Amatyakaraka

The amatyakaraka is the planet with the second-highest degree in its sign, the advisor of the atmakaraka. It shows through which activity and with whose help a person can most easily realise the soul’s main aspiration.

The king’s advisor

“Amatya” means a minister, the ruler’s advisor. In the sequence of chara karakas it comes right after the atmakaraka: if the latter sets the goal, the amatyakaraka is responsible for the means — the profession, skills, the way of earning and doing business, the people a person relies on. That is why it is most often brought in for questions of career and examined together with the 10th house and its lord.

The nature of the planet describes the style of work. Mercury as amatyakaraka draws one to words, numbers and trade, Mars to technology and work that calls for resolve, Jupiter to mentoring and counselling. This is not a list of professions but the direction in which abilities unfold most easily.

How to read it

Sign and dignity. A strong amatyakaraka gives a clear understanding of one’s work and capable helpers. A weakened one does not deprive a person of a profession, but the road to it can be winding and the advice of others contradictory.

House from the lagna. It shows the area in which work brings results: in the 2nd and 11th in income, in the 10th in status, in the 6th in service and daily labour.

Position relative to the atmakaraka. Tradition considers it favourable when the amatyakaraka stands next to the atmakaraka, or in a kendra or trikona from it: goal and means then work in harmony. A position in the 6th, 8th or 12th from the atmakaraka often shows that the profession and inner aspirations take a long time to find common ground.

Navamsha and dashamsha. The sign of the amatyakaraka in the navamsha and its position in D10 add detail about professional fulfilment.

The dasha of the amatyakaraka often coincides with important steps at work: a change of occupation, a promotion, the appearance of a mentor.

The amatyakaraka and the eight planets

• Sun — leadership and work with authority.
• Moon — work with people and their needs.
• Mars — technology, sport, decisive action.
• Mercury — the word, analysis, trade.
• Jupiter — teaching, law, consulting.
• Venus — art, design, the world of pleasures.
• Saturn — systematic work and long projects.
• Rahu — new technologies and unconventional paths.

You can see which planet has become your amatyakaraka and which house it occupies in the birth chart calculation.