The Sixteen Divisional Charts of Vedic Astrology
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A birth chart shows the twelve signs and the planets in them. Vedic astrology then goes a step further. Each sign is cut into smaller parts, each part is given to a sign by a fixed rule, and the planets are drawn again in a new chart. This is a divisional chart, called a varga or amsa chart. Sage Parashara teaches sixteen of them, together known as the Shodasavarga.
The idea behind them is simple. Two people born an hour apart can have the same rasi chart, yet their lives differ. The divisional charts are where that difference shows. Each one acts like a magnifying glass held over a single area of life.
The sixteen charts at a glance
"D" stands for division, and the number is how many parts each sign is cut into.
| Chart | Name | Size of one part | Read for |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Rasi | 30° | The body and the whole life |
| D2 | Hora | 15° | Wealth and resources |
| D3 | Drekkana | 10° | Brothers, sisters and courage |
| D4 | Chaturthamsa | 7°30' | Fortune, home and property |
| D7 | Saptamsa | 4°17'09" | Children |
| D9 | Navamsa | 3°20' | Spouse, dharma and inner strength |
| D10 | Dasamsa | 3° | Career and achievement |
| D12 | Dwadasamsa | 2°30' | Parents |
| D16 | Shodasamsa | 1°52'30" | Vehicles and comforts |
| D20 | Vimsamsa | 1°30' | Worship and spiritual practice |
| D24 | Siddhamsa | 1°15' | Education and learning |
| D27 | Bhamsa | 1°06'40" | Strengths and weak points |
| D30 | Trimsamsa | Unequal, 5° to 8° | Difficulties and how they are met |
| D40 | Khavedamsa | 0°45' | Favourable and unfavourable effects |
| D45 | Akshavedamsa | 0°40' | All matters; character |
| D60 | Shashtiamsa | 0°30' | All matters; past karma |
The Trimsamsa is the one exception to the equal-parts pattern. Its name means "thirtieth part", but in practice each sign is cut into five unequal blocks ruled by the five planets Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus.
How a divisional chart is made
Every chart follows the same two steps.
Step 1. Find the part. Take the planet's degrees within its sign and see which part they fall in. For the Navamsa, for example, each part is 3°20', so a planet at 8° is in the third part.
Step 2. Count from the starting sign. Each chart has its own rule for where the count begins. The rules use one of four ideas:
- Odd or even sign: used by the Hora, Saptamsa, Dasamsa, Siddhamsa, Trimsamsa and Khavedamsa.
- Movable, fixed or dual sign: used by the Navamsa (in one way of stating it), Shodasamsa, Vimsamsa and Akshavedamsa.
- Element of the sign: used by the Navamsa (in the other way of stating it) and the Bhamsa.
- The sign itself: the Drekkana, Chaturthamsa, Dwadasamsa and Shashtiamsa count from the planet's own sign, in steps of the 5th, the 4th, or sign by sign.
Each of the linked guides gives the exact rule with worked examples.
How sensitive each chart is
The Lagna crosses a sign in about two hours on average. Divide that by the number of parts and you get the time for which one divisional Lagna lasts.
| Chart | Lagna changes about every |
|---|---|
| D2 | 1 hour |
| D3 | 40 minutes |
| D4 | 30 minutes |
| D7 | 17 minutes |
| D9 | 13 minutes |
| D10 | 12 minutes |
| D12 | 10 minutes |
| D16 | 7.5 minutes |
| D20 | 6 minutes |
| D24 | 5 minutes |
| D27 | 4.5 minutes |
| D40 | 3 minutes |
| D45 | 2 minutes 40 seconds |
| D60 | 2 minutes |
These are averages; some signs rise faster than others depending on the place of birth. The lesson is clear all the same. With an ordinary hospital record, the Lagnas up to about the D12 are usually safe. Beyond that, the houses of a divisional chart should be used only if the birth time has been checked. The signs of the planets are far less sensitive, because planets move slowly compared with the Lagna, and they can be used in every chart.
The four classical groups
Parashara does not always use all sixteen. He names four sets, used for measuring a planet's strength:
- Shadvarga (six): D1, D2, D3, D9, D12, D30.
- Saptavarga (seven): the six above and D7.
- Dasavarga (ten): the seven above and D10, D16, D60.
- Shodasavarga (sixteen): all of them.
In each set, every chart carries a fixed share of twenty points. A planet's dignity in each chart is scored and totalled, giving its Vimsopaka strength. The rasi chart, Navamsa and Shashtiamsa carry the largest shares.
A planet that falls in its own sign in several of these charts earns a title. In the ten-chart scheme, for example, a planet in its own sign in two charts is said to be in Parijata, in three Uttama, in four Gopura and in five Simhasana. Such planets give their results generously.
How to use the charts together
1. The rasi chart comes first. A divisional chart cannot give what the rasi chart does not promise. It can strengthen, weaken, delay or refine.
2. Then the Navamsa. It is read for every question, because it shows the real strength of each planet. A planet in the same sign in the D1 and D9 is specially strong.
3. Then the chart for the question. Career: D10. Children: D7. Parents: D12. Education: D24. Property: D4.
4. In the chosen chart, look at three things: its Lagna and Lagna lord; the planet that naturally signifies the matter (Venus for vehicles, Jupiter for children, Mercury for learning); and the lord of the relevant house of the rasi chart, seen in the divisional chart.
5. Use dashas for timing. A matter usually moves in the dasha or sub-period of a planet that is well placed for it in both the rasi chart and the matching divisional chart.
Common mistakes
- Reading a divisional chart alone. A strong D10 with a weak 10th house in the rasi chart gives effort without matching results until the right dasha arrives. Always read the pair.
- Trusting fine charts with a rough birth time. If the time is "about 6 in the morning", the D60 Lagna is a guess.
- Treating every chart as a full horoscope. Some astrologers read all twelve houses in every varga. Parashara's own use is narrower: each chart for its named subject, and all of them for strength.
- Fear. The Trimsamsa and Khavedamsa are described in the old texts with words like "evil" and "inauspicious". In practice they describe effort and delay. No divisional chart seals anyone's fate.
Summary
The sixteen divisional charts each divide the signs more finely than the last, from the two halves of the Hora to the sixty half-degrees of the Shashtiamsa. Each magnifies one area of life. Read the rasi chart first, the Navamsa second and the chart for the question third; use the planets' signs freely and the houses of the finer charts only with an accurate birth time. Used this way, the vargas turn a general reading into a specific one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are divisional charts in Vedic astrology?
A divisional chart, or varga, is made by dividing every sign into a fixed number of parts and giving each part to a sign by rule. Each chart magnifies one area of life, such as marriage in the Navamsa or career in the Dasamsa.
How many divisional charts are there?
Sage Parashara teaches sixteen, called the Shodasavarga: D1, D2, D3, D4, D7, D9, D10, D12, D16, D20, D24, D27, D30, D40, D45 and D60. Later authors added others, but these sixteen are the classical set.
Which divisional chart is the most important?
The rasi chart (D1) is the foundation and the Navamsa (D9) is its closest companion. The other charts are read for their own subject after these two.
Do I need an exact birth time for divisional charts?
For the Lagna and houses of the finer charts, yes. The Lagna of the D60 changes about every two minutes. The signs of the planets in each chart are much less sensitive and can be used with ordinary birth records.
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