Atmakaraka
The seven Chara Karakas of Jaimini astrology, ranked by degree-in-rashi. Identifies the soul-significator (Atmakaraka) and its rashi in the navamsa (Karakamsa lagna). Switch to the 8-Karaka Jaimini variant for the Sanjay-Rath ordering with Pitrukaraka and Rahu.
Birth details
Reading the seven (or eight) Karakas
Chara Karakas are Jaimini astrology’s answer to the question “which planet plays which role in this life?”. Take the seven visible grahas, sort them by descending degree-in-rashi, and assign the seven roles in order: Atmakaraka (soul), Amatyakaraka (mind / advisor), Bhratrukaraka (siblings), Matrukaraka (mother), Putrakaraka (children), Gnatikaraka (struggle / relatives), Darakaraka (spouse).
The Atmakaraka is the most significant. Its dignity, house placement, and aspect-set drive the central life-pattern. Its position in the navamsa — the Karakamsa — opens a second layer of analysis: the 5th from Karakamsa names the Ishta Devata (personal deity for spiritual practice); the 12th points to moksha tendencies.
The 8-Karaka Jaimini variant (Sanjay Rath’s reading of the Upadesa Sutras) adds Rahu with its degree reversed (30 − degreeInRashi) and inserts Pitrukaraka — the father-significator — at slot 5. The Parashara 7-variant remains the default and is what most public-facing Jaimini calculators show.