24-TheRoleOfKarakas

By Abhishekha, USA

T He

was introduced to jyotish by his

Kulguru at the age of eight. After the initial trigger early in life, he has pursued the study of jyotish with utmost passion ever since. He writes with the pen name Abhishekha and is the Editor/Publisher of AIAC Times, Chicago.

his article is influenced by the works of a great astrologer of yester years, Sri HR Shankar. In an article written on January 1982 in the Astrological Magazine, Sri HR Shankar mentions about a forgotten art of prediction. The theory simply revolves around Karakas. Sri SK Mehta, a great astrologer from New Delhi, wrote a book called “New Rules and Combinations in Hindu Astrology”1. I was in my first year of engineering when I bought this book by saving from my pocket money and I don’t regret doing it. The rules in this book will appear confusing to a beginner but it will make much more sense when one matures in jyotish. The most interesting part of jyotish is that these rules of Mr. Mehta work. There are two ways to look at a chart – a house lordship analysis, karaka influence on bhavas. As one matures in jyotish, he/she would discover that these rules are not exclusive 1

Mr. Mehta’s techniques have been enumerated in the article series titled ‘The Guaranteed Astrologer’ published in Saptarishis Astrology magazine. His books can be gotten from http://shop.saptarishisastrology.com

of each other but rather inclusive. This however may time for some and yet others can grasp it rather quickly. Let us get to work and see these rules playing its role in charts. However, before we got there it is important to know the karakas of each house which I trust every reader of this magazine would know. However, for ready reference, here it is –

Bhava 1 (Tanu) 2 (Dhana) 3 (Sahaja) 4 (Sukha) 5 (Putra) 6 (Ripu) 7 (Jaya) 8 (Mrityu) 9 (Dharma) 10 (Karma) 11 (Labha) 12 (Vyaya)

Karaka Ravi Guru Mangal Chandra Guru Shani Shukra Shani Guru Budha Guru Shani

Kala Purusha Rasi Lord Mangal Shukra Budha Chandra Ravi Budha Shukra Mangal Guru Shani Shani Guru

Yes, I know that I did not mention the secondary karakas for some Bhavas but let us just make it simple for now, shall we? Every one of us knows these karakas. My question however is the same old “Why”? Why are the karakas assigned Bhavas which is not in sync with the natural Kala purusha rasi Lords? Why make Budha the karaka of the 10th Bhava? You can answer that it is based on the Tattwas – Agni – Surya, Mangal, Jala – Chandra, Shukra, Vayu – Shani, Prithvi – Budha, Akash – Guru. However, that too doesn’t make sense – Shani (Vayu Tattwa) gets Digbala in the 7th Bhava and yet he is a Karaka of the 6th, 8th and 12th- Why?

The answer to this lies in the astronomy of the Grahas. The kendras are formed by Kama drishti of the Manas (please read the earlier AIAC Times to understand the formation of the Kendras) and only the inter-Earth Grahas have Purna Pada Kama Drishti. So, now we know that only Ravi, Chandra, Shukra and Budha can be the karakas of the internal Bhavas or in other words the Kendras. Lagna is Agni Tattwa, Dharma Kona – Ravi fits in here best. Karma Bhava is Prithvi Tattwa, Artha Kona – Budha fits in here best. Jaya Bhava is Vayu Tattwa, Kama Kona – Shukra fits in here best Sukha Bhava is Jala Tattwa, Moksha Kona – Chandra fits in here best. Having thus ascertained the Kendra Karakas, we now go to the other Bhavas. Brahma created us for three reasons – Ripu, Mrityu and Vyaya. The very fact that we have been created ensures that we have Karma pending from last life (Ripu bhava). This also ensures that we will die (Mrityu) and that we will be re-born (Vyaya). A graha which can surely indicate this is Shani since it keeps a strict account of our sins. Shani thus becomes the karaka of the Trik Bhavas (6-8-12). Mangal is the courage in all beings. Thus it is only right to make it the karaka of the Sahaja Bhava. Thus, the Tamas Grahas becomes the karakas of the 3-6-8-12 Bhavas. There are much more detailed philosophies involved in this which I am skipping now to get to the point. Rest of the Bhavas makes us humans feel happy and thus are given to Guru – 2,5,9,11 Bhavas. Now ascertaining the karakas, we see some rules. It is not practically possible to give here all the rules. However, if you look at charts with logic and pragmatism, you could very efficiently use these dictums. Saturn denotes the reason for creation and thereby keeps the record of our sins. It is also Ayus Karaka and without the blessings of Shani it is impossible to have a long life. Now, carefully look at a Bhava for which Shani falls in the Vyaya Bhava, one of the indications of that Bhava with respect to Ayu will be lost. It can be a person or it can be the organ denoted by that Bhava. Why is it so? For the Bhava under consideration, Shani falls in the 12th House indicating the loss of the karakatwa indicated by Shani for that Bhava.

This was one of the dictums given by Late Shri SK Mehta and it works miraculously in charts. However, he didn’t make it as simple as I made it for you. He wrote it on the lines – “One of the significations of the house 2nd from Saturn will be spoilt”. You now know the “Why” behind this dictum. Why do you want to stop here? Now that you know the principle, please extend it to all the other karakas. In February 2011, Saptarishis Astrology held a wonderful International Conference at Hyderabad. They discussed a dictum which read that “The person’s dharma will fall in the Bhava second from the natal Jupiter”. They showed this working in atleast a dozen of charts. Now you know the answer to the “Why” behind this principle. Guru stands for the karaka of the 2nd, 5th, 9th and 11th Bhavas, for the Bhava where Guru in the Vyaya Bhava, one of the Bhavas Guru is the karaka of will go to the house of Loss. You can now extend this principle to any Bhavas in the chart best of the role of the karakas and make startling predictions which will shock your fellow astrologers. However, one golden rule in jyotish – NEVER accept any dictum till you know the “Why” behind it. The world doesn’t need any more “memorized” jyotishis, it needs more “thinking” jyotishis. Case 1 - Tiger Woods

Jupiter is in the 7th rasi but in the 8th bhava but dharma will fall in the bhava which is 2nd from Guru, in this case the 9th Bhava. 9th Bhava has Ketu showing a headless act which would become public by being in the 9th Bhava. The rasi of the 9th Bhava cusp (0 degrees Taurus) will show the color of the misdeed. Taurus is a Venus sign indicating Bhoga and Venus aspects the 9th Bhava with Kama Drishti. The act was sexual in nature. Case 2 – Bill Clinton

The 2nd Bhava from Jupiter is the 3rd Bhava with Ketu in it. The place where dharma will fall will be areas of urges, courage, valor, communication and siblings. 3rd Bhava also shows servants2 or subordinates. The sign is Scorpio which is a hidden sign. In the kalapursha it indicates the testicles. Ketu indicates heedlessness or a mistake. The area of 2

3H is the house of servants as per BPHS, Chapter 11 Shloka 3. This has been mentioned in previous SA publitorials. - SA

fall of dharma seems to be clear and it was sex scandal. Also, note that the lord of Scorpio Mars is with a debilitated Venus on Lagna.

Case 3– Mahatma Gandhi

Guru is in the 8th Bhava retrograde. The 2nd Bhava from Guru is the 9th Bhava. The fall of dharma will become public and it will be in an area denoted by Gemini. 6 Gemini is the 9th Bhava cusp. No grahas are present there and only Rahu has 12 th and Mars has 8th graha drishti on this bhava. Sun from Virgo has Rasi drishti on Gemini (Mithuna). Now judging the fact that dharma can fall in the 9th Bhava of Gemini, we have to see a few

factors. Guru is retrograde and thus shows an unconventional attitude towards the Bhava. Mars, Rahu drishti creates a struggle in that Bhava. Sun drishti indicates a fatherlike figure. The sign Mithuna (Gemini) has to do with copulation. Gandhi in his autobiography wrote that he had sex with his wife when his father was on his deathbed. Gandhi’s sexual experiments are well-known and were facts which were kept concealed (Rahu) as it could spoil his image. We should note that each and every one of us have an area of life where Dharma can fall and one should identify this area and made a conscious effort to uplift dharma in the said area.