Karka Rashi (Cancer)

Ruling planet

Moon

Element

Water

Nature

Movable (Chara)

Symbol

crab

Direction

north

Nakshatras

Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha

Cancer as the rising sign

With Cancer rising you tend to lead with feeling and care, and you notice what others need. Home and close bonds matter; setting gentle limits protects your own energy.

The nature of Cancer

Cancer is a Water sign of Movable (Chara) nature, ruled by Moon. Its symbol is the crab, and classically it relates to the chest/heart and the north.

Karka personality

Karka people are caring, intuitive and protective. Ruled by the Moon, they are deeply attached to home and family and remember feelings long after events. Moodiness and over-sensitivity are their usual challenges.

Karka at work

Nursing, hospitality, food, real estate, teaching, counselling and public service suit their nurturing instincts.

Karka in relationships

They are devoted partners who need emotional security. Vrishchika and Meena share their watery temperament.

Karka and health

Karka governs the chest, breasts and stomach; tradition advises care with digestion and fluid balance.

Planets exalted or debilitated in Cancer

Jupiter is exalted here and tends to give its best results. Mars is debilitated here and needs support from the rest of the chart.

Nakshatras inside Cancer

The Nakshatras that fall in Cancer are Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha. Your Moon's exact star inside the sign refines everything said about Cancer.

Moon sign, rising sign and Sun sign

In Indian astrology the Rashi usually means the Moon sign, the sign the Moon occupied at birth, and it is the sign used for daily horoscopes, Sade Sati and marriage matching. The rising sign (Lagna) describes body and temperament, and the Sun sign describes purpose. All three can be different, and the sidereal zodiac used here usually places them one sign earlier than Western astrology.

Using Cancer in matching and timing

Rasi Porutham compares the two Moon signs in a match by counting from one to the other; some counts are considered harmonious and others need care. Saturn's transit over the sign before, over and after Cancer forms Sade Sati for people with this Moon sign. The compatibility table on this page links to a detailed page for every pairing.

Common questions