Jyotish. Andrew Mason

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3.1 ASTRONOMICAL

Our Sun is described as a ‘field star’, that is, having little association with other stars and seemingly free to wander throughout the galaxy.9 This leviathan of light and heat is the epicentre of our planetary system, largely comprising hydrogen and helium with additional trace elements: nitrogen, oxygen, neon, carbon, silicon, magnesium and iron. The presence of our Sun in the solar system constitutes 98 per cent of its total mass.

      Governing the motions of all that fall under its warming and encompassing rays, the Sun boasts an enormous diameter of 860,000+ miles (roughly 12,000 times the diameter of our planet). At a local distance of 93,000,000 miles from Earth, our Sun takes around 25 days to rotate once upon its own axis, an axis that is not perpendicular to the ecliptic. The tilt of this stellar giant is approximately 7°; this in effect tips the Sun’s polar regions closer toward the Earth during our equinoctial intervals, to be neutrally disposed or midway during our solstices. The position of the Sun’s axis is determined by sunspot transition across the solar disc – these move parallel to its equator, close to our solstices.

From antiquity this fiery sphere was regarded as ‘patriarch of vegetation’, its matriarchal consort (Moon) its balancing and cooling counter-force. As ‘lord of the seasons’ and ‘that which brings colour to the landscape’, his rays were divined the agent by which all atmospheric phenomena were driven – the rains, wind, seas and rivers.10 When first imaged by telescope, astronomers described its surface features as ‘delightful’. As its light was deemed eternal, so too were imagined its seasons and inhabitants, the latter believed to be perfectly adapted to the peculiarities of their fiery orb!

3.2 KĀRAKA

      Throughout this book there are multiple references to Kāraka, a word often translated as ‘he who signifies’ or ‘initiates’. The concept of Kāraka therefore is a large part of integrating and understanding Jyotish, particularly with regard to recognising and interpreting its signals – which are (after all) ultimately relayed to us through nine planets, twelve signs and twelve houses.

      There are an infinite number of Kārakas attached to the planets, signs and houses (see Chapters 11 and 13), far more than could ever be mentally retained; however, from this vast reservoir it is advisable to keep at least a generous handful of primary significations committed to memory. Over time and with patience the true import of each Kāraka will grow ever more meaningful as you begin to feel the presence of the planets in everything about you.

      Note: For the purposes of this planetary introduction, we shall consider only those types of Kāraka relevant to planets. These, as we shall see, may be active, stable or natural:

      •Chara/Active: temporarily designated (corporeal) status due to their current degree of advancement through Rashis.

      •Sthira/Stable: holding specific (corporeal) status regardless of degree.

      •Naisargika/Natural: connected with a particular object/action (corporeal and non-corporeal).

      The three energetic states in greater detail are as follows.

      Chara

      Chara (active) = current degree of planetary advancement through Rashis (relative to one another). From highest to lowest degree planets are assigned a particular signification; for example, if Sun is found to occupy the highest degree, let’s say 28° 41′, with the next highest degree of a planet, let’s say Mercury, occupying 28° 40′ (in the same Rashi or otherwise), the former is then to be considered significator of Atman or spirit. The latter (Mercury) becomes Amatya, minister or advisor to Atman, and so on.

      Note: This example also illustrates some aspect of Sthira (or stable) Kāraka as Sun is also considered the unchanging significator for Atman; so in this case, should Sun prove to be Atman by highest degree, it would represent the soul on two counts, as both Chara and Sthira Kārakas, adding extra weight to this signification.

If two planets are found to occupy identical degrees (in the same or different Rashi), hierarchies of Kāraka then fall to minutes of degree. If their minutes are also found to be identical, then seconds of degree would be implemented. In the unlikely event that seconds of degree are identical, both planets are to be designated the same signification. In this way, all planets (except Ketu11) become significators for causative factors and influences surrounding our birth, such as Father and Mother, as well as indicators of primary desires that hold us in the cycle of death and rebirth.

The following diagram and table outline Chara Kārakas in their descending order of planetary degrees. This sample also demonstrates how Rāhu’s retrograde activity is dealt with – as here the north node is Atma Kāraka (AK). In this horoscope Rāhu12 is situated at 6° 18′ Virgo and so its current retrograde degree is to be subtracted from the 30° span of the Rashi: 30° – 6° 18′ = 23° 42′.