The Role Of The Yogakaraka Planet In Vedic Astrology

WHAT IS THE YOGAKARAKA PLANET?

According to the rules of Jyotish, or Vedic astrology, the Yogakaraka is that planet which has rulership over both a Kendra house and a Trikona house. The so-called Kendra houses correspond to the angular houses in western astrology, i.e., the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th. These are deemed to be the most pivotal, powerful houses in the chart, as they represent the “Cross of Matter” upon which the soul is crucified in the present life.. At each point the Sun rises (1st house). culminates (10th house). sets (7th house) and anti-culminates (4th house). The so-called Trikona houses are the two houses that form a trinal (120 degree) relationship to the Ascendant. These are the 5th house and the 9th house. The Trikona houses are considered to be the most fortunate places and are the source of all talent, wisdom, inspiration, guidance and creative genius.

Given the above descriptions it becomes clear that any planet that holds rulership of both a Kendra and a Trikona house is going to have a powerful and positive impact on the life of the individual concerned. It will be a potential source of success and elevation in life and it’s position by sign, house and aspects should never be overlooked.

WHICH PLANETS FORM A YOGAKARAKA?

Not every planet can be yogakaraka because not every rising sign will create the conditions for it. Here are the relevant rising signs and the corresponding yogakaraka planets:

• Aries –              None
• Taurus –           SATURN, as lord 9 (Capricorn) and lord 10 ( Aquarius )
• Gemini –          None
• Cancer –          MARS, as lord 5 (Scorpio ) and lord 10 ( Aries )
• Leo –               MARS, as lord 4 (Scorpio) and lord 9 ( Aries )
• Virgo –             None
• Libra  –             SATURN as lord 4 (Capricorn) and lord 5 ( Aquarius )
• Scorpio –         MOON as lord 9 ( Cancer ) conjunct SUN. Lord 10 (Leo)
• Sagittarius –    None
• Capricorn –     VENUS as lord 5 (Taurus) and lord 10 (Libra)
• Aquarius  –      VENUS as lord 4 (Taurus ) and lord 9 (Libra )
• Pisces –         None

As can be seen from the above list, a yogakaraka planet has lordship of both a Kendra and a Trikona house in 50% of the rising signs while in the other half of the signs there is no one planet able to become a yogakaraka. Of the planets, the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter are likewise unable to become a yogakaraka. As for Rahu and Ketu, if they are in a Kendra, receiving an aspect from, or associate with the lord of a Trikona or Kendra, they will achieve yogakaraka status.

EXAMPLE 1: Barack Obama  

In the chart on the left – that of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama – the sign of Capricorn is rising. ( For those of you unfamiliar with the layout of a Jyotish horoscope, each house begins at 0° of the sign and ends at 29° 59′;  Pisces is always in the top left corner and the signs follow clockwise around the chart. The Ascendant, or Rising Sign, is marked by the box with a diagonal line running through it. ) Capricorn rising makes Lord 5 + Lord 10 Venus the Yogakaraka planet. Venus is the significator of harmony, peace, charm and agreement yet here she is placed in the 6th house of loss of agreement, disease, poverty, victims, enemies and exploitation. Venus holds a great deal of power and influence as Lord of the 5th, the house of  creative intelligence, genius, performance art and politics and Lord of the 10th, the house of career, vocation and public reputation. It’s placement in the 6th house is fundamentally a position of service; one where the native  is called to serve those who are feeling victimized, alienated, destitute or in bitter conflict.  It is a position which requires dealing with a great variety of problems; however the majority of these problems will have to do with the karma of others and thus one has relatively little power to resolve the issues. One is rather a surprisingly religious force in the lives of those who are upset (imbalanced) and suffering from an inability to find harmony in this world.

Because house-6 is Mercury’s house of argument and criticism, Obama can expect to receive abundant criticism for his personal genius and political activities. (Lord 5). He was elected directly into a national situation of gross investment industry fraud combined with deteriorating race relations in USA. His natural charisma in approaching this toxic mix might ultimately at least  prevent a bad situation from getting worse. This is an excellent position for a politician who can bring the charisma of house 5 into the world of ethnic, class, and inter-demographic conflict as well as issues of debt or financial mismanagement, which is part of the remit of house 6.

EXAMPLE 2: Meryl Streep

 The second example chart is that of iconic film actress Meryl Streep, arguably the most accomplished actress of her generation. Her performance as a Polish holocaust survivor in the 1982 film “Sophie’s Choice” earned her first Oscar. The notable film critic Roger Ebert said of her performance, “Streep plays the Brooklyn scenes with an enchanting Polish-American accent (she has the first accent I’ve ever wanted to hug), and she plays the flashbacks in subtitled German and Polish. There is hardly an emotion that Streep doesn’t touch in this movie, and yet we’re never aware of her straining. This is one of the most astonishing and yet one of the most unaffected and natural performances I can imagine.” Streep’s later performances in films such as “Out of Africa”, “A Cry In The Dark” and “The Iron Lady” served to further showcase her remarkable talent for mastering accents. She has been nominated a record seventeen times for an Academy Award and has received the Oscar on three occasions, first for “Kramer vs Kramer” (1979), followed by “Sophie’s Choice” and finally for “The Iron Lady” (2011). What role does her Yogakaraka planet play in her remarkable success?

In her chart the sign of Cancer rises, making Mars – Lord of the 5th and 10th house – the Yogakaraka planet.  Here Mars is placed in Taurus in the 11th house. In Taurus, Mars produces a highly sensual, physical personality who uses her face, voice, body and wealth for pioneering pursuit of new conquests and experiences.  This placement of Mars flourishes in the arts and entertainment business where Mars’ physical vitality lends the muscular energy to fully develop big, glamorous, sensually luscious but tastefully gracious projects. Mars in Taurus can also be amazingly charismatic, especially if in any way connected to Venus. Here Venus in the 12th house is in mutual reception with Mercury, who in turn is conjoined to Mars. This powerful Mars-Mercury-Venus blend is what has produced such stunning, charismatic and imaginative (12th house) artistic performances (Mars, L5). The difficult 10th aspect from Saturn to both Mars and Mercury is responsible for her trademark perfectionism and meticulous attention to detail when preparing for a role. This aspect in fixed signs also increases her will and determination to succeed but also enhances the likelihood that her steadiness and dedication to her craft is likely to overwhelm her enthusiasm for action, e.g,  she famously learned to play the violin by practicing 6 hours a day for 8 weeks, for her role in Music of the Heart (1999). This level of dedication and  perfectionism is laudable but will prove extremely draining over time.

The 11th house is the house of income, gain, profit, and the achievement of one’s goals. It is not surprising therefore to see Yogakaraka Mars, lord of the 10th of career, vocation and public reputation; and lord of 5th of creative genius, performance and creativity occupying this highly beneficial place in the chart and receiving a trine from an angular Jupiter. Mars is also the lord of the Aries Moon, herself the ruler of the ascendant and placed in the 10th house, ensuring high public visibility and social recognition. Streep  has a strong emotional need for public dignity, honor, and respectable roles.

Despite her enduring reputation as one of the most iconic celebrities in the history of stage and screen, Meryl Streep retains a common touch and is unfazed by the crown of stardom that the public has placed upon her brow. In an interview she was once quoted as saying, “I try to live as normal a life as possible. You don’t get spoiled if you do your own ironing.” 

Meryl Streep: Superstar, Celebrity, and laundry-lady extraordinaire…