Bhamsa D27 Chart Explained

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The Bhamsa, or D27, is the divisional chart of strength and weakness. Its formal name is Saptavimsamsa, "the twenty-seventh part". Bha means star, so it is also called Nakshatramsa, because the number of parts in each sign equals the number of nakshatras. Sage Parashara gives this chart to bala and abala: where a person is naturally strong, and where they are more easily tired or discouraged.

How the Bhamsa is calculated

Each sign of 30 degrees is divided into 27 parts of 1°06'40". The starting point depends on the element of the sign:

Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): count the parts from Aries.
Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): count the parts from Cancer.
Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): count the parts from Libra.
Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): count the parts from Capricorn.

The four starting points are the four movable signs. There is a simple reason. Twenty-seven parts make two rounds of the zodiac and three signs more, so the parts of Aries end at Gemini, and the parts of Taurus must begin at Cancer. The D27 is one unbroken count from the start of Aries, going round the zodiac 27 times.

Nine parts make exactly 10 degrees, which makes the part number easy to find:

Parts	Degrees
1 to 9	0°00' to 10°00'
10 to 18	10°00' to 20°00'
19 to 27	20°00' to 30°00'

For the exact part, divide the degrees within the sign by 1.1111 (that is, multiply by 0.9) and take the next whole number.

Worked examples

Mars at 12° Aries.

12 × 0.9 = 10.8, so Mars is in the 11th part (11°06'40" to 12°13'20").
Aries is a fire sign, so count from Aries. The 11th sign from Aries is Aquarius.
Mars is in Aquarius in D27.

Sun at 5° Taurus.

5 × 0.9 = 4.5, so the Sun is in the 5th part (4°26'40" to 5°33'20").
Taurus is an earth sign, so count from Cancer: Cancer (1), Leo (2), Virgo (3), Libra (4), Scorpio (5).
The Sun is in Scorpio in D27.

Moon at 25° Gemini.

25 × 0.9 = 22.5, so the Moon is in the 23rd part (24°26'40" to 25°33'20").
Gemini is an air sign, so count from Libra. Twelve parts complete one round; the 23rd part is the 11th sign from Libra, which is Leo.
The Moon is in Leo in D27.

Lagna at 29° Scorpio.

29 × 0.9 = 26.1, so the Lagna is in the 27th and last part.
Scorpio is a water sign, so count from Capricorn. The 27th part is the 3rd sign from Capricorn, which is Pisces.
The D27 Lagna is Pisces.

A quick check: fire signs run from Aries to Gemini, earth signs from Cancer to Virgo, air signs from Libra to Sagittarius and water signs from Capricorn to Pisces.

The link with the nakshatras

A nakshatra pada is 3°20' long and gives the Navamsa sign. One D27 part is 1°06'40", exactly one third of a pada. So the D27 divides every Navamsa into three, and can be thought of as a finer reading of the star the planet stands in. This is why some astrologers look at the Moon's D27 sign when two people share the same birth star and pada but differ in temperament.

What the D27 shows

Natural strengths: the qualities a person can rely on under pressure, such as courage, patience, clear thinking or warmth.
Soft spots: the situations in which a person tires or loses heart more quickly.
Stamina and resilience in general.

The D27 is a chart of character and endurance. It should not be read as a statement about health or illness, and a "weak" planet in it is simply an area that needs more rest, practice or support.

How to read it, step by step

1. Start with the rasi chart. The Lagna and its lord show general vitality, the 3rd house courage and effort, and the Sun and Mars drive and energy. The D27 refines these.

2. The D27 Lagna and its lord. A D27 Lagna lord in its own or exalted sign, or in a kendra or trikona of the D27, shows a person who recovers well and keeps going.

3. Each planet's sign in the D27. This is the main use of the chart. A planet in its own, exalted or friendly sign in the D27 is a dependable strength:

Sun: confidence and the will to lead.
Moon: emotional steadiness.
Mars: courage and physical energy.
Mercury: quick, adaptable thinking.
Jupiter: judgement and optimism.
Venus: charm and the ability to make peace.
Saturn: patience and staying power.

A planet in its debilitation or an unfriendly sign in the D27 marks the matching quality as one that needs conscious care.

4. The rasi Lagna lord in the D27. Its strength here says much about overall resilience.

5. The 3rd, 6th and 11th houses of the D27. These growing houses show the capacity to improve with effort. Natural malefics do well in them.

6. Timing. The dasha of a planet that is strong in both the rasi chart and the D27 is usually a period of confidence and good energy. The dasha of a planet that is weak in the D27 calls for pacing oneself.

Reading a mixed picture

Suppose Mars is exalted in the rasi chart but falls in Cancer, its debilitation sign, in the D27. The person has real drive, but it comes in bursts and needs recovery time. The opposite case, an ordinary Mars that reaches Capricorn or Aries in the D27, describes quiet stamina that others tend to underestimate. The fuller, numerical picture of planetary strength comes from Shadbala; the D27 adds the human detail.

Birth time matters

The Lagna takes about two hours to cross a sign, so each of the 27 parts rises for less than four and a half minutes. That is finer than the Vimsamsa D20, whose Lagna lasts six minutes. Unless the birth time has been rectified, use the D27 signs of the planets and leave its houses aside. The slow planets and the Sun are safe; the Moon moves through one part in about two hours, so it is reliable for any reasonably recorded birth time.

Summary

The Bhamsa divides each sign into 27 parts of 1°06'40", counted from Aries for fire signs, Cancer for earth signs, Libra for air signs and Capricorn for water signs. Each part is one third of a nakshatra pada. Read the D27 Lagna lord and the sign of each planet in it to understand natural strengths and the areas that need care, and trust the planets' signs more than the houses unless the birth time is exact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Bhamsa chart?

The Bhamsa, also called Saptavimsamsa, Nakshatramsa or D27, is a divisional chart made by dividing each sign into 27 parts of 1 degree 6 minutes 40 seconds. It is read for a person's strengths and weak points.

How is the D27 chart calculated?

Each sign is divided into 27 equal parts. The parts are counted from Aries for fire signs, from Cancer for earth signs, from Libra for air signs and from Capricorn for water signs.

Why is the D27 called Nakshatramsa?

Bha and nakshatra both mean star. There are 27 nakshatras and the chart has 27 parts in each sign, and each part is exactly one third of a nakshatra pada.

How accurate must the birth time be for D27?

The D27 Lagna changes about every four and a half minutes, so the houses of this chart are usable only when the birth time has been carefully checked.