Atmakaraka- Knowing the Souls Desire

What we desire and do not get, all this we find by going in within ourselves. For here indeed are
the true desires within the covering of the false. Just as those who do not know the field, walk
again and again over the treasure of gold and do not find it. In the same way most of us go into the
world of Brahma and do not find it; for we are carried away by our false desires and fail to
recognize the true ones even though they are hidden within. Chandogya Upanishad (chapter 3:
verse 2)

Atma means the soul and karaka means significator. Atmakaraka is the significator of the soul’s
desire. According to the Vedic philosophy a soul is reborn because it has unfinished desires that
were left unfulfilled in the previous lives and it is born again to get another opportunity to satisfy
them. What are these desires? Will they be fulfilled or will you struggle with them? This revealed
by the Atmakaraka planet. In my view the Atmakaraka is one of the most important planets in the
natal chart.

The natural Atmakaraka is the Sun in all charts. The Atmakaraka of this article is the chara
Atmakaraka. Usually when we refer to the personal Atmakaraka, we mean the Chara Atmakaraka.
Chara means movable and one of eight planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and
Rahu) can take over the mantle of Atmakaraka depending on its degrees in the natal chart. The
planet that has the highest degree, ignoring the signs, is considered the chara Atmakaraka. Due to
its perpetual retrograde motion, Rahu Ketu degrees are calculated by subtracting from 30º.
(However other retrograde planets are calculated in the usual way) For e.g. if Rahu Ketu are 15º
24’ in a chart, you minus this from 30º and the remaining degrees will be 14º36’. If this degree is
greater than of any other planet then Rahu Ketu will be considered the Atmakaraka.

There is a disagreement regarding the use of Rahu as Atmakaraka. Some scholars only use 7
planets excluding Rahu, while others use 8, including Rahu. Ketu as the significator of moksha
does not form part of the scheme of chara karakas. Moksha is the destination of the soul, the
ultimate aim, it is not important in revealing the on the soul’s more worldly desires. As Rahu and
Ketu form part of the karmic axis, Rahu will show Ketu’s desire for spiritual fulfillment. For many
years I used 7 karakas only but now I am convinced of the need to include Rahu in this scheme. As
Rahu links so strongly to the past lives and unfulfilled desires. Rahu’s role is invaluable in the
search for answers in this life and the turmoil this causes as well as the soul’s ability to ultimately
triumph over those uncontrollable desires.

The Atmakaraka reflects the spirit within us. But its outer expression does not always appear to be
spiritual. We can be taken in by the illusionary natures of the desires and think that the satiation
of the worldly desires is all what the soul wants. But it is important to understand that the
fulfillment of the worldly desires is part of the process of unveiling of the true soul. The soul is
treading the wheel of desire as the fulfillment of one set of material desires can create an ever-
increasing appetite for more and more. These desires never become fulfilled. The true desire of
the soul is to get off this wheel and find self-realization, peace and eternal happiness. The struggle
between the real and the false has to be understood. The false desires are those we search for in
the outside world. The true desires are satisfied from within. The basic struggle of the soul is to
differentiate between the two and its inability to differentiate is the reason why it takes birth
again and again.

Atmakaraka planet personify these struggles but also shows the path through life lessons (usually
delivered during Atmakaraka dashas and bhuktis). Identifying with the materialistic goals is
essential and we must not underrate these needs. The fact that the soul is born to earth shows that
there is a worldly mission for the soul to complete before it is ready to understand the higher self.
Experiences teach us to look for our higher self. There cannot be a fast track to moksha or self-
realization. So it is important to recognize and complete the material goal- both the pleasant and
the unpleasant. Without that achievement, you cannot go into the inner world and find your
personal treasure of happiness. Atmakaraka will show you both the soul’s material goals and the
spiritual ones. Not all of us can find the ultimate realisation but we can get slowly enlightened.
The truly revelation of the soul has to be a personal experience. Atmakaraka shows us the true
desires of the soul, whether we recognize them or not depends on us.

Atmakaraka Analysis

Prince William
21 June 1982, 21:03 GMT, Paddington, England
The Planetary Grid
Planet Sign
Sun 6º29’Gemini
Moon 11º21’Gemini
Mars 15º35’Virgo
Mercury 15º21’Gemini
Jupiter 6º52’Libra
Venus 2º03’Taurus
Saturn 21º53’Virgo
Rahu 20º28’Gemini
Ketu 20º28’Sagittarius

1. The quality and strength of the Atmakaraka planet Saturn has the highest degrees, so it is the
Atmakaraka for Prince William. Saturn’s quality of facing up to responsibility and taking your
duty seriously are already evident in the young Prince. The soul lesson of Saturn as an
Atmakaraka is loneliness as well as facing harsh lesson of life. Things he may already be familiar
with.
2. The house where it is placed- for this you should evaluate both the Rasi chart and the Bhava
charts. Dusthana (6th, 8th and 12th) house placement is usually difficult. Saturn is placed in the
house of it’s friend Mercury and in the 10th house in both rasi and bhava where it is very powerful
and in Dikbala.

3. The house the Atmakaraka rules shows the area from where you can find fulfillment or where
you experience the life lessons/pain. When the Atmakaraka planet rules two houses, pay extra
importance to the house which is it’s mooltrikona position. Saturn rules the 2nd and 3rd house.
Its mooltrikona is the 3rd house (Aquarius) therefore William’s soul needs would be fulfilled from
taking responsibility for his own actions. But this can be frustrating for him as he is part of the
institution of monarchy where tradition and custom play an important part. His personal freedom
can be restricted. But Saturn also rules the dhana bhava, the 2nd house. So the family wealth and
inheritance are also important to him. He may compromise one to gain the other.

4. The aspects (planetary and rashi) and conjunctions – they can either aggravate or enhance the
qualities. Saturn is placed with Mars, the auspicious 5th house ruler, so this quality of Mars will
enhance Saturn. But Mars and Saturn have an inherently difficult relationship so they will be a
conflict as well. There are no planetary aspects, the rashi aspects are from Rahu, Ketu, Sun and
Moon. Rahu Ketu show the karmic nature of his life and they can create turmoil within his soul.
The turbulence of the soul is usually buried deep and not always outwardly visible so there is no
way of evaluating them. Sun as the 9th house ruler is giving its divine blessing to the Atmakaraka
and Moon as the 8th house ruler shows that this soul will learn about itself through death and
transformation.

5. Karakamsha- the position of the Atmakaraka in the navamsha. Saturn is placed in Cancer
navamsha; therefore the karakamsha is Cancer. Saturn in the 3rd in navamsha is a good position
and Saturn is also aspected by the karakamsha lord Moon and the navamsha ascendant ruler
Venus.

6. The chart with Atmakaraka as the ascendant. When you turn the chart around to view the
planets from Atmakaraka’s point of view, it explains the soul’s desires. This chart’s strength or
weakness can change the quality of birth chart. The birth chart reflects the outer conditions of this
birth; the Atmakaraka chart shows the obstructions and the support for the soul for fulfilling its
duty. Atmakaraka is in Virgo and its lord Mercury is placed in the 9th house from it with the
equally auspicious 9th lord, Venus. Sun, Moon and Rahu are in the 10th; Jupiter is in the 2nd
house. All these are positive and supporting the soul on its path. Ketu’s position in the 4th house
is the difficult one, showing the loss of his mother and the huge psychological effect it has had on
William. This loss would have made him closer to his soul and made him differentiate from the
real and the unreal desires. (this aspect of the soul can only be analyze but is difficult to confirm
in a celebrity chart, but discussion with friends or clients about the effectiveness of the
Atmakaraka chart will reveals its impact)

7. The chart with karakamsha as ascendant. Cancer is the Karakamsha, so you turn the rasi chart
with Cancer as the ascendant. Here the soul’s sorrows are clearly indicated. The ruler of the
karakamsha ascendant Moon is placed in the 12th house from itself. This is a new Moon, so it is
considered weak. It is conjunct it’s greatest enemy Rahu, therefore it is further weakened. Moon is
placed in Gemini- Moon is a friend of it’s ruler Mercury but Mercury does not like the Moon so
this can be a difficult position. On the positive side, the Atmakaraka Saturn is placed in an
upachaya house (3rd from the Karakamsha lagna) where it is strong. Venus and Mercury are in
another upachaya (11th house) and Jupiter in the 4th house, shows that despite all the problems;
he could find inner peace and happiness. But the karakamsha suggests that he can make mistakes
where he creates his own losses. With Rahu in the 12th from karakamsha lagna in rasi, he should
not allow his desires to overcome his otherwise strong and pragmatic self.
8. The connections between the lagna lord and the Atmakaraka in the ascendant and
navamsha. The lagna lord Jupiter is placed in the 11th house and Atmakaraka is in the 10th
house. They are in 2/12 house positions from each other. This position shows a lack of
understanding between the path of this life and the soul’s desires. Because the lagna lord is placed
in the 2nd house from the Atmakaraka, William would be able to profit from life lessons. But he
may need to compromise. In the navamsha chart Lagna lord Jupiter and Atmakaraka Saturn are
in the 6/8 house position from each other- again showing a conflict within the soul’s desires and
the direction this life is taking him. William’s life as a Prince is not what his soul desires, but it is
part of his soul experience to learn from it. Maybe he can use the qualities of Saturn to bring
about fresh changes in the.

9. The strength of Atmakaraka is to be analyzed in all the varga charts. The position of the
Vargesh- the ruler of varga rising sign, Atmakaraka and the rasi lagna ruler. This gives you the
information about the soul’s fulfillment in specific areas It is impossible to study all the varga
charts but we will study William’s Atmakaraka in the dasamsha chart for his future career
indications. Both the lagna lord and the Atmakaraka are placed in the 12th house. This appears at
odds with the position of William as the heir apparent of the British monarchy. Therefore it
suggests to me that the timing of his birth may not be precise. Lagna lord and Atmakaraka in
the12th house in Dasamsha show the rejection of his future role as a Monarch. At present William
is showing no sign of doing so, he appears remarkably well adjusted publicly at least to his future
role. If you move his birth time behind by 4 minutes to 8:59p.m. Rahu Saturn and Jupiter come
into the lagna of the dasamsha, adding strength to the Atmakaraka. This would be powerful
indication of William’s strength as the future King of England. Only the future will tell whether
Prince William will give up his royal duties or embrace them. My reading is that the 4 minutes
earlier time for Prince William’s birth is probably the right one. Even the most perfect birth times
like the one of Prince William can be subject to small mistakes. Atmakaraka position in the varga
chart can also become a tool for rectification.

10. Dashas and Bhuktis of the Atmakaraka planet can give profound experiences, they usually
teach you a life lesson. Willliam was born in the Saturn bhukti of Rahu Dasha, indicating that the
soul lessons started at birth. The two most import events of his life so far are directly connected to
Saturn Bhukti in Jupiter Dasha. The decree absolute finalising the divorce of William’s parents
was given on 28th August 1996 and The Death of his mother Diana - 31st August 97 both took
place in Jupiter Dasha/ Saturn Bhukti. The Atmakaraka Saturn gave its most important lessons to
him in its Bhukti changing his perception of life forever.

Atmakaraka Worldly Desires Spiritual lesson

Sun success , fame, power, letting go of the ego, humility
Moon happiness, love, satisfaction understanding unhappiness,
Difference between true and false love
Mars passion, victory, adventure conceding defeat, patience,
Unrequited passions,
Mercury intellectual superiority crossing intellectual barriers,
Divine Communication learning to face the truth
Jupiter children, spirituality, tolerating other’s spirituality
wisdom Putting your children before you
For women- imperfect husbands
Venus sex, relationships, luxury accepting relationships the
Sensuality way they are, avoiding excessive behaviour,
controlling sensuality
Saturn Democracy, duty, facing the harsh truths, loneliness
Rahu Achievement, experience disappointments, fears, doubts