Hi Ernst,
Can you explain why Me is the primary karaka in the D24 and not Ju? Isn't Ju a natural karaka planet for understanding in general?
My notion of this is Mercury's particular devotion to equanimity which engenders understanding in the sense having the most accurate point of view disregarding of any particular belief or notion of purpose, goodness or propriety. Wasn't it Mercury who demanded the truth from Tara even if it implicated him as illegitimate? So then, Mercury has the power to go beyond beliefs and obtain true understanding devoid of polarities (Mercury's neuter afterall) in the varga of the perfected knowledge, "Siddhamsa". Jupiter has great wisdom, creativity and understanding but has a tendency to takes sides with "righteousness" in one form or the other which will skew the perception some what.
Me is db in the 12th sign Pisces, whereas Ju rules it. Ju represents the Guru who embodies perfection of the Self and wisdom. A true Guru is one with God. To me, true understanding is an intuitive understanding, which is much more Jupiterian.
How I see this is that Me rules over the scientific, practical knowledge of the world in the D24. Plus you could say the higher, more Gyanic side of Me of discrimination.
Ju would be the karaka for general spiritual knowledge and wisdom in D24.
Ketu the karaka for liberation in D24.
Maybe Ernst can chime in.
From the Concrete Chart and Varga Analysis course it says this concerning D24 "Veda refers to the four classical Sanskrit texts and means “true knowledge.” This Varga thus includes not only knowledge of things in this world such as science, mathematics, etc. but more important it has to do with divine knowledge and liberation upon which one’s understanding and true knowledge become perfected. The primary Graha to be examined is Mercury."
The points you bring up are interesting with Me DB in the natural 12th house and yet the 12th bhava is the second most important factor in D24 after Me.
In the course Ernsts talks about the biggest roadblock to understanding is identifying with knowledge & the self. Getting out of the way of the truth and that Mercury's connection to Vishnu allows for the greatest understanding of everything is Vishnu.
There is a video just for the Siddamsa in the course.
Interesting. I recieved a reading from one of Ernst recommended astrologers.
And they said that in D24, the atmakaraka counted forwards or backwards 12 is the spot for the ruling Deity(s).
I was not too excited about Vishnu-mercury being mine there (although I may need to be exact on the second of my birth for knowing? I had moon there too at first but it changed if I jumped back 30 seconds. Mercury much more likely as it stayed).
..But after reading this sure I'm smiling for Mercury.
That's Jaimini technique to determine the deity for moksha. Also look at D9 then D1 in the same way for moksha deities.