Core concept
Karaka
Karaka is a 'significator' — a planet naturally associated with a particular person or area of life, such as the Sun with the father, the Moon with the mother and mind, or Venus with the spouse. A karaka is read together with the house and house lord for the same theme.

Related terms
- Graha
Graha is Sanskrit for 'planet', but the nine Grahas of Vedic astrology include the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu, which are mathematical points rather than celestial bodies. The nine are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.
- Bhava
Bhava is a house in Vedic astrology — one of the twelve divisions of the birth chart, each governing a set of life areas such as self, wealth, siblings, home, children, work or marriage. Kundli Saathi counts houses in the whole-sign system from the Lagna.