Khavedamsa D40 Chart Explained

The Khavedamsa, or D40, is one of the fine divisional charts in Parashara's set of sixteen. The name is a number written in the old word-code: kha (sky) stands for zero and veda for four, read right to left as 40. It is also called Chatvarimsamsa, "the fortieth part". Parashara gives this chart to shubha and ashubha, the favourable and unfavourable effects that run through a life.

How the Khavedamsa is calculated

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

• Odd signs (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius): count the parts from Aries.
• Even signs (Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces): count the parts from Libra.

Forty parts make three full rounds of the zodiac and four signs more.

Four parts make exactly 3 degrees, so the part number is easy to find: divide the degrees within the sign by 0.75 and take the next whole number.

Parts	Degrees	Parts	Degrees
1 to 10	0°00' to 7°30'	21 to 30	15°00' to 22°30'
11 to 20	7°30' to 15°00'	31 to 40	22°30' to 30°00'

Worked examples

Sun at 10° Leo.

• 10 / 0.75 = 13.33, so the Sun is in the 14th part (9°45' to 10°30').
• Leo is odd, so count from Aries. Twelve parts complete one round; the 14th part is the 2nd sign from Aries, which is Taurus.
• The Sun is in Taurus in D40.

Moon at 4° Cancer.

• 4 / 0.75 = 5.33, so the Moon is in the 6th part (3°45' to 4°30').
• Cancer is even, so count from Libra: Libra (1), Scorpio (2), Sagittarius (3), Capricorn (4), Aquarius (5), Pisces (6).
• The Moon is in Pisces in D40.

Saturn at 20° Capricorn.

• 20 / 0.75 = 26.67, so Saturn is in the 27th part (19°30' to 20°15').
• Capricorn is even, so count from Libra. Twenty-four parts complete two rounds; the 27th part is the 3rd sign from Libra, which is Sagittarius.
• Saturn is in Sagittarius in D40.

Lagna at 29° Gemini.

• 29 / 0.75 = 38.67, so the Lagna is in the 39th part (28°30' to 29°15').
• Gemini is odd, so count from Aries. Thirty-six parts complete three rounds; the 39th part is the 3rd sign from Aries, which is Gemini.
• The D40 Lagna is Gemini.

A quick check: the first part of every odd sign is Aries and its last part is Cancer; the first part of every even sign is Libra and its last part is Capricorn.

What the D40 shows

Parashara's own description is brief: the D40 is for the good and the difficult effects in life. Two readings have grown from that line.

• The general balance of ease and effort. Planets that are well placed in the D40 are taken to deliver their good results more smoothly; planets poorly placed there ask for more work.
• The maternal line. Many later teachers read the D40 for what a person receives through the mother's family: habits, values, talents and the merit of earlier generations. In this view it is paired with the D45, read for the father's line. This is a tradition of interpretation, not something stated by Parashara, and it is best treated as a secondary use.

The D40 does not predict specific misfortunes. "Inauspicious" in the classical texts means that a result comes with delay or needs more effort, and that is how it should be explained.

How to read it, step by step

1. Use it as a confirming chart. The D40 is seldom read on its own. Its main role is in strength assessment: a planet that keeps a good sign across many divisional charts, including the fine ones, is dependable.

2. The D40 Lagna and its lord. If the birth time is exact, a D40 Lagna lord in its own or exalted sign, or in a kendra or trikona of the D40, supports the smooth working of the whole chart.

3. Each planet's sign in the D40. Note which planets fall in their own, exalted or friendly signs. These planets carry their rasi-chart promise well. Pay special attention to the planets that are functional benefics for the Lagna, since their condition matters most.

4. The Moon and the 4th lord. For the maternal-line reading, look at the Moon, the 4th house of the D40 and the place of the rasi 4th lord in the D40. Compare with the Dwadasamsa D12, the main chart for parents. The D12 always comes first; the D40 only adds shading.

5. Timing. The dasha of a planet that is strong in the rasi chart, the Navamsa and the D40 tends to run smoothly. Where the D40 placement is weak, the same dasha may still give its results, with more effort along the way.

Reading a mixed picture

Suppose Jupiter is in its own sign in the rasi chart but in an unfriendly sign in the D40. Jupiter's promise stands, since the rasi chart is the foundation. The D40 only suggests that its benefits arrive with some delay or after persistence. No single fine division can overturn the birth chart.

Birth time matters

The Lagna takes about two hours to cross a sign, so each of the 40 parts rises for only about 3 minutes. This is finer than the Bhamsa D27 at four and a half minutes and far finer than the Shodasamsa D16 at seven and a half. Most recorded birth times are not accurate to three minutes, so for most charts the D40 houses should be left alone.

The planets are another matter. Saturn, Jupiter, Rahu and Ketu stay in one D40 part for many hours or days, and the Sun for about 18 hours, so their D40 signs are reliable. The Moon crosses a part in roughly an hour and a half, and Mercury and Venus are usually safe as well.

Summary

The Khavedamsa divides each sign into 40 parts of 45 minutes of arc, counted from Aries for odd signs and from Libra for even signs. Parashara reads it for the favourable and unfavourable effects in life, and later tradition adds the legacy of the mother's line. Use it mainly to confirm the strength of planets seen in the rasi chart and Navamsa, and trust the planets' signs rather than the houses unless the birth time is exact to the minute.

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