One of the entities one encounters in spirituality a lot is the soul. On the rare occasion, one would encounter the funny man, invariably in western philosophy who would scoff at the notion of the soul. And why not- if you are going to go primarily by empiricism and so on, then where is the proof of the soul in thought systems across the world. These disciplines are founded on the belief that all knowledge is sensory. We are not really on these systems, but we are brushing past them merely to found this discussion regarding testing the reality of the existence of the soul on the seeming solidity of this plain jane proposition.
While the soul is beyond the Manas or the mind and the Tanu or the body and its senses, in Vedic astrology the existence of the soul is proved as being self-evident because of the measurable performance of the Atmakaraka, the significator of the soul in Jyotisha; measurable, as in capable of being directly perceived by the mind and the senses, since we are speaking now of events and experiences precipitated by the Atmakaraka as promised in any given horoscope. Jyotisha therefore proves the existence of the soul through the manifestation of the working of the Atmakaraka (AK) especially the Chara AK.
The experiential working of the AK is curious indeed. It is completely different in nature and intent from the working of any other planet in any horoscope, and if it is not so in your good opinion, it will be soon. The if not part applies mostly to benefic Atmakarakas who may give expected and elevatedly expected and desired results to start with, or in the early part of the piece. But then if any benefic was so greatly benefic, there would have been no question of birth. Birth necessarily involves an element of dealing with negative or bad Karma, along with enjoying the pleasures, benefits and happiness that come from good Karma. So then the benefic planet who is just that if not the Atmakaraka, is never only just that when He is the AK.
The reason why the benefic AK, let alone the malefic AK is not simply another Graha, standing for that which He is supposed to indicate, is reflected in the extent of longitude of arc traversed by the planet, which as a rule, is the highest amongst all the Grahas in the horoscope. These highest degrees of the Atmakaraka, any Atmakaraka, bear testament to the fact that maximum Karma being carried by this planet in the horoscope. The expression maximum karma should not be pessimistically assumed only to be negative or bad Karma. A good reason to dispel any such doubts is that the best and the highest Rajayogas involve the participation of the Atmakaraka.
Surya is the Naisargika Atmakaraka for everyone. It would be prudent to think about the Sun as we begin our reflections on the Atmakaraka. The Sun does not often form part of discussions. He is the one planet least discussed in Jyotisha. Why is that so. Surya is the King of all the Grahas, Deva Grahas and Daitya Grahas both. He is the Mahagraha and sits above all the other Grahas. Is it any surprise then that He is not known well, or at least not discussed profusely. What is there to discuss about the King. If you say something you are not supposed to say, you could be punished. If you say positive things without restraint, you could be guilty of flattery. And of course, in order to say something about the King, you would have to know the King, or at least know of the King. How many could lay claim to something like this. Surya is a malefic planet. He is hot, aloof and lordly. I do not think Surya is going to win any popularity contests in the unlikely event someone put Him in one. But should Surya be winning popularity contests in any case. I think not. Does it reflect otherwise on the Sun that He is not the type for popularity contests. I think not.
Naisargika Karakas are representatives of God. They control certain areas of life for everyone. These are natural significators and do not depend on the configurations in a horoscope. Surya signifies the Sarvatman, the universal soul. The understanding of Surya in a horoscope will reveal the trajectory of the soul, generally, strength and weaknesses indicating the strength and weaknesses of Karma attached to the soul. Surya, is the King and so the soul is kingly, and therefore the Chara AK is kingly. The Chara AK is the specific indicator of the soul in any horoscope. He is the real King of the horoscope for a given person. What more can we venture about the nature of the Chara AK based on the verisimilitude with the Sun. Agni Tattwa burns and therefore the Chara AK burns us while burning the sins of the past. Since Surya is the King, the Chara AK in strength is capable of giving profound Rajayoga. The King has the power of Danda and therefore the Chara AK can punish us. The punishment appears to be especially acute in the Vimshottari Dasha or Antaradasha of the AK. The reason is that the Moon controls the Vimshottari Dasha and the mind indicated by Chandra is exalted in the pleasures of Rohini and Vrishabha Rashi; the mind does not like the burning and the soul-level cleansing in the Dasha of the AK.
The rule of thumb is that the AK has to become favourable at some point, which happens only when the negative Karma or sin is burnt through suffering. The primary areas of suffering in this context are the natural significations of the Chara AK and the afflictions of the AK. Benefic Atmakaraka planets in particular sometimes act favourably to start with, as ventured above, and more so if they are in strength and/ or rule the Udaya Lagna as well. Benefic planets in strength will indicate the Punya Karma in the Prarabdha although Rajayoga can and often does come through Yogas formed by highly malefic Grahas or even greatly malefic Yogas themselves. This is the most puzzling thing- a complete breach of morality of the past births can lead to astounding Rajayoga. However, this can be treated as the exception rather than the rule, and even as an exception, there is no denying the fact that while Rajayoga may come, the terrible effects of the Yoga will also be felt. Anyway, to return to the benefic Atmakaraka. It is an important and difficult question as to which soul path is preferable, that of the benefic or the malefic. The answer will depend largely on the moorings of the Jataka.
Rahu can be one illustration of the curious working of the Atmakaraka Graha. Rahu is a hedonistic planet, signifying shock, deceit and cheating amongst His significations. And yet, when Rahu becomes the AK, while the individual himself will have diabolical experiences ripe with deceit and delusion, he cannot practice the same conduct. It is payback for bad Karmas performed in the past life. Rahu is a dire malefic and as the AK, corresponding to the shocking experiences that lie in store, promises spiritual advancement. Rahu AK will burn, and burn the sin, through shock, cheating and depravity inflicted on the individual. This is similar to the opposition of Rahu to the Arudha Lagna (AL) where His 2nd or 12th Bhava aspect to the AL, depending on how one construes His aspects, will hang the individual through ill-advised expenses and leisure, and with the hangman’s noose on the neck of the individual. This also leads to spirituality because the individual will seek understanding of the whys and hows of that which has transpired.
Which malefic planet will give the most severe experience as the Atmakaraka, but only by definition? Only by definition, because malefics are generally Papa Grahas and are not to be easily outdone by the leader; in actual fact it will depend on the various factors involving the malefic AK in the chart. However, by definition, it cannot but be Surya. The Naisargika AK has become the Chara AK. The burning is at an extreme. If the AK is strong, supportive of the Lagna, and in favourable combinations, then when He becomes positively inclined in the horoscope, one could hope for the results of Punya Karma of the past to come through in an equally, correspondingly splendorous way. Not only is the burning caused by Surya AK the most intense, it is the most difficult to endure because of the late maturity of the Sun, the significator of the father. When he becomes the soul father so to speak, through the individual with Surya AK in the charts, it will be around His age of maturity and till then the person burns and burns without any relief in sight.
It must not be forgotten that the Sun is a malefic planet and the burning of sin, and of the individual is terrible in nature. There is another distinction to be kept in mind- Surya is a Krura Graha not a Papa Graha. The fire is akin to that of a Havan or Yajna but fire is fire and burns as fire does. The point is that the cruelty behind the experience is divine, meant to cleanse the individual of the maximum sin indicated by the Graha. In the case of the Sun, it could be indiscriminate cruelty in past births, arrogance, ego, megalomania and so on. Resultantly, Surya AK will precipitate events throughout till He becomes favourable, which absolutely demolish the ego. Humiliation will be visited upon the person in all shapes and forms. Oftentimes, this is expressed to state that the individual must learn how to overcome his egoistic tendencies and embrace humility. There is truth in this but then a person with his soul ruled by the Sun cannot be expected to become the antithesis of the Sun. A better way to understand this would be that the individual must understand the ego and the self, and if the future demands egoistic conduct then it must be wholly within the confines of spirituality and more importantly, Dharma.
The most unbelievable thing is that these extremely demanding results will obtain even when Surya AK is very strong in every way in the horoscope. While with Surya Graha not being AK such results could never be expected since they are opposite to the significations of the Sun, only these might be reasonably expected till Surya matures and orders that the punishment is done and over with. The reason behind this astonishing manifestation is that the AK also acts as the 8th lord of the horoscope and has the responsibility of cleaning up the past Karma. The other contributors to the punishment are the malefic conjunctions of the AK and such aspects to the AK, by sign aspect. When the AK is in great strength, He is free to do as he pleases which prompts us to prefer an AK in strength but not in too great a strength. A very powerful Surya AK can demolish the sense of self, of identity of the individual when self and identity are the hallmarks of a person ruled by the Sun. The AK will negate all His positive significations, subvert them, injure them till His ward repays the results of excesses of past lives and emerges as clean as he is destined to, in a given life.
The same thing happens with a very strong benefic AK but in reverse order. The benefic planet is quite happy to give conventionally positive results in keeping with His strength. Benefic Atmakarakas do not precipitate the terrible tests and trials of the malefic Atmakarakas, but this is necessarily true only in principle. Otherwise, the station and the affliction of the AK will once again reveal the real life story which may unfold later. If the AK is extremely strong, the benefic planet may precipitate severe trials in the very areas that the individual holds most dear and has enjoyed greatly in life, or so he thinks. It must be noted that the benefic AK is capable of precipitating events related to His significations which can be adverse, even when He is not in remarkable strength.
Suppose Rahu aspects the AK- it is a pointer to the shocking deviousness which will be experienced at the soul level. Deep scrutiny of the horoscope will reveal all details. If an Anga of the Panchanga such as the Tithi is ruled by Rahu, the quality of time itself is poisoned and flawed and the shocks and depravity will likely be searing to the extent that they may leave lasting and permanent damage. If the AK is very strong then the person will survive the experiences possibly intact as a functioning human being though it will take some doing precisely because the AK is involved. There could be betrayal, cheating, falsehood, illusion, delusion, make-believe, treachery and such matters which will impact the life experience. If two or more malefics aspect the AK, the situation is serious. It is decidedly extreme if the AK is placed in Dusthana or another negative Bhava from the Udaya Lagna. If the AK and the Lagnesha are both involved in the affliction by two or more malefics, then damage to the personality is quite possible and growth as a person will be impacted in some manner.
The phrase that the AK has to turn favourable may mean that it will indicate a cessation of the fruits of past adverse Karma and the advent of the fruits of Punya Karma directly attached with the soul. It will also indicate that the Atmakaraka has to begin acting as the Lagna Lord and end his role as the 8th lord of the Rashi Chakra. AK acts as the Lagna Lord and the 8th Lord because He is the prime significator of the Self or Nija/ own Karma and both these Bhavas are very personal to the individual. When the AK is the Lagnesha in any chart, it is a combination for Rajayoga. The King has decided to take care of the individual- he is God’s child or the child of destiny. The Bhava ruled by the AK is thought of as the temple of the king and the individual is very sensitive regarding matters indicated by this Bhava. All the other things narrated in this paper may come to pass, but the Atmakaraka, who carries a spark of God himself, protects the individual as an instrument of God.
Since the Atmakaraka carries a spark of God, all matters indicated by the AK must necessarily come to pass. These cannot be stopped. These ought not to be interfered with by any other for it would mean going against the Will of God. Therefore any Graha who betrays disobedience of the AK is destroyed and all matters indicated by that Graha are destroyed. For example, when a Graha and Bhava are in Marana Karaka Sthana (MKS) from the AK, these houses and planets are destroyed and removed from the life of the individual. Grahas in the 4th and 7th from Budha AK suffer tremendously, similarly in the 7th Bhava from Mangala AK and in the 6th Bhava from Shukra AK. Surya AK in the 10th Bhava from the Lagna is known to be the most powerful position for the Sun, but when He becomes Atmakaraka, the placement is highly adverse for the father of the individual who may be absent in the life of the individual and may even pass away early. This also happens generally because Surya is also the Naisargika Karaka for the father. Shukra will remove the planet in the 6th Bhava from Himself and if that Graha is a lord of Kendra, then one of the pillars of life may collapse, as indicated by the vanquished planet.
Clearly, without an understanding of the Atmakaraka, there can be no Phalita Jyotisha. The AK controls the horoscope, life and therefore also readings in these respect. Papa and Punya Karma are like flipping a switch. There is not much to be done in order to leave the results of one behind and start with those of the other. It is simply a question of specific quanta of Karma and the destined time for things to happen. This is to be interpreted according to the following codec- Grahas in Kendra to the AK follow the orders of the AK immediately and completely, followed by those in Panaphara and lastly by those in Apoklima Bhavas.
(C) Anurag Sharma
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