Makara (Capricorn) in Vedic Astrology: Complete Guide to the Tenth Rashi

Quick Reference

Attribute	Value
Sanskrit Name	Makara (मकर)
English Name	Capricorn
Position	10th sign (270°-300°)
Ruler	Saturn (Shani)
Element	Earth (Prithvi Tattva)
Modality	Cardinal/Movable (Chara)
Gender	Feminine (Stri)
Body Part	Knees
Direction	South
Color	Variegated
Guna	Tamasic
Classification	Quadruped (1st half) / Footless-Aquatic (2nd half)
Rising Type	Prishthodaya (Back-rising)

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Introduction

Makara (Capricorn) stands as the tenth sign of the Vedic zodiac—the zenith of worldly achievement where discipline, structure, and karmic effort reach their apex. As Saturn’s earth sign, Capricorn represents the material expression of time’s lessons, the rewards of sustained effort, and the structure that supports lasting success.

In Jyotish, Makara holds profound significance as the sign where Mars is exalted and Jupiter is debilitated—a polarity that emphasizes action over faith, karma over grace, disciplined effort over optimistic expansion.

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Classical Description

The ancient sages provided detailed characterizations of Makara’s nature:

Capricorn is lorded by Saturn, has predominance of Tamoguna, is an earthy sign, represents the southern direction, is strong in nights, rises with back, has a large body, its complexion is variegated, resorts to both forests and lands, its first half is quadruped and second half footless moving in water

This comprehensive portrait reveals:

• Saturn-lorded: Discipline, time, karma, restriction
• Tamasic guna: Dense, material, worldly focus
• Earthy element: Practical, grounded, substantial
• South direction: Associated with Yama, death, and endings
• Night-strong (Nishabhali): Gains power during nocturnal hours
• Prishthodaya (back-rising): Rises with its back, instinctive nature
• Large body: Substantial, imposing presence
• Variegated color: Complex, multi-faceted appearance
• Dual terrain: Forests, lands, and waters
• Dual classification: Quadruped first half, footless-aquatic second half

Capricorn produces natives troubled by windy diseases, who have knowledge of Sastras, Vedas, fine arts, music

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Core Nature and Qualities

Makara represents the achieving principle in the zodiac—the force that builds structures, climbs mountains, and accomplishes lasting works through patient effort. As a feminine earth sign with cardinal quality, Capricorn initiates material achievement with quiet determination.

The Saturn Connection

Saturn as ruler bestows:

• Discipline and structure: Systematic approach to goals
• Patience and persistence: Long-term orientation
• Karmic awareness: Understanding of cause and effect
• Material mastery: Skill in worldly affairs
• Time consciousness: Awareness of mortality and legacy

The Knees of Kalapurusha

As the knee region of the Cosmic Being, Capricorn governs:

• Support and structure: The joints that enable standing
• Flexibility under pressure: Ability to bend without breaking
• Movement and progress: Enabling forward motion
• Humility: The capacity to kneel

The Sea-Goat Symbolism

The Makara—half goat, half fish—represents:

• Dual mastery: Success on land (material) and in water (emotional/spiritual)
• Adaptability: Navigating different environments
• Depth beneath surface: Hidden dimensions beneath worldly success
• Transformation: The journey from earthly to aquatic realms

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Planetary Dignities

Capricorn serves as the stage for a significant polarity—Mars exalted where Jupiter is debilitated—emphasizing karma over grace.

Mars’ Exaltation (Uccha)

Mars reaches its exaltation in Capricorn, with the deepest point at 28 degrees. Mars finds supreme expression in Capricorn because:

• Disciplined action: Mars’ energy channeled through Saturn’s structure
• Sustained effort: Impulsive energy becomes persistent work
• Strategic warfare: Aggression becomes calculated planning
• Karmic accomplishment: Effort yields lasting results

Mars at 28° Capricorn achieves maximum productive power—the warrior who becomes the builder, the fighter who constructs empires.

Jupiter’s Debilitation (Neecha)

Jupiter reaches its debilitation in Capricorn, with the deepest point at 5 degrees. Jupiter struggles in Capricorn because:

• Expansion restricted: Saturn’s limits constrain Jupiterian growth
• Faith challenged: Material focus undermines optimism
• Grace supplanted: Karma replaces divine favor
• Teaching constrained: Wisdom limited by practicality

Planet	Dignity	Degrees	Significance
Mars	Exaltation	28°	Disciplined action succeeds
Jupiter	Debilitation	5°	Faith challenged by materialism
Saturn	Own Sign	0° - 30°	Full karmic authority

The Mars-Jupiter Polarity

This dignity pattern teaches a profound lesson:

In Capricorn’s realm, effort (Mars) achieves what faith (Jupiter) cannot.

Mars Exalted	Jupiter Debilitated
Action succeeds	Faith struggles
Discipline rewarded	Optimism challenged
Karma manifests	Grace limited
Effort produces	Expansion constrained

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Cosmic Correspondences

Beyond basic characteristics, classical texts assign specific cosmic mappings to Makara:

Correspondence	Value	Significance
Direction	South	Yama, endings, karma
Rising Type	Prishthodaya	Back-first, instinctive
Day/Night	Nocturnal strength	Power at night
Guna	Tamas	Dense, material
Terrain	Forests, lands, waters	Multi-environment
Realm	Suvarloka	Celestial tier

Capricorn Ascendant Characteristics

When Makara (Capricorn) is rising, the person will be weak in the lower limbs, will have exceeding strength or courage, will carry out the task he has undertaken, will be indolent, will be attached to old women of the prohibited class, will be a religious hypocrite, will be fortunate, will be always on his legs, will suffer from wind-disease and will be devoid of all shame

Key Capricorn Ascendant traits from classical sources:

• Physical: Weak lower limbs, but overall strength
• Character: Exceeding courage, carries out undertaken tasks
• Nature: Fortunate, always active (“on his legs”)
• Challenges: Indolence, wind diseases
• Shadow: Religious hypocrisy, unconventional attachments

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Nakshatras in Makara

Three lunar mansions span Capricorn, each contributing unique qualities:

Uttara Ashadha (26°40’ Sagittarius - 10° Capricorn)

The latter three-quarters of Uttara Ashadha (0° - 10° Capricorn) fall within Makara.

Attribute	Value
Ruling Planet	Sun (Surya)
Deity	Vishve Devas (Universal Gods)
Symbol	Elephant’s Tusk
Quality	Final victory, leadership, universal appeal

Uttara Ashadha in Capricorn combines solar authority with Saturnine discipline—leadership through sustained effort, victory through persistence.

Shravana (10° - 23°20’ Capricorn)

The “listening” nakshatra falls entirely within Capricorn—the ear of the cosmos.

Attribute	Value
Ruling Planet	Moon (Chandra)
Deity	Vishnu (Preserver)
Symbol	Ear / Three Footprints
Quality	Listening, learning, preservation

Shravana in Capricorn creates exceptional:

• Receptive learning: Listening as the path to mastery
• Traditional knowledge: Preserving ancient wisdom
• Organizational skill: Vishnu’s preserving function
• Connection to fame: Three footprints spanning the cosmos

Dhanishtha (23°20’ Capricorn - 6°40’ Aquarius)

The first half of Dhanishtha (23°20’ - 30° Capricorn) resides in Makara.

Attribute	Value
Ruling Planet	Mars (Mangala)
Deity	Vasus (Eight Elemental Gods)
Symbol	Drum / Flute
Quality	Wealth, music, rhythm, abundance

Dhanishtha in Capricorn blends Mars’ exalted energy with Saturnine structure—rhythm as discipline, music as organized sound, wealth through sustained effort.

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Significations and Terrain

Classical texts associate Makara with specific environments, beings, and activities:

Places and Environments

• Mountains: High, difficult terrain
• Government buildings: Centers of authority
• Corporate offices: Places of organized work
• Forests and lands: Wild and cultivated areas
• Water margins: Where land meets sea (sea-goat symbolism)

Living Beings

• Goats and deer: Quadruped mountain creatures
• Sea creatures: Fish, aquatic beings
• Elders: Those who embody time’s wisdom
• Authority figures: Those in positions of power

Professions and Activities

• Government service: Public administration
• Management: Organizational leadership
• Construction: Building lasting structures
• Mining: Extracting earth’s resources
• Traditional crafts: Time-honored skills
• Music: Especially percussion (Dhanishtha)

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The Dual Nature

Capricorn’s classification as quadruped (first half) and footless-aquatic (second half) reveals profound symbolism:

Half	Degrees	Nature	Expression
First Half	0° - 15°	Quadruped	Earthly, climbing, material
Second Half	15° - 30°	Footless/Aquatic	Spiritual, flowing, transcendent

This duality manifests as:

• Material + Spiritual: Worldly success with inner depth
• Climbing + Flowing: Ascending mountains, navigating waters
• Structure + Surrender: Building systems, releasing control
• Land + Sea: Mastering multiple environments

The sea-goat symbol captures this perfectly—the creature that climbs the highest peaks and swims the deepest waters.

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Saturn’s Two Signs

Saturn rules both Capricorn (earth) and Aquarius (air), with different expressions:

Saturn’s Sign	Element	Expression
Capricorn	Earth	Material discipline, worldly achievement, karmic structure
Aquarius	Air	Mental discipline, humanitarian service, detachment

In Capricorn, Saturn focuses on:

• Building tangible structures
• Achieving worldly success
• Paying karmic debts
• Establishing lasting legacy

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Summary

Makara (Capricorn) represents the zodiac’s supreme domain of worldly achievement, disciplined effort, and karmic accomplishment. As Saturn’s earth sign, Capricorn offers the structure and patience necessary for lasting success.

The cardinal earth nature creates initiative in material matters—ambitious pursuit of tangible goals through sustained effort. The three nakshatras—Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, and Dhanishtha—each contribute unique qualities from solar leadership to lunar receptivity to Martian rhythm.

The Mars-Jupiter polarity defines Capricorn’s essential teaching—in this realm, effort succeeds where faith alone cannot. Disciplined action (Mars exalted) achieves what optimistic expansion (Jupiter debilitated) merely hopes for.

For the Vedic astrologer, understanding Capricorn means appreciating the power of persistent effort, the virtue of disciplined structure, and the significance of karma as the path to lasting accomplishment.

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Classical Sources Referenced

• Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS): Chapters 4, 46
• Jataka Parijata: Chapters 1, 8
• Saravali: Chapter 48
• Phaladeepika: Chapter 9

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Related Articles

Zodiac Series

• Dwadasha Rashi: Complete Guide to the 12 Zodiac Signs
• Dhanu (Sagittarius): The Ninth Sign
• Kumbha (Aquarius): The Eleventh Sign
• Karka (Cancer): The Opposite Sign

Planetary Guides

• Saturn (Shani): The Ruler of Capricorn
• Mars (Mangala): Exalted in Capricorn
• Jupiter (Guru): Debilitated in Capricorn

Nakshatra Guides

• Navagraha: The Nine Planets