deities my problems
vanished.RAHU when peaceful gives a wonderful life which you had dreamt for.
lisbeth brohall
12/16/2017 12:28:52 am
Hi dear Swati!
Of those planets you mention is Venus Atma Karaka with 23 degress 49 minutes. But
the "outer" planets Uranus with 27 degrees 49 minutes and Pluto with 29 degrees
and 33 minutes have the highest degree. What does that mean? Love and Peace <3
Reply
Swati
12/22/2017 05:45:09 pm
We do not use the outer planets in the sidereal system. Though some neo jyotishis
will. If Venus is the highest degree planet, this would be your AK.
Reply
Nicolas
2/27/2018 03:21:03 pm
I believe, technically my AK planet is Mars. It is about 1/2 degree higher than Saturn.
It seems different chart calculators will vary slightly.
Both are essentially 23 degrees though.
Mars sits in 12th house in Gemini, Saturn sits in 5th house/ Scorpio.... which is ruled
by Mars...
In reading your descriptions, I relate much more so to Saturn being the AK planet.
Sadness or melancholy is essentially my default emotion.
The interplay with Mars technically being the AK planet, with Saturn being so close
is, when I look out into the world and see how much of the suffering of the human
condition is so unnecessary, it's enraging and sadness comes in behind it as I also
realize there is little I can do, little control I have to remedy the situation.
Is it improper to think of this AK concept as having potential for two AK planets?
Reply
Swati
2/28/2018 09:46:33 am
These are great questions and self inquiry. I hear that you identify with SA AK but
technically MA is your AK. Depending on the relationship of Saturn in the chart, there
may be plenty of reasons for identifying with the sadness and grief that SA
expresses. However, remember that repressed anger (MA) can cause depression
and is another way grief presents itself. Study your Mars and see what you find.
