Karka / Cancer

In Vedic astrology the rāśi (zodiac sign) is determined by where the Moon was at the moment of birth — this is the janma-rāśi or chandra-rāśi. It is the most important rāśi for daily-life predictions, for matching marriage compatibility (kuṇḍalī milāna), and for identifying which Mahādaśā periods are auspicious. Most published rāśiphala (daily, weekly, monthly horoscopes in Hindu tradition) is keyed to the moon-rāśi rather than the rising-rāśi.

Karka (Sanskrit: कर्क, Western: Cancer) is the 4th of twelve rāśis. Its ruler is Moon (Chandra), its element is Water, and its modality is Movable. The zodiac sign spans 30° of the ecliptic (90° – 120°), divided into three full nakshatras of 13°20' each. The interplay of rāśi-lord with the navāṃśa division and with transits over your janma-rāśi forms the core of personalised Hindu astrology.

Karka’s exalted planet is Jupiter (5°) — meaning that planet functions at maximum strength when placed here. Its debilitated planet is Mars (28°), the planet whose function is most challenged in this rāśi. In remedial astrology (upāya), strengthening or pacifying these planets through mantra, daana, vrata, or gemstone is calibrated to your specific birth chart.

The lord of Karka is Moon (Chandra). Worship of this planet — through its specific mantra, gemstone (recommended only after consulting a qualified jyotiṣī), donation, and weekday observance — is the standard remedy when the natal chart shows affliction to it. The day Monday is auspicious for Karka natives for major undertakings, and the colour pearl-white / silver is favoured.