The following is a very, very effective method of making predictions that is relatively simple and only uses planets as karakas (indicators) without taking lordships and planets in Signs or Houses into consideration.

The nine grahas (planets) are the pure forces that bind human beings to their karmas. They are points on a cosmic scorecard that shows the merit or lack thereof of each jiva (living being) in creation. These planets have gods and myths behind them and, above all, they control the energy centers in each human body. These centers are called the chakras. The Signs that govern are the masculine and feminine energies of each chakra.

Karaka means producer. Each planet produces various things. A list can only begin to name all the things a planet produces. However, everything you see around you is ruled by one of the nine grahas. Recognizing the production effects of each planet, it stands out that on each particular card the states of the planets vary immensely. Some horoscopes have particularly strong karakas and others weak ones. One horoscope may produce beautiful and luxurious vehicles and another may deny the person a car or give them many trips to the mechanic to reduce their wallet.

What makes a Karaka strong or weak?

Is it because it is placed in its own sign or moolatrikona? Is it because he is ruling good houses?

In response to these questions, it should be noted here that in evaluating the planets as karakas, one does NOT take the Signs or the Houses into consideration. The planets are sattvic, which means that they precede the Signs and Houses. The Signs serve to bring the planets into psychological and physical modes and the Houses bring the karmas indicated by the planets and signs to Earth. From our home here on Earth, we look up at the sky and draw lines from where we are in all four directions. These create the Houses. The planets in the houses and the governments of the houses give the most concrete effects that are experienced here on Earth.

Look at it this way. The karaka (planet) produces the thing. The Signs give it color, direction, size, shape, etc. The Houses will show where we will find that thing and in what physical context we will experience that thing.

Mathematics (I know, I know, it’s boring but absolutely necessary)

Please note that most Vedic astrology software does these calculations.

As you can see, the planets come first. So how do you measure the strength of your planets as karakas (producers)? There are two components to this equation: Occha bala and Chesta Bala. Occha bala means strength based on the position of the planet in relation to its point of exaltation. Each planet has a degree in the Zodiac where it is exalted. The closer this planet is to its exaltation degree, the stronger the planet is in its Occha Bala. At the point furthest from exaltation is the point of weakness. A planet scores points related to how close it is to the exaltation point. Since the exalt and debilitate points are 180 degrees apart and the most points a planet can get is 60, then every degree from the exalt point a planet loses 0.333 points. For example, Venus postulates at 27 degrees Gemini. This is exactly halfway between the exaltation point of Venus (27 degrees Pisces) and the debilitation of Venus (27 degrees Virgo). Venus at 27 degrees Gemini would get 30 Occha bala points.

Chesta bala is measured by the relative speed of a planet. The slower the planet is moving relative to its average velocity, the larger the Chesta bala. Planets are usually slowest when stationary, or about to turn retrograde, when they are retrograde, and when they are about to turn direct. This is the point at which they are closest to Earth. Again, 60 is the number for the highest Chesta Bala and 0 is the lowest.

The Sun and the Moon do not have Chesta Bala. For the calculation, the Ayana bala (the declination from the equator) of the Sun and the Paksha bala (force due to the lunar phases) of the Moon are used.

After all these calculations, to obtain the beneficial points (ishta phala) of a planet, the Ocha bala is multiplied by the Chesta Bala and the square root of the product is extracted. Et voila!… you have the Ishta Phala. The number will be between 0 and 60. The rest is Kashta Phala, which are the malefic points. Good points plus bad points always add up to 60. The idea is that it is better for a planet’s natural indications if it has higher good points (above 30) and lower bad points (below 30).

Karakas are never malefic

What produces a karaka is never malefic. This is a very important concept and needs to be repeated for emphasis. WHAT PRODUCES A KARAKA IS NEVER EVIL. Saturn and Mars are producers of longevity and courage, just to name a few. Saturn produces immunity to disease and the ability to overcome obstacles (perseverance). It does not produce those obstacles. Obstacles, miseries, delays and setbacks can be produced by any planet and have to do with their condition in houses and as lords of houses, but they do NOT have to do with their karakaship. When Saturn is afflicted as a karaka, in other words, when his malefic points outweigh his benefic points, then he has a low tolerance for delays and setbacks. It gives a low tolerance for misery, so misery and depression overcome the person. If Mars has little strength as a karaka, she gives little tolerance for anger and no courage. When a person has little courage, he is afraid, and when he is afraid, he attacks to protect himself even when it is not justified. This is a volatile temperament and indicative of a weak Mars.

The Difference Between Malefics and Benefics as Karakas

The difference is this: a malefic will keep his goodness to himself, producing those good qualities, but will give away his malefic tendencies to other planets through association. A benefic will give away his ishta (good points) to other planets but will keep his kashta (bad points) for himself. Maleficents reveal their evil through association and harm the planets with which they associate. What is meant by harm is that when a malefic is aspecting a planet with a complete aspect, he will remove the ishta (good points) of that planet to the degree of the kashta (bad points) of the malefic. For example, if Saturn has 48 kashta points and is fully aspecting Mars, and Mars has only 36 ishta points (good points), then Saturn will destroy the beneficial qualities of Mars during the Saturn/Mars or Mars/Saturn periods. During these periods, the person will be fearful, angry, and accident-prone. The benefits give away the goodness of it and help the planets with which they are associated. Let’s say Venus in someone’s chart has 42 good points and 18 bad points. Whichever planet you aspect will help that planet to 42 points, which is extremely beneficial during Venus periods.

Karakas in Prediction

With the exception of a few character yogas, planetary events are always dependent on dasa. This means that the planets will only give their effects when they are running their periods and sub-periods. Saturn and Mars will give those things typical of Saturn and Mars. If they have little strength, then they will not give their beneficial energies, they will only give a low tolerance for the negative qualities associated with these malefics.

A note on Rahu and Ketu

Rahu and Ketu have the ishta and kashta of Saturn and Mars, respectively.