Karka at a glance
| Hindi name | कर्क |
|---|---|
| Lord (swami) | Moon (चंद्र) |
| Element | Water (जल) |
| Nature | Chara (movable) |
| Symbol | Crab (केकड़ा) |
| Zodiac span | 90° – 120° sidereal |
| Western equivalent | Cancer (tropical signs are about 24° ahead) |
| Deity to worship | Shiva |
Name letters for Karka rashi
Babies born with the Moon in Karka are traditionally named starting with one of these syllables. Each belongs to a pada of a nakshatra; your exact letter comes from your birth nakshatra and pada (find it here).
ही Hiहु Huहे Heहो Hoडा Daडी Diडू Duडे Deडो Do
Nakshatras in Karka
Sade Sati for Karka rashi
Karka is not in Sade Sati now. The next one begins 31 May 2032; the last one ended 9 Sept 2009. Sade Sati is the roughly seven-and-a-half years when Saturn passes through the rashi before yours, your own rashi, and the one after. Dates below are calculated from Saturn's actual movement (Lahiri ayanamsa), with retrograde re-entries merged.
| Sade Sati | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Past | 23 Jul 2002 | 9 Sept 2009 |
| Next | 31 May 2032 | 13 Jul 2039 |
| Next | 11 Jul 2061 | 30 Aug 2068 |
Shani Dhaiya (Kantaka and Ashtama Shani)
The two-and-a-half-year periods when Saturn is 4th or 8th from Karka:
- 4th (Kantaka): 27 Jan 2041 – 30 Aug 2044
- 8th (Ashtama): 25 Feb 2052 – 5 Feb 2055
- 4th (Kantaka): 4 Nov 2070 – 23 Oct 2073
Sade Sati is not a curse; many people do their most disciplined, lasting work in it. Traditional comfort: recite the Hanuman Chalisa on Saturdays, light a til-oil lamp, and serve those in need. For a personal check from your birth details, use the Sade Sati calculator.
Karka rashi: common questions
What are the name letters for Karka rashi?
The traditional starting letters for Karka (कर्क) are Hi (ही), Hu (हु), He (हे), Ho (हो), Da (डा), Di (डी), Du (डू), De (डे), Do (डो). Each comes from one pada (quarter) of the nakshatras in this rashi; the exact letter depends on your birth nakshatra and pada.
Is Sade Sati running for Karka rashi?
Karka is not in Sade Sati now. The next one begins 31 May 2032; the last one ended 9 Sept 2009.
Who is the lord of Karka rashi?
Moon (चंद्र) rules Karka. It is a water sign of chara nature, symbolised by the crab. Devotees traditionally worship Shiva for this rashi, because the Moon rules Karka, and Shiva wears the Moon on his head.
Is Karka the same as Cancer?
They share the same 30-degree segment of the zodiac, but Vedic astrology measures it against the fixed stars (sidereal), about 24 degrees behind the Western (tropical) zodiac. So most people's Vedic rashi, which is based on the Moon, differs from their Western Sun sign. Use our rashi calculator to find your Moon sign.