Dwadasamsa D12 Chart Explained

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The Dwadasamsa, or D12, is the divisional chart Sage Parashara gives to parents. Dwadasa means twelve: each sign is divided into twelve equal parts, so every sign contains a small zodiac of its own. It is read for the father and mother, the bond with them, and the qualities, values and circumstances a person inherits from the family line.

How the Dwadasamsa is calculated

Each sign of 30 degrees is divided into twelve parts of 2°30'. The parts are counted from the sign itself: the first part falls in the same sign, the second in the next sign, and so on.

Part	From	To	Part	From	To
1	0°00'	2°30'	7	15°00'	17°30'
2	2°30'	5°00'	8	17°30'	20°00'
3	5°00'	7°30'	9	20°00'	22°30'
4	7°30'	10°00'	10	22°30'	25°00'
5	10°00'	12°30'	11	25°00'	27°30'
6	12°30'	15°00'	12	27°30'	30°00'

The rule is the same for all twelve signs.

Worked examples

Jupiter at 1° Sagittarius. 1° is in the 1st part, so Jupiter stays in Sagittarius in D12.

Lagna at 9° Gemini. 9° is in the 4th part (7°30' to 10°00'). Count four signs from Gemini: Gemini (1), Cancer (2), Leo (3), Virgo (4). The D12 Lagna is Virgo.

Sun at 14° Leo. 14° is in the 6th part. Count six signs from Leo: Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn. The Sun is in Capricorn in D12.

Moon at 28° Pisces. 28° is in the 12th part. The twelfth sign from Pisces is Aquarius. The Moon is in Aquarius in D12.

A quick check: a planet in the first 2°30' of any sign is always in the same sign in D12, and a planet in the last 2°30' is always in the sign just before it.

What the D12 shows

Father and mother: their nature as the person experiences it, the support given and received, and the quality of the relationship.
Family roots: lineage, family traditions and the circumstances a person is born into.
Inheritance in the wide sense: not only property but also temperament, talents, values and unfinished family themes.

A principle before reading: the D12 describes the person's experience of their parents, seen from their own chart. It is not the parents' horoscope, and it should never be used to make frightening statements about a parent's health or lifespan. For questions about a parent, that parent's own chart is the right place to look.

How to read it, step by step

1. Start with the rasi chart. The Sun and the 9th house stand for the father; the Moon and the 4th house for the mother. The Sun and Moon are the natural karakas of the parents. Some traditions, especially in North India, take the 10th house for the father; decide which convention you follow and keep to it.

2. The D12 Lagna and its lord. A D12 Lagna lord in its own or exalted sign, or in a kendra or trikona of the D12, suggests a supportive family foundation.

3. The Sun and the Moon in the D12. Their signs and houses show how warmly the two parental principles work in the person's life. The Sun in a friendly sign in D12 supports a steady bond with the father; the Moon well placed supports an easy bond with the mother.

4. The 9th and 4th houses of the D12 and their lords. Benefics there, or strong lords, add to the picture.

5. The rasi 9th and 4th lords in the D12. See where these two planets fall in the D12 and how strong they are there.

6. Timing. Periods when parents and family matters come to the front are usually the dashas and sub-periods of the 9th and 4th lords, the Sun, the Moon, or the D12 Lagna lord.

Reading a mixed picture

Suppose the Sun is in an unfriendly sign in the rasi chart but in its own sign, Leo, in the D12. The D12 improves the reading: whatever distance or difference of opinion exists on the surface, the underlying bond with the father is strong, and what he passes on is valuable. The reverse case, a comfortable Sun in the rasi chart that is weak in the D12, often describes a relationship that is correct and dutiful but needs more attention to become close. Both are simply descriptions of where effort is rewarded.

The four deities

Parashara names four presiding deities, repeated three times through the twelve parts: Ganesha, the Ashwini Kumaras, Yama and Sarpa (the serpent). Parts 1, 5 and 9 belong to Ganesha, parts 2, 6 and 10 to the Ashwini Kumaras, parts 3, 7 and 11 to Yama, and parts 4, 8 and 12 to Sarpa. Some astrologers use them to describe the flavour of the D12 Lagna.

D12 in planetary strength

The Dwadasamsa is one of the seven divisions used in Saptavargaja Bala, a part of Shadbala. A planet in its own or a friendly sign in D12 gains strength there. It is also used to see whether a planet is in the same sign in several divisions, which classical texts count as a mark of quality.

Birth time matters

The Lagna takes about two hours to cross a sign, so each twelfth rises for only about 10 minutes. This makes the D12 Lagna more sensitive than the Navamsa Lagna (about 13 minutes) and far more sensitive than the D4 Chaturthamsa (about 30 minutes). If the birth time is approximate, rely on the D12 signs of the Sun, the Moon and the 9th and 4th lords, which change slowly, rather than on the D12 houses.

Summary

The Dwadasamsa divides each sign into twelve parts of 2°30', counted from the sign itself. Read the D12 Lagna, the Sun, the Moon and the 9th and 4th houses together with the same factors in the rasi chart for the theme of parents and family roots. It describes the person's own experience of that bond and the periods when it is emphasised. Use it with respect and without fear.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Dwadasamsa chart?

The Dwadasamsa or D12 chart is a divisional chart made by dividing each sign into twelve parts of 2 degrees 30 minutes. It is read for parents, the relationship with them, and what a person inherits from the family line.

How is the D12 chart calculated?

The twelve parts of a sign are counted from the sign itself. The first part stays in the same sign, the second goes to the next sign, and so on through all twelve signs.

Which houses show the father and mother in D12?

The Sun and the 9th house are read for the father, and the Moon and the 4th house for the mother. Some traditions use the 10th house for the father instead of the 9th.

How accurate must the birth time be for D12?

The D12 Lagna changes about every 10 minutes, so the houses of this chart need a birth time accurate to a few minutes. The signs of the planets in D12 are much less sensitive.