Atmakaraka: What’s Your Soul Planet & How To Find It?

If one considers astrology as an estoeric science, there are concepts within certain branches of Jyothish that seem even more esoteric or metaphysical than the others.

One such is the “atmakaraka” which is a Jaimini concept. (Sage Jaimini the non-chronological counterpart of Sage Parashar).

The karakas are significators of some things in a birth chart.

These things can be described as:

1. Atma- Significator of your soul’s desire and the reason why you have taken birth in this physical plane. The planet that signifies the atmakaraka is the king of your chart.
2. Atmatya– The planet that guides the atmakaraka is the ‘minister‘ of the chart. It will show the path to the fulfillment of souls desire.
3. Bhratri– The significator of ‘brothers‘ or those individuals can be counted on for support during challenging periods in ones lives.
4. Matru– Significator of the Mother and her influence in the chart.
5. Pitri– Significator of the Father and his influence in the chart.
6. Putra– Significator of children, although ‘putra’ in sanskrit technically means ‘son’, putrakaraka refers to a child of any gender/sex.
7. Gnati– The planet that signifies relatives, and challenges or obstacles in the lives of the chart holder. I don’t know how the significator of relatives and challenges are one planet. It does seem to suggest that ones blood relations could themselves be a challenge in an individuals life/
8. Dara– The significator of the spouse. Or rather- how the chart holder will behave with their spouse.

Now, the sticky part.

There is some debate even among Jyothishi’s if it is the longitudinal degree or the minutes/seconds that determines the heirarchical order of karakas. And if Rahu can be counted as a karaka, which would make 8 significators.

The (Jaimini) shloka says “आत्माधिकः कलादिभिर्नभोगः सप्तानामष्टानां वा”. The word कला in sanskrit means minutes/seconds. I have analysed a sample horoscope using highest degrees vs highest minutes. The results are very very different.

For instance: A rasi or D1 chart has Saturn at the highest degree. One school of thought would assign Saturn as the atmakaraka but it will not give the whole picture. Because the same D1 chart has Jupiter as the atmakaraka if we assign based on minutes (not degrees). Saturn, a malefic as the atmakaraka versus Jupiter, the biggest benefic as the atmakaraka. Huge difference right?

The decisive proof would emerge during the mahadasha of the atmakaraka as the 19 year mahadasha of atmakaraka Saturn would be very challenging as compared to the 16 year mahadasha of atmakaraka Jupiter (irrespective of the signs/nakshatra’s). So, there’s that.

But, we aren’t out of the woods yet. It is not necessary that every human gets to experience the mahadasha of their atmakaraka. Thus, we need to check the bhukti’s or antardasha of the atmakaraka (whether degrees or minutes).

To find your karakas, you will need to create your chart in sidereal system using whole signs and Lahiri Ayanamsa. I recommend http://www.astro.com for casting the birth chart. Once the chart is created, check the degree or minutes of your planets and list them in ascending order from the lowest to the highest degree or minute. I have found that making two lists 1) using degrees 2) using minutes; give a more robust perspective on karakas and their karma.

If you’re fortunate, you will obtain the same planet as the atmakaraka using both degree and minute. If not, it gets tricker and requires more analysis. For instance, The sun may be the atmakaraka (highest degree) but Mercury may be the atmakaraka (using highest minutes). Usually, if this is the case, I employ the indications of both Sun and Mercury as co-atmakarakas. The nakshatra of the atmakaraka and the nakshatra lord will be the apex influencer in the chart.

So, what’s the real importance of this karaka list?

For one, it helps determine the flow of the chart holders life and the nature of challenges they face. The placement/aspects of the karaka’s will indicate the physical realm where these challenges will express themselves.

For instance, if Venus is the atmakaraka (based on minutes) and is placed in the 7th house, one can surmise that this individual has an enormous amount of karma to burn with regards to interpersonal relationships (the where), especially in marriage and close partnerships. The amatya karaka will indicate how the atmakaraka manifests or expresses itself in interpersonal relationships. In the same example, if Saturn is the amatyakaraka, the path to burning off interpersonal karmas is through Saturn– discipline, diligence and duty above all.