Stryker Corporation (SYK) just broke something important on its chart, and if you believe in technical patterns with Sanskrit names, you're probably not going to like what comes next.

The medical device company is currently in Phase 8 of an 18-phase Adhishthana cycle on the weekly timeframe, and it just violated what's called a Cakra formation. Translation: the technical structure that was supposed to support the stock heading into a bullish Phase 9 breakout has instead crumbled beneath it. That's not ideal.

What Actually Broke Down

Let's back up. Within the Adhishthana framework, stocks typically build something called a Cakra structure between Phases 4 and 8. Think of it as a channel or arc that contains price action during consolidation, and it generally carries bullish implications. When everything goes right, the stock breaks out cleanly in Phase 9 and launches into what's known as a Himalayan Formation—basically a sustained, powerful uptrend.

Stryker started forming its Cakra back in September 2022 around the $200 level. For over two years, the stock behaved itself, trading neatly within the arc boundaries through the early part of Phase 8. Then, midway through Phase 8, something changed. The stock broke below the lower arc, triggering what the framework calls the Move of Pralaya.

According to Adhishthana: The Principles That Govern Wealth, Time & Tragedy, here's what that means: "When the underlying breaks the Cakra on the flip side, consolidation typically extends into the Guna triads. The move that follows is highly significant, and selling pressure can be extremely strong. This is called the Move of Pralaya."

And that's precisely what's unfolding now.

The Damage So Far

Since the breakdown, Stryker has dropped approximately 9%. There was a brief attempt to bounce back, but it got smacked down right at the Cakra's arc level. That failed rally actually validates the breakdown—when former support turns into resistance, it confirms the bearish shift is real.

This isn't just a wiggly line on a chart acting weird. The pattern suggests deeper issues, whether fundamental, structural, or simply a major shift in market positioning. Technical breakdowns of this magnitude often reflect something genuine happening beneath the surface.

How Long Could This Last?

Here's where it gets uncomfortable for Stryker shareholders. Because the Move of Pralaya triggered in Phase 8, this isn't a quick two-week pullback. The underperformance can stretch across multiple phases, potentially lasting until the Guna Triads kick in around Phases 14 through 16. In plain English: we could be looking at an extended period of weakness and sluggish price action.

The options market seems to agree. November expiry is showing heavy out-of-the-money call writing, which signals bearish expectations among traders. Even put writers around the $370 strike appear to be feeling pressure, suggesting limited appetite for taking the bullish side of the trade.

What Should Investors Do?

If you're holding Stryker, this might be a good time to consider hedging your exposure or trimming position size. If you've been eyeing the stock as a potential buy, maybe don't. Building fresh long positions during the early stages of a Pralaya move is basically fighting the tape.

The stock's technical pulse isn't looking healthy, and importantly, it's still in the early phase of this breakdown pattern. Selling pressure is likely to intensify before it improves. The framework suggests that when a Cakra formation fails like this, it often reflects deeper issues beyond just chart technicals—whether that's business fundamentals, sector rotation, or broader market positioning.

For now, caution makes sense. Sometimes the best trade is the one you don't make, and Stryker appears to be entering a stretch where patience will be rewarded more than aggression.