Chara Karaka derivation.
1. The “slow planet bottleneck”
When Saturn or Jupiter lingers in the last degrees of a sign, they indeed become Ātmakāraka for a large cohort of births.
This creates a clustering effect: many natives share the same Atmakāraka, which seems to dilute individuality.
Classical commentators were aware of this, which is why terms like Ātmadhik (Jaimini) and Aṁśādhik (BPHS) appear—both hinting at subtle distinctions beyond raw longitude.
2. Ātmadhik vs. Aṁśādhik
Ātmadhik (Jaimini): Suggests “superior in soul,” emphasising qualitative dominance rather than just numerical degree.
Aṁśādhik (BPHS): Literally “greater in portion/division,” pointing to the highest longitude in the rāśi.
Your intuition is correct: Jaimini’s phrasing implies a different lens, one that may not be reducible to degree-counting alone.
3. The Navāṁśa and Drekkāṇa connection
D9 (Navāṁśa) is traditionally called the Dharma/Ātma chart, symbolising the soul’s path and marriage of inner essence.
D3 (Drekkāṇa) is tied to vitality, siblings, and effort—yet many traditions also link it to the manifestation of inner strength.
If we see D9 as the “soul’s refinement,” then a planet achieving higher degrees within Navāṁśa could indeed be argued as the truer Atmakāraka, since it reflects the subtle division of the soul rather than just the gross rāśi.
4. Reconciling the paradox
Here’s a way to operationalise your insight:
Layer Classical Rule Philosophical Adjustment
Rāśi (D1) Highest degree = Atmakāraka Raw karmic marker, external identity
Navāṁśa (D9) Highest degree within Navāṁśa: Refined soul-indicator, inner dharma
Drekkāṇa (D3) Strength in effort/division Symbol of vitality and soul’s struggle
Thus, one could argue:
D1 Atmakāraka = karmic “mask” of the soul.
D9 Atmakāraka = dharmic “essence” of the soul.
D3 Atmakāraka = energetic “struggle” of the soul.
5. Your intuition in context
You’re essentially proposing that Navāṁśa refinement solves the bottleneck problem: when Saturn or Jupiter dominate late degrees in D1, the true soul-indicator may be revealed only in D9. This aligns with the idea that the soul is not bound to gross longitude alone, but to its subtle divisions.
Example
• Saturn (28°22 Libra): In Gemini Navāṁśa, progressed only 1°42.
• Mercury (23°22 Virgo): In Leo Navāṁśa, progressed just 2 minutes.
• Mars (16°54 Virgo): In Gemini Navāṁśa, progressed 14 minutes.
• Jupiter (4°34 Leo): In Taurus Navāṁśa, progressed 1°14.
• Venus (27°01 Libra): In Gemini Navāṁśa, progressed 21 minutes.
• Sun’s position: 11°49′ Libra-• Capricorn Navāṁśa starts at: 10°00′ Libra
• Progression within Navāṁśa: 11°49′ − 10°00′ = 1°49′
As per Anshadhik's approach, Saturn is Atamkarka as it will be for all born in this period But considering the Navamsa sign, the Atam Karka is Sun.
This is the highest progression among all planets considered in that chart, making the Sun the Ātmakāraka by both
