Shodasamsa D16 Chart Explained

Share this post

The Shodasamsa, or D16, is the divisional chart of comforts. Shodasa means sixteen: each sign is divided into sixteen equal parts. Sage Parashara gives this chart to vahana sukha, the happiness that comes from vehicles and conveyances, and by extension to the comforts and luxuries a person enjoys. It is also called Kalamsa.

The 4th house of the birth chart already speaks about home, vehicles and peace of mind. The D16 looks at one part of that house more closely, in the same way that the Chaturthamsa D4 looks more closely at property and fixed assets.

How the Shodasamsa is calculated

Each sign of 30 degrees is divided into 16 parts of 1°52'30". Where the count begins 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.

All three starting points are fire signs. Since there are 16 parts and 12 signs, the count goes once round the zodiac and four signs further.

To find the part number, divide the degrees within the sign by 1.875 and take the next whole number.

Parts	Degrees	Parts	Degrees
1 to 4	0°00' to 7°30'	9 to 12	15°00' to 22°30'
5 to 8	7°30' to 15°00'	13 to 16	22°30' to 30°00'

Worked examples

Venus at 10° Taurus.

10 / 1.875 = 5.33, so Venus is in the 6th part (9°22'30" to 11°15').
Taurus is fixed, so count from Leo: Leo (1), Virgo (2), Libra (3), Scorpio (4), Sagittarius (5), Capricorn (6).
Venus is in Capricorn in D16.

Moon at 20° Aries.

20 / 1.875 = 10.67, so the Moon is in the 11th part (18°45' to 20°37'30").
Aries is movable, so count from Aries. The 11th sign from Aries is Aquarius.
The Moon is in Aquarius in D16.

Jupiter at 28° Gemini.

28 / 1.875 = 14.93, so Jupiter is in the 15th part (26°15' to 28°07'30").
Gemini is dual, so count from Sagittarius. Twelve parts complete one round; the 15th part is the 3rd sign from Sagittarius, which is Aquarius.
Jupiter is in Aquarius in D16.

Lagna at 3° Scorpio.

3 / 1.875 = 1.6, so the Lagna is in the 2nd part.
Scorpio is fixed, so count from Leo: Leo (1), Virgo (2).
The D16 Lagna is Virgo.

A quick check: the first part of a movable sign is Aries and its last part is Cancer; a fixed sign runs from Leo to Scorpio; a dual sign runs from Sagittarius to Pisces.

What the D16 shows

Vehicles and travel comfort: the conveyances a person owns or uses, and the ease they bring.
Comforts and luxuries: the furnishings of life beyond bare need.
Inner contentment: whether a person can actually enjoy what they have. Classical authors stress this side. A chart can show many possessions and little peace, or few possessions and a contented mind.

The D16 describes a leaning and a timing. It is not a promise of a particular purchase, and it should not be used to forecast accidents or losses. Care on the road is a matter of attention, not of a chart.

How to read it, step by step

1. Start with the rasi chart. Look at the 4th house, its lord, and Venus, the natural karaka of vehicles. The D16 only refines what they promise.

2. The D16 Lagna and its lord. A D16 Lagna lord in its own or exalted sign, or in a kendra or trikona of the D16, supports a comfortable life and the ability to enjoy it.

3. Venus in the D16. Venus in its own sign (Taurus, Libra), in exaltation (Pisces) or in a friendly sign strengthens the promise of conveyances and refinement. Venus in a difficult sign suggests that comforts come with more effort, or matter less to the person.

4. The rasi 4th lord in the D16. Note the sign and house where this planet falls in the D16. A 4th lord that is strong in both charts is a firm indication.

5. The 4th house of the D16. Benefics there, or a strong 4th lord of the D16, add to contentment. Saturn there often shows durable, practical choices rather than display.

6. The Moon. Because the D16 is also about peace of mind, the Moon's place in it is worth a look. A well-placed Moon helps a person feel at ease whatever they own.

7. Timing. Vehicles and major comforts are usually acquired in the dashas and sub-periods of the 4th lord, Venus, planets in the 4th house, or the D16 Lagna lord.

Reading a mixed picture

Suppose the 4th lord of the birth chart is in its own sign, but falls in its debilitation sign in the D16. The reading: comforts are available, yet the person may not take much pleasure in them, or may change vehicles often. The reverse case, an ordinary 4th lord that becomes strong in the D16, describes someone who gets real satisfaction from modest means.

Birth time matters

The Lagna takes about two hours to cross a sign, so each of the 16 parts rises for only about 7.5 minutes. If the birth time is rounded to the nearest quarter hour, the D16 Lagna may be wrong. In that case rely on the D16 signs of Venus, the Moon and the 4th lord, and leave the D16 houses aside.

D16 among the other vargas

Parashara's sixteen divisional charts each take one area of life. The D4 covers property, the D16 the comforts of daily living, and the Siddhamsa D24 learning. In the classical strength scheme that uses all sixteen charts, the D16 carries four times the weight of most of the other higher divisions, which shows how much importance the tradition gave to a contented mind.

Summary

The Shodasamsa divides each sign into 16 parts of 1°52'30", counted from Aries for movable signs, from Leo for fixed signs and from Sagittarius for dual signs. Read the D16 Lagna lord, Venus, the Moon and the birth chart's 4th lord in it for vehicles, comforts and contentment. Its Lagna changes every seven and a half minutes, so trust the planets' signs more than the houses unless the birth time is exact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Shodasamsa chart?

The Shodasamsa, also called Kalamsa or D16, is a divisional chart made by dividing each sign into 16 parts of 1 degree 52 minutes 30 seconds. It is read for vehicles, comforts and inner contentment.

How is the D16 chart calculated?

Each sign is divided into 16 equal parts. The parts are counted from Aries for movable signs, from Leo for fixed signs and from Sagittarius for dual signs.

Which planet matters most in the D16 chart?

Venus, the natural significator of vehicles and comforts, and the lord of the 4th house of the birth chart are looked at first, together with the D16 Lagna lord.

How accurate must the birth time be for D16?

The D16 Lagna changes about every seven and a half minutes, so the houses of this chart are dependable only when the birth time is known to within a few minutes.