Rahu as darakaraka

Rahu as darakaraka points to an unusual partner — from another milieu or culture, or with an unconventional story of their own. The attraction in such a union is strong, and a sober view of the real person beside you is especially important for its durability.

When Rahu becomes the darakaraka

In the eight-karaka scheme Rahu’s degree is counted backwards from the end of the sign, because the nodes move retrograde. So Rahu receives the role of darakaraka when it stands at the very end of a sign: its “reversed” degree turns out to be the lowest in the chart. In the seven-karaka scheme, in which Rahu does not take part, a different planet will be the darakaraka, and this is worth bearing in mind when comparing different programs.

The dynamics of the relationship

• a partner of another nationality, faith or social circle, or with an unfamiliar way of life;
• meeting in unexpected circumstances, through travel or online;
• a strong infatuation in which it is easy to idealise the person;
• a relationship that changes one’s habitual views on marriage.

What to look at

Rahu acts through the lord of its sign and the planets conjoined with it. A strong dispositor, the support of Jupiter or Venus and a favourable 7th house help turn an unusual union into a source of growth. Under pressure from malefics uncertainty and inflated expectations are possible — then the union benefits from clarity and honest agreements.

More about the planet is on the page on Rahu; the rule for counting degrees is in the overview of chara karakas. You can find out your darakaraka after the chart calculation.