Rashi 4 of 12
Karka (Cancer)
Protective, intuitive and deeply felt: the rashi of home, mother and memory.
Rashi traits describe tendencies, not fixed fate. Your full kundli, lagna and dasha say much more about you.
Nature
The Karka temperament
Karka is a movable water sign ruled by Chandra, and its world turns on feeling and belonging. It remembers how people made it feel and takes care of the people it calls its own.
Guru is exalted in Karka, blessing it with kindness and a nurturing wisdom. Its challenge is the crab's shell: a tendency to withdraw when hurt instead of saying so.
- Western sign
- Cancer
- Symbol
- the crab
- Element
- Water (Jal)
- Quality
- Chara (movable)
- Lord
- Chandra (the Moon)
- Nakshatras
- the last quarter of Punarvasu, Pushya and Ashlesha
- Sun in this rashi
- about 16 July to 16 August
- Lord's day
- Monday
Strengths
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
- Care for family and home
- Strong intuition
- Loyalty to people and traditions
What to watch
- Moodiness that follows the Moon
- Taking things personally
- Holding on to the past
- Overprotecting others
Karka in love
Karka loves with devotion and wants a home, not just a relationship. It needs reassurance and gentleness, and gives the same back many times over.
Love astrology →Karka at work
Suits caregiving and medicine, hospitality and food, teaching young children, real estate, history, and work that looks after people.
Career astrology →Tradition
A simple practice for Karka
Chandra rules Karka. Traditionally, people strengthen a sign's lord on its day, Monday, with its mantra: Om Somaya Namah. Keep it simple and regular; no purchase is needed.
Compatibility
Karka with every rashi
Read by tattva, the classical element relationship. Your moon signs and full charts say more.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What are the dates for Karka rashi?
In Vedic astrology your rashi is usually your moon sign, which has no fixed dates: the Moon changes sign every two and a half days. The Sun passes through sidereal Karka about 16 July to 16 August. A free kundli tells you your moon sign exactly.
Which planet rules Karka?
Chandra (the Moon). Its placement in your chart says a lot about how Karka expresses itself for you.
Which nakshatras fall in Karka?
The last quarter of Punarvasu, Pushya and Ashlesha.
Is Karka the same as Cancer?
They share a symbol and meaning, but Vedic Karka is measured against the stars and sits about 24 degrees behind tropical Cancer. Many people who read as Cancer in a Western horoscope have a different Vedic rashi.
All rashis
The twelve rashi guides
Related
Keep exploring
Know your real rashi
Your moon sign, lagna and nakshatra, from your exact birth details.