Karka Rashi (Cancer)
Karka is rashi 4 of 12, spanning 90° to 120° of the sidereal zodiac. Nurturing, memory and emotional attachment to home.
Karka (Cancer) at a glance
| Ruling planet | the Moon |
|---|---|
| Element | Water |
| Modality | Movable (chara) |
| Nature | Feminine (even sign) |
| Symbol | a crab |
| Body part (Kalapurusha) | the chest |
| Exalted planet | Jupiter (5°) |
| Debilitated planet | Mars (28°) |
Nakshatras in Karka
A rashi is 30° and a nakshatra pada is 3°20′, so Karka holds nine padas: Punarvasu (pada 4), Pushya (all four padas), Ashlesha (all four padas).
Moon sign and Lagna
If the Moon was in Karka at your birth, Karka is your Janma Rashi. If Karka was rising on the eastern horizon, it is your Lagna (ascendant) and sets the house numbering of your Kundali. Both need your exact birth time and place.
Frequently asked questions
Which planet rules Karka rashi?
Moon is the lord of Karka (Cancer).
Which nakshatras fall in Karka?
Karka contains Punarvasu (pada 4), Pushya (all four padas), Ashlesha (all four padas).
Is Karka rashi my Sun sign?
Only by coincidence. Vedic astrology calls the sign your Moon occupied at birth your rashi, and it uses the sidereal zodiac, about 24° behind the tropical zodiac used for Western Sun signs. Your Kundali shows your Moon sign exactly.
Which planets are exalted or debilitated in Karka?
In Karka, Jupiter (5°) is exalted and Mars (28°) is debilitated.