What is the darakaraka?
The Darakaraka (dara = spouse) is the Jaimini significator of your partner: among the seven classical planets, the one that has travelled the LEAST distance through its sign. Where the Atmakaraka describes your soul's agenda, the Darakaraka describes the energy you marry — what you seek in a partner and what partnership asks of you.
This calculator ranks all seven planets by degree-in-sign for your chart and highlights the lowest — your Darakaraka — with its exact degree, so you can see how decisively it holds the position.
Darakaraka by planet — the classical flavour
Read these as tendencies, not verdicts — the Darakaraka's sign, house and aspects refine everything. Sun: a dignified, principled partner; themes of respect. Moon: a nurturing, emotionally attuned partner; home matters. Mars: an energetic, protective partner; learning patience together. Mercury: a witty, youthful partner; friendship first. Jupiter: a wise, generous partner; shared beliefs matter. Venus: a loving, aesthetic partner; romance central. Saturn: a loyal, serious partner — often later or after effort, and famously worth it.
None of these is 'bad'. A Saturn Darakaraka is the internet's favourite scare story; classically it simply asks for maturity and rewards commitment.
Darakaraka, 7th lord and Venus — how they differ
Three different lenses on marriage: the 7th house and its lord describe the MARRIAGE itself (the institution, in your life); Venus (for everyone) and Jupiter (classically, for women) are natural karakas of relationship; the Darakaraka is the Jaimini chara (movable) karaka — specific to your chart's degrees. When all three agree, the signal is strong; when they differ, a full kundli reading weighs them.
Frequently asked questions
How is the darakaraka calculated?
Rank the seven classical planets (Sun–Saturn) by degrees travelled in their sign; the lowest is the Darakaraka. Enter your birth details above and the calculator does this to the arc-second and shows the full ranking.
What does a Saturn darakaraka mean?
A partner with Saturn's virtues: loyal, steady, serious about commitment. Tradition associates it with marriage that matures the native — sometimes later than friends', never 'denied'. Fear-based readings of DK Saturn have no classical basis.
Is the darakaraka the same for everyone born on one day?
No — planetary degrees shift through the day, and the ranking can reorder within hours. That chart-specific quality is exactly why Jaimini prizes the chara karakas.
Does the darakaraka describe my spouse's appearance?
Classically it describes the partner's nature and the texture of partnership. Appearance is read from the 7th house, its lord and the navamsa — the full milan report combines these.
Darakaraka or kundli milan — which should I check for marriage?
Both answer different questions. The Darakaraka is about the partner archetype in YOUR chart; the 36-gun milan compares TWO specific charts. For a real rishta, run the milan.