Introduction
Karka is the fourth sign of the zodiac, covering 90°–120° of the sidereal zodiac. Karka's symbol is the crab, and tradition links it with home, belonging and depth of feeling. Its lord is the Moon, its element is water, its nature is movable, and it is an even (female) sign. It holds Punarvasu 4, Pushya 1,2,3,4 and Ashlesha 1,2,3,4 (nakshatra padas).
In North India, when someone says "my rashi is Karka", they mean the Moon sign (chandra rashi): the sign the Moon was in at birth. The first letter of a name, daily rashifal and kundli matching are all read from this Moon sign.
Note that sidereal Karka does not match the Western Cancer dates; the FAQ below explains why.
Nature
As a water sign of movable nature ruled by the Moon, Karka is linked by tradition with a feeling, sensitive and caring temperament. The Moon is held to signify the mind, and Karka is its own sign, so people with the Moon here are thought to read others' moods quickly. Family, old memories and their own home give them comfort.
Still, this is only a tendency, not a verdict on any person. Two people with the same Moon sign can be very different, because the lagna, nakshatra, houses and dasha all shape the picture.
Strengths and things to keep in mind
Strengths: tradition associates this sign with warmth, sensing what others need, holding family and friendships together, and a good memory.
Things to keep in mind: For a sensitive mind, a small remark can linger, and moods can shift quickly. Putting feelings into words, and keeping some time for oneself, helps.
Both sides belong to the same temperament; neither is a flaw.
Work and interests
Tradition associates Karka with themes such as work that involves care, nourishment or understanding people's feelings: teaching and work with children, food, hospitality, service and counselling, home and property, and fields that preserve history or tradition. This does not fix one profession; for work, the 10th house, the dasha and the whole chart are read.
Relationships
Tradition sees Karka as a deep, protective way of connecting. People with this Moon sign are thought to look after their own with great care and to value emotional trust above all. Saying clearly what one feels works better than leaving the other person to guess. The real picture of relationships comes from the 7th house, its lord, Venus and the whole chart, not from the sign alone.
When Karka is the lagna
The lagna and the Moon sign are different things. The lagna is the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. It changes about every two hours, so it needs an accurate birth time and place, while the Moon stays in one sign for about two and a quarter days.
When Karka is the lagna, the Moon becomes the lagna lord, and its placement matters for the whole chart. Tradition links a Karka lagna with a feeling, caring outlook that puts family first. Your Moon sign and lagna can be the same or different; each says its own thing.
Name syllables
In the avakahada chakra tradition, Karka has nine name syllables: ही, हु, हे, हो, डा, डी, डू, डे, डो. Each belongs to one nakshatra pada:
- Punarvasu: pada 4: ही
- Pushya: pada 1: हु, pada 2: हे, pada 3: हो, pada 4: डा
- Ashlesha: pada 1: डी, pada 2: डू, pada 3: डे, pada 4: डो
At a naming, the syllable is chosen from the nakshatra pada of the Moon at birth. Use the name-letter calculator to find yours.