Akshavedamsa D45 Chart Explained

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The Akshavedamsa, or D45, is the second finest of Parashara's sixteen divisional charts. The name is a number in the old word-code: aksha stands for five and veda for four, read right to left as 45. Parashara says of this chart, and of the D60 after it, that they are to be looked at for all indications. In practice the D45 is read for a person's character and conduct, and as a fine test of each planet's strength.

How the Akshavedamsa is calculated

Each sign of 30 degrees is divided into 45 parts of 0°40'. The starting point depends on whether the sign is movable, fixed or dual:

Movable signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn): count the parts from Aries.
Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius): count the parts from Leo.
Dual signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces): count the parts from Sagittarius.

These are the same three starting signs as in the Shodasamsa D16. Forty-five parts make three rounds of the zodiac and nine signs more.

Three parts make exactly 2 degrees. To find the part number, multiply the degrees within the sign by 1.5 and take the next whole number.

Parts	Degrees
1 to 9	0°00' to 6°00'
10 to 18	6°00' to 12°00'
19 to 27	12°00' to 18°00'
28 to 36	18°00' to 24°00'
37 to 45	24°00' to 30°00'

Worked examples

Sun at 11° Aries.

11 × 1.5 = 16.5, so the Sun is in the 17th part (10°40' to 11°20').
Aries is movable, so count from Aries. Twelve parts complete one round; the 17th part is the 5th sign from Aries, which is Leo.
The Sun is in Leo in D45.

Venus at 7° Taurus.

7 × 1.5 = 10.5, so Venus is in the 11th part (6°40' to 7°20').
Taurus is fixed, so count from Leo. The 11th sign from Leo is Gemini.
Venus is in Gemini in D45.

Moon at 25° Pisces.

25 × 1.5 = 37.5, so the Moon is in the 38th part (24°40' to 25°20').
Pisces is dual, so count from Sagittarius. Thirty-six parts complete three rounds; the 38th part is the 2nd sign from Sagittarius, which is Capricorn.
The Moon is in Capricorn in D45.

Lagna at 1° Scorpio.

1 × 1.5 = 1.5, so the Lagna is in the 2nd part (0°40' to 1°20').
Scorpio is fixed, so count from Leo: Leo (1), Virgo (2).
The D45 Lagna is Virgo.

A quick check: a movable sign runs from Aries to Sagittarius, a fixed sign from Leo to Aries, and a dual sign from Sagittarius to Leo. Every sign therefore begins and ends in a fire sign.

What the D45 shows

Character and conduct. Parashara connects the lords of the D45 parts with Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu in rotation, the three principles of creating, releasing and sustaining. From this, the chart came to be read for the moral tone of a life: how a person behaves when no one is watching.
Planetary strength. A planet that keeps a good sign even in the D45 is strong in a deep and lasting way.
The paternal line. Later teachers pair the D45 with the Khavedamsa D40: the D40 for what is received through the mother's family and the D45 for what is received through the father's. Parashara does not state this, so treat it as a secondary reading.

The D45 is not a tool for judging people. A chart shows inclinations, and character is formed by choices. The useful question to ask of this chart is where a person's best qualities lie and how to bring them forward.

How to read it, step by step

1. Use it to confirm, not to begin. Read the rasi chart and the Navamsa first. The D45 is consulted afterwards to see whether a planet's promise holds at the finest level.

2. Each planet's sign in the D45. A planet in its own, exalted or friendly sign in the D45 expresses its better side: the Sun as integrity, the Moon as kindness, Mars as courage in a just cause, Mercury as honesty in speech and dealings, Jupiter as wisdom and generosity, Venus as fairness and affection, Saturn as duty and humility.

3. The Lagna lord and the 9th lord of the rasi chart. Note where these two fall in the D45. The Lagna lord shows the person, the 9th lord their dharma. Strength of both in the D45 is a good sign for principled conduct.

4. The D45 Lagna and its lord, only if the birth time is exact.

5. The Sun and the 9th house, for the paternal-line reading. Compare with the Dwadasamsa D12, which remains the main chart for parents.

6. Timing. A dasha lord that is strong in the rasi chart, the Navamsa and the D45 usually gives a period in which the person acts with confidence and earns respect.

Reading a mixed picture

Suppose Mercury is strong in the rasi chart, giving skill with words and numbers, but falls in an unfriendly sign in the D45. The skill is real. The D45 adds a gentle reminder to use it carefully and keep one's word. Now reverse it: Mercury is modest in the rasi chart but in its own sign in the D45. The person may not be a brilliant speaker, yet is trusted because they are straightforward.

Birth time matters

The Lagna takes about two hours to cross a sign, so each of the 45 parts rises for only about 2 minutes 40 seconds. Few birth times are recorded that precisely, so the D45 houses should normally be left alone unless the chart has been rectified.

The planets' signs are a different matter. The Sun stays in one D45 part for about 16 hours, and Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu for days. The Moon crosses a part in a little over an hour, so its D45 sign is correct for any birth time that is accurate to about a quarter of an hour, unless the Moon happens to be near the edge of a part.

Summary

The Akshavedamsa divides each sign into 45 parts of 40 minutes of arc, counted from Aries for movable signs, from Leo for fixed signs and from Sagittarius for dual signs. Parashara consults it for all indications; tradition reads it for character, conduct and the father's line. Use it to confirm the strength of planets already judged from the rasi chart and Navamsa, and rely on the planets' signs rather than the houses unless the birth time is exact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Akshavedamsa chart?

The Akshavedamsa or D45 is a divisional chart made by dividing each sign into 45 parts of 40 minutes of arc. Parashara says it is to be consulted for all indications, and it is commonly read for character and conduct.

How is the D45 chart calculated?

Each sign is divided into 45 equal parts. The parts are counted from Aries for movable signs, from Leo for fixed signs and from Sagittarius for dual signs.

What is the difference between the D40 and D45 charts?

They are a pair of fine charts used mainly to confirm planetary strength. In later tradition the D40 is linked with what comes through the mother's line and the D45 with what comes through the father's line.

How accurate must the birth time be for D45?

The D45 Lagna changes about every 2 minutes 40 seconds, so its houses need a rectified birth time. The signs of the slower planets remain reliable.