Seven or
Eight Chara Karakas? A Critical Evaluation
There has
long been a debate in astrological circles regarding the number of Chara
Karakas (variable significators) to be used in Jaimini astrology. While most
learned astrologers adhere to the traditional scheme of seven Chara Karakas, others
advocate for an eight-Karaka scheme, incorporating the shadowy planet Rahu.
Some
practitioners suggest using the seven-Karaka system for mundane astrology and
the eight-Karaka system for natal charts. However, such views lack support from
the core texts of Jaimini astrology.
The Jaimini
Sutras, a foundational text entirely dedicated to the Chara Karaka system
and authored by the sage Jaimini—undoubtedly an authority on this topic—clearly
outlines seven Chara Karakas. Moreover, the Jaimini Sutras are
focused solely on natal astrology, not mundane astrology, which directly
undermines the claim that the seven-Karaka scheme is meant only for mundane
purposes.
"Saptānāṁ
sthānam"
This phrase
has been misinterpreted by some as permitting either a seven- or eight-planet
scheme. However, a deeper analysis reveals otherwise. The sage is not leaving
it to the reader’s discretion. Rather, he refers to exceptional cases, specifically
when two planets attain identical longitudes and occupy the same Karaka
position. In such cases, one Karaka gets duplicated, and thus, one planetary
representative is lost. To resolve this rare anomaly, the use of Rahu is
recommended as a compensatory measure, not as a regular part of the
scheme.
After
clarifying this exception, Sage Jaimini explicitly proceeds to enumerate only seven
Chara Karakas. This firmly establishes his preference and the intended standard
practice.
The
Parashara Perspective
"Without
Rahu, there are seven Karakas; with Rahu, eight. When two planets attain equal
degrees, some include Rahu to maintain seven distinct Karakas."
The use of
the word "kechid" (some) in the sloka indicates that this is not
Parashara’s endorsement, but merely an acknowledgment of a minority opinion
existing in his time. The sage himself does not advocate the use of Rahu
as a regular Karaka. On the contrary, the tone and structure of the verse favor
the seven-Karaka scheme, consistent with Jaimini’s approach.
It is quite
plausible that certain sects or schools during Parashara's era experimented
with an eight-Karaka system, but their influence did not stand the test of
time. We find no robust or authoritative literature clearly establishing this
alternative system.
Support
from Modern Authorities
Modern
scholars, including Dr. B.V. Raman, firmly support the seven-Chara Karaka
system. In his renowned work Studies in Jaimini Astrology, Dr. Raman
upholds the seven-Karaka scheme and explicitly avoids the inclusion of Rahu as
a Chara Karaka.
Logical
and Philosophical Arguments
There are
also several logical and metaphysical reasons to exclude Rahu from the
Chara Karaka scheme:
1. Rahu
Has No Tangible Association with the Human Constitution
Parashara
does not assign any dhatu (element), mala (waste), or kala
(bodily component) to Rahu. If the Sun represents the soul (Atma), the
Moon represents the body (Sharira), and the remaining five planets
correspond to the five sense organs, then Rahu has no direct relevance
in this corporeal framework. How then can it be a significator for the Atma (Atma
Karaka)?
2. Disruption
of Logical Sequence in Karaka-House Mapping
The
seven-Karaka system aligns beautifully with the logic of house significations:
- Bhratru Karaka (significator of brother)
aligns with the 3rd house.
- Putra Karaka (significator of children)
aligns with the 5th house.
- Dara Karaka (significator of spouse) aligns
with the 7th house, and so on.
Each
Karaka’s ordinal position correlates with its corresponding house. However,
introducing an eighth Karaka disturbs this elegant sequence, causing mismatches
such as Putra Karaka aligning with the 6th house or Dara Karaka with the
8th—both inauspicious and illogical placements.
3. Rahu
Serves as a Substitute in Rare Cases
As mentioned
earlier, in exceptional situations where two planets occupy the exact same
longitude (which results in a duplication of a Karaka), Rahu can be employed only
to maintain the total number of Karakas. This implies that Rahu is a reserve
planet, not a regular member of the Karaka hierarchy.
Conclusion
Both textual
evidence and logical reasoning support the use of only seven Chara Karakas
in Jaimini astrology. The Jaimini Sutras and the Brihat Parashara Hora
Shastra are aligned in spirit and intent on this matter. Any reference to
an eight-Karaka scheme is either a misinterpretation or a reference to a
long-outdated tradition that failed to gain serious traction.
-- reproduced from MODERN ASTROLOGY, January 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment