Saturday, November 5, 2011

Char Karak seven or eight!

Char Karaka Seven or Eight!

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.

The often-quoted sutra is: 

"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

The confusion is further complicated by a reference in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS), which lists eight Karakas and introduces an additional one termed Pitra Karaka. However, it is crucial to understand the context of this verse. Parashara states:



"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.

Therefore, as sincere students of astrology, we must uphold the system as originally intended—based on seven Chara Karakas—while employing Rahu only as an emergency placeholder when two planets share identical longitudes.


-- reproduced from MODERN ASTROLOGY, January 2012.
                                         -Raghvendra Khare  

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