The nine planets as Kārakas
Planets (grahas) are not just distant orbs in the sky, but are living forces and expressions of consciousness that signify specific parts of our experience. In Sanskrit, these planetary roles are called kārakas, which means significators.
Each planet carries responsibility for certain themes in life: relationships, career, health, parents, status and much more. By understanding the kārakatva (significations) of each graha, we begin to see the chart as a map to what each planet does in our chart.
☉Sun (Sūrya)
Kāraka for: soul, body, health and vitality, ego and sense of self, father and authoritative figures, government and politics.
The Sun represents the ātman, our inner light. It is the planet of dignity, direction and selfhood. As a kāraka, the Sun tells us about our connection to our father (or father figures), our ability to lead, and how strong our inner compass is. It is also the giver of health and vitality. When the Sun is strong, it gives us the clarity to act in alignment with our truth.
☽ Moon (Chandra)
Kāraka for: mind, emotions, nourishment, nervous system, home, mother, social interaction and fame.
The Moon signifies the mind (manas). As a kāraka, it reflects our relationship with our mother (or motherly figures), our emotional needs, our capacity to adapt and connect. The Moon is essential for stability, softness and sensitivity. A strong Moon gives a calm, connected inner world while a weak Moon may bring emotional ups and downs.
♂️ Mars (Maṅgala)
Kāraka for: determination, courage and self-assertion (parākrama), competitiveness and aggressiveness, logical thinking, siblings, land.
Mars governs energy, initiative and willpower. As a kāraka, it points to our younger siblings, our physical drive, and our capacity to protect or defend. It’s the warrior among the grahas, but also the engineer, the athlete, the one who takes action.
☿️ Mercury (Budha)
Kāraka for: speech, communication, intellect and discriminative ability, data processing, business and trading, humour, youthfulness.
Mercury is the planet of intellect, clarity and learning. As a kāraka, it reveals our ability to speak, write and reason. When strong, it gives quick understanding and articulate speech; when weak, it may cause confusion or restlessness.
♃ Jupiter (Guru)
Kāraka for: wisdom, abundance and blessings, wealth, dharma, children or students, husband, ability to be contented and committed.
Jupiter is the guru, the one who brings light. It signifies knowledge, expansion, ethics and fortune. It shows where our values lie, and how we connect to dharma. A healthy Jupiter brings joy, faith, and generosity while a weak one may distort judgment or belief.
♀️Venus (Śukra)
Kāraka for: love and sensuality, wife, artistic and creative pursuits, comforts and enjoyment, devotion, vehicles.
Venus rules pleasure, love and refinement. As a kāraka, it governs romance, sensuality, creativity and material comfort. Venus can bring deep appreciation for beauty and aesthetics, but also tempt us into overindulgence if not balanced. It is also a planet of diplomacy and grace.
♄ Saturn (Śani)
Kāraka for: longevity, sorrow, service, discipline, tradition, loss, detachment.
Saturn is the planet of maturity, responsibility and consequence. As a kāraka, it rules over hard work, aging and delays. It may bring grief, but it also teaches humility and resilience. It matures us slowly but deeply.
☊ Rāhu
Kāraka for: foreign things and environments, research and innovation, obsessions and illusions, breakthroughs, disruption.
Rāhu is a force of desire, confusion and unconventional movement. As a kāraka, it often represents the foreign, taboo, or disruptive aspects of life. It can bring innovation, obsession or deception. But Rāhu also gives breakthroughs, especially where social rules are limiting growth. It shows what we chase, often blindly.
☋ Ketu
Kāraka for: liberation (moksha), detachment, past lives, isolation, loss, spiritual insight and mystical experiences.
Unlike Rāhu’s grasping nature, Ketu releases. It signifies past karmas, mysticism, losses and detachment. As a kāraka, it often brings loss of interest in worldly matters and a longing for transcendence. It can feel isolating at first, but it points to where deeper freedom is possible.