Marana Kāraka Sthāna (MKS): When Planets Feel Like They're Dying

These are the most difficult houses for each planet.

Each planet in a Vedic astrology chart has certain houses where it thrives and others where it is compromised and weakened. The most difficult placement, however, is its marana kāraka sthāna house.

In these MKS houses, the planet in question is out of its element; it struggles to express its natural energy to such a degree that it feels like it is “dying.” In fact, the phrase marana kāraka sthāna itself translates to “the place of death.”

Planetary MKS placements and their struggles

Here is a list of each MKS placement, and why the planet feels so uncomfortable in this house.

• Saturn is MKS in the 1st House – Saturn represents illness, decay, and slowness, while the 1st house represents vitality and health. This placement makes it difficult for a person to feel energetic, confident, or strong in their physical presence and decisions. It can also makes a person be pessimistic and negative.

• Ketu is MKS in the 2nd (and 4th) House – Ketu is the monk and renunciate. The 2nd house represents family, wealth, and material resources. Ketu has no interest in managing finances or family stability, making this placement feel like a burden. Monks and renunciates are not interested in establishing a household of their own, which is why Ketu is also MKS in the 4th house of home.

• Jupiter is MKS in the 3rd House – Jupiter is the priest and guru, representing wisdom and spirituality. The 3rd house is associated with socializing, sex, gambling, and nightlife – things that are completely foreign to Jupiter’s natural energy.

• Mercury is MKS in the 4th House – Mercury is playful, curious, and mobile, but the 4th house is about stability, home life, and inner peace, as well as early schooling. Mercury feels restless here, as if forced to sit still when it wants to explore.

• Venus is MKS in the 6th House – Venus is the planet of love, harmony, and sensuality. The 6th house, however, is about conflict, competition, illness, and celibacy. This makes Venus feel completely out of place, bringing struggles in relationships and pleasure.

• Mars is MKS in the 7th House – Mars is the soldier and warrior, thriving on independence and action. The 7th house is about compromise and relationships, which Mars has no interest in. This can create difficulty in partnerships.

• Mercury is also MKS in the 7th House – Mercury is playful, youthful, and curious, and not particularly fond of commitment. In the 7th house, it is forced into long-term agreements and serious relationships, which go against its natural tendencies.

• Moon is MKS in the 8th House – The Moon represents emotions and security, while the 8th house represents fear, instability, and the unknown. This placement creates heightened emotional sensitivity, vulnerability and difficulty feeling safe.

• Rahu is MKS in the 9th House – The 9th house is about faith, philosophy, and learning from teachers, but Rahu is rebellious and dislikes being confined to traditional belief systems, or accept that a teacher may have more wisdom and knowledge than he does. This is like an atheist being forced to sit through religious rituals.

• Sun is MKS in the 12th House – The Sun represents self-expression and visibility, while the 12th house is about seclusion, loss, and hidden places like hospitals and prisons. The Sun struggles to shine when placed in total darkness.

Note: no planets are MKS in the 5th, 10th, or 11th houses.

Not all MKS planets are equal

Having a planet in MKS does not automatically mean disaster. The strength and support a planet receives from other placements makes a big difference.

For example, an MKS Moon in the 8th house that is exalted or aspected by Jupiter will handle its emotional sensitivity and vulnerability much better than a debilitated Moon receiving aspects from Saturn. If an MKS planet is in its own sign (or exalted), it will still struggle, but it has more innate inner resources to cope, particularly if it is a benefic planet.

You also won’t feel the MKS effect in every part of your life. MKS planets get triggered when engaging in activities related to their significations. For example, if the Sun is MKS, taking on a leadership role or being in the limelight can feel uncomfortable. If Venus is MKS, you may have conflict in romantic relationships, artistic expression or friendships with women. If Mercury is MKS in the 4th, attending school as a child may have been particularly difficult.

House rulership dilemma

However, the biggest impact of an MKS planet is related to the house(s) it rules in your chart: in other words, the houses in Virgo and Gemini if Mercury is MKS, those in Libra and Taurus if Venus is MKS, and so on. In this case, the MKS planet causes suffering and struggles related to what that house stands for.

For example, if your Lagna Lord is MKS, making decisions may feel unbearable. If your 2nd house lord is MKS, managing finances or dealing with family can feel draining. If your 10th lord is MKS, you feel like you’re dying at work. If your 9th lord is MKS, you may struggle with teachers, religion, or your relationship with your father.

Remedies for MKS Planets

Although the best remedies for MKS planets depend on the individual chart, these two mantra remedies can bring healing and ease suffering to anyone who has a planet in this challenging position.