A karaka is the one that stands for a thing. In a chart, every subject of life has a planet, a house and a sign that carry it: the Moon carries the mind, Jupiter carries children, the fourth house carries home. To read a subject, you look at its karakas. These pages list what each planet, house and rashi stands for.
The twelve bhavas: the sky around you cut into twelve fields, counted from the Lagna. Each house holds one department of life, from the self and wealth through home and children, round to loss. Choose a house to read what it stands for.
Twelve fields counted from the Lagna, the Madhya Lagna at the tenth. The disc turns with the Earth's rotation.
The twelve rashis: the ecliptic cut into twelve equal signs, fixed to the stars. Each sign lends its temperament to any planet standing in it. Choose a sign to read what it stands for.
Twelve equal signs of 30° along the ecliptic, fixed to the stars. The disc turns with the sky.