All Divisional Charts — The Complete Reference

Parashara gave us 16 divisional charts (Shodashavarga) to illuminate every dimension of human existence. The D1 (Rashi), D9 (Navamsa), and D10 (Dashamsha) are the charts you will use most often. The remaining thirteen each shine a precise light on one life domain — from children and parents to education, property, and accumulated karma.

The key principle: a promise must exist in the D1 before a divisional chart confirms it. The divisional charts refine and specify; they do not create results from nothing.

Think of the D1 as a satellite photograph of a city. You can see the roads, the rivers, the general layout. Each divisional chart is a street-level zoom into one neighborhood — it reveals detail the satellite view cannot show, but it cannot show you a building that does not exist in the original photograph.

1. The Shodashavarga at a Glance

2. How Divisional Charts Are Calculated

The General Principle

Every divisional chart follows the same logic: divide each 30-degree sign into N equal parts, and assign each part to a sign based on a starting-sign rule. The starting sign depends on the specific chart and sometimes on whether the natal sign is odd or even.

Example (D9 Navamsa): Divide each sign into 9 parts of 3d20' each. For a Fire sign, the first part maps to Aries, the second to Taurus, the third to Gemini, and so on.

Example (D10 Dashamsha): Divide each sign into 10 parts of 3 degrees each. For an odd sign, the count starts from the sign itself. For an even sign, the count starts from the sign 9 places ahead.

Charts Where Calculation Differs

Most charts follow the simple "divide and count" method, but a few have special rules:

• D2 (Hora): Only two divisions — Sun's hora and Moon's hora. The first 15 degrees of an odd sign belong to the Sun (Leo); the second 15 degrees belong to the Moon (Cancer). Reversed for even signs.
• D3 (Drekkana): Three divisions of 10 degrees. The first is the sign itself, the second is the 5th sign from it, the third is the 9th sign from it (the trikona sequence).
• D30 (Trimshamsha): Unequal divisions based on a fixed scheme involving Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus (for odd signs) or reversed (for even signs). This chart does not follow the standard equal-division method.

Birth Time Sensitivity

As the division number increases, the size of each part decreases. The D60 divides each sign into 60 parts of just 30 minutes of arc each. This means that a birth time error of just 2 minutes can shift a planet by one D60 division — placing it in a completely different Shashtyamsha. This is why higher divisional charts require highly accurate birth times to be reliable.

Practical rule: For D1, D9, and D10 analysis, a birth time accurate to within 5 minutes is usually sufficient. For D30 and above, only rectified birth times should be used.

3. Varga Grouping Systems

Parashara organizes the 16 charts into graduated grouping systems, each used for a different level of analysis:

Shadvarga (6 Charts)

The basic set: D1, D2, D3, D9, D12, D30. Used for a general overview of planetary strength. The Shadvarga scheme is the minimum for a competent analysis.

Saptavarga (7 Charts)

Adds D7 to the Shadvarga set. Used when questions about children or creative legacy arise.

Dashavarga (10 Charts)

Adds D4, D16, D20 to the Saptavarga set. A more comprehensive analysis that covers property, vehicles, and spiritual practice.

Shodashavarga (16 Charts)

The full set of all 16 charts. Used for the most detailed and definitive planetary strength assessment. The Shodashavarga scheme is the gold standard in classical Jyotish.

Each grouping assigns different weights to different charts. In all schemes, the D1 receives the highest weight, and the D9 receives the second-highest weight. This is consistent with the principle that the Rashi and Navamsa are the two most important charts.

4. Vimshopaka Bala: Strength Across Vargas

Vimshopaka Bala ("twenty-point strength") is Parashara's system for scoring a planet's dignity across multiple divisional charts. The maximum score is 20 points.

How It Works

In each divisional chart, a planet earns a dignity score based on its sign placement:

• Exalted: Full points
• Own sign (Moolatrikona or Svakshetra): High points
• Friendly sign: Medium points
• Neutral sign: Low points
• Enemy sign: Minimal points
• Debilitated: Zero or near-zero points

These scores are then weighted according to the grouping scheme:

Interpreting the Score

• 15-20 points: Excellent. The planet is strong across most vargas and delivers its promises reliably. It functions like a planet in exaltation.
• 10-14 points: Good. The planet has areas of strength and weakness but performs well overall.
• 5-9 points: Mediocre. The planet struggles to deliver consistent results. Its dashas produce mixed outcomes.
• Below 5 points: Weak. The planet is poorly placed in most vargas. Its periods bring difficulty, and its significations require remedial attention.

Why It Matters

A planet might be exalted in D1 but poorly placed in D9, D10, and D60. Its Vimshopaka score would be moderate at best — meaning the exaltation in D1 alone does not guarantee strong results. Conversely, a planet that is merely in a friendly sign in D1 but well-placed across all other vargas could outscore the exalted planet. Vimshopaka Bala captures this holistic picture.

5. How to Use Divisional Charts

The Five-Step Method

Step 1 — Check the D1 first. Identify the relevant house, its lord, the karaka planet, and any yogas. If the 5th house in D1 shows no promise of children, the D7 will confirm difficulty, not override it.

Step 2 — Check the divisional lagna. The lagna of the D7, D9, D10, etc. becomes the "1st house" of that domain. Planets in angles (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) of that chart are strong for that domain.

Step 3 — Check the karaka planet. Each domain has a natural significator — Jupiter for children (D7), Sun/Moon for parents (D12), Mercury/Jupiter for education (D24). Its strength in the divisional chart is crucial.

Step 4 — Check the relevant house lord. The 5th lord in D7, the 4th/9th lord in D12, the 4th/5th lord in D24, and so on. Use the D1 house lords, not the divisional chart's own lords — there is a classical debate here, but the Parashari standard uses D1 lordship.

Step 5 — Look for Vargottama. A planet in the same sign in both D1 and D9 is extraordinarily strong. This principle extends across all divisional charts — a planet in the same sign in D1 and D10 is strong for career matters, and so on.

Which Chart for Which Question

6. Individual Chart Details

D2 Hora: Wealth and Resources

The simplest chart — only two divisions per sign. Planets in the Sun's hora (Leo) earn wealth through authority, government, and leadership. Planets in the Moon's hora (Cancer) earn through nurturing, public service, and emotional intelligence.

Key rule: Count how many planets are in the Sun's hora versus the Moon's hora. A balance suggests diversified income. Heavy Sun hora indicates self-earned wealth. Heavy Moon hora indicates wealth through others, inheritance, or public-facing roles.

D3 Drekkana: Siblings and Courage

The chart for the 3rd house — siblings, short journeys, courage, and self-effort. The condition of Mars (natural karaka) in the D3 reveals the native's capacity for initiative and bravery. Benefics in D3 kendras indicate supportive siblings; malefics suggest rivalry.

D4 Chaturthamsha: Property and Fixed Assets

The chart for the 4th house — land, buildings, vehicles (in some traditions), and domestic happiness. Mars (karaka for property) and the Moon (karaka for home and comfort) in the D4 reveal whether the native will own property, the quality of their home life, and their connection to their place of origin.

D7 Saptamsha: Children and Creative Legacy

The chart for the 5th house — children, conception, and creative output. Jupiter (karaka for children) is the key planet. The D7 Lagna, its lord, the 5th house of D7, and Jupiter's condition together reveal the number, nature, and relationship with children. Afflictions in D7 may indicate conception difficulties or challenging relationships with offspring.

D10 Dashamsha: Career and Public Life

After D9, the most frequently consulted varga. The D10 zooms into the 10th house of career, profession, authority, and public contribution. The Sun (natural karaka), the 10th lord of D1, and the D10 Lagna lord are the three key indicators. Planets in D10 kendras indicate professional power; planets in D10 dusthanas suggest career obstacles or hidden work environments.

D12 Dwadashamsha: Parents and Lineage

The chart for the 12th-from-1st — parents and ancestral karma. The 9th house of D12 shows the father's condition; the 4th house shows the mother. The Sun and Moon in D12 are the natural karakas for father and mother respectively. This chart is also used to understand the quality of ancestral blessings or debts that shape the native's life.

D16 Shodashamsha: Vehicles and Comforts

The chart for the 4th house in a different octave — specifically comforts, conveyances, and sources of happiness. In modern usage, this includes cars, electronics, and material comforts. Venus and the Moon are key planets.

D20 Vimshamsha: Spiritual Practice

The chart for the 20th division — spiritual inclinations, worship patterns, and the native's relationship with the divine. Jupiter (guru and wisdom) and Ketu (liberation) are the key planets. A strong D20 with benefics in kendras indicates a natural spiritual inclination; malefic afflictions may show obstacles in spiritual practice or misdirected devotion.

D24 Chaturvimshamsha: Education and Learning

The chart for the 24th division — formal education, academic achievement, and intellectual development. Mercury (learning), Jupiter (wisdom and higher education), and the 4th and 5th houses of D24 are the key indicators. This chart reveals whether the native will complete formal education, the quality of their academic life, and their capacity for specialized knowledge.

D27 Nakshatramsha: Vitality and Physical Strength

The chart for the 27th division — physical constitution, stamina, and athletic potential. This is a less frequently used chart but valuable for health analysis. Mars (physical strength) and the Lagna lord's condition in D27 reveal the native's baseline vitality.

D30 Trimshamsha: Misfortune and Hidden Evils

The chart for the 30th division — diseases, misfortunes, hidden enemies, and moral challenges. This chart uses unequal divisions governed by Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus in a fixed scheme. It is primarily consulted when assessing potential for illness, scandal, or chronic problems. Malefics strong in D30 can indicate resilience against adversity; malefics afflicting D30 suggest vulnerability.

D40 and D45: Lineage Charts

D40 (Khavedamsha) reveals blessings and karma from the maternal lineage. D45 (Akshavedamsha) reveals the same from the paternal lineage. These charts are used primarily in questions about inheritance, family patterns, and ancestral influences. They require very accurate birth times.

D60 Shashtyamsha: The Past-Life Chart

The most mysterious and powerful varga after the D1. Each of the 60 divisions within a sign has a specific name and nature — some auspicious (like "Amrita" or "Sudha"), some inauspicious (like "Kaala" or "Davagni"). A planet's D60 placement reveals its past-life karmic charge — whether the native brings blessings or debts in that planet's domain.

Parashara assigns the D60 the highest weight in the Shodashavarga scheme (5 points out of 20). This indicates his view that past-life karma is the ultimate determinant of present-life results. However, the D60 requires birth-time accuracy within 1-2 minutes, which limits its practical use.

7. Vargottama and Special Conditions

Vargottama Across Charts

While Vargottama traditionally refers to D1-D9 alignment, the principle extends:

• D1 = D9: Classical Vargottama — planet has consistent inner and outer strength.
• D1 = D10: Strong alignment between character and career — the native's professional life authentically reflects who they are.
• D1 = D9 = D10: Triple alignment — extremely rare and extremely powerful. The outer self, inner self, and career are all in harmony.

Parijata and Uttama Yogas

Classical texts describe graduated levels of multi-varga dignity:

• Parijatamsha: Planet in own sign or exaltation in at least 2 vargas — like a flower in bloom.
• Uttamamsha: Planet well-placed in 3+ vargas — like a fruit-bearing tree.
• Gopuramsha: Planet well-placed in 4+ vargas — like a palace tower.
• Simhasanamsha: Planet well-placed in 5+ vargas — like a king's throne.
• Parvatashamsha: Planet well-placed in 6+ vargas — like a sacred mountain.
• Devalokamsha: Planet well-placed in 7+ vargas — like a divine abode.

These classifications directly correlate with Vimshopaka Bala and indicate the overall quality of a planet's performance across life domains.

8. Classical References

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS)

Chapter 6 (Shodashavarga Adhyaya) is the foundational text for all divisional chart calculations. Parashara defines each chart, its calculation method, and its significations. Chapters 7-8 cover Vimshopaka Bala and the varga grouping systems. He states: "A planet well-placed in the Shodashavarga is like a king; poorly placed, it is like a beggar — regardless of its D1 position."

Phaladeepika (Mantreshwara)

Chapter 16 covers the Navamsa extensively. Mantreshwara also discusses the Drekkana (Chapter 17) and provides guidance on when to use which divisional chart for prediction. His treatment is more practical and less mathematical than Parashara's.

Saravali (Kalyanavarma)

Chapter 3 covers varga calculations with worked examples. Kalyanavarma emphasizes the importance of birth-time accuracy for higher vargas and warns against using D30 and above with uncertain birth times.

Jaimini Sutras

Jaimini's system uses divisional charts differently from Parashara — particularly the concept of Karakamsha (the Navamsa sign of the Atmakaraka) and Swamsha (the Navamsa Lagna). Jaimini reads the D9 almost as a parallel birth chart and derives career, spirituality, and relationship predictions from it.

Hora Sara (Prithuyasas)

This lesser-known but valuable text provides detailed descriptions of each D60 division name and its effects. It is the primary reference for interpreting the Shashtyamsha chart.

9. Common Mistakes with Divisional Charts

Mistake 1: Treating Divisional Charts as Independent Horoscopes

A divisional chart is a lens, not a separate life. Reading the D10 as a standalone chart and making career predictions without checking the D1's 10th house first is a fundamental error. The D1 always comes first.

Mistake 2: Using High Vargas with Inaccurate Birth Times

Consulting the D60 when the birth time is rounded to the nearest half-hour is meaningless. Each D60 division spans only 30 arc-minutes — even a 2-minute birth-time error can change the entire chart. Stick to D1, D9, and D10 unless you have a rectified birth time.

Mistake 3: Checking Every Chart for Every Question

There is no need to check all 16 charts for a career question. D1 + D10 covers it. For marriage, D1 + D9 is sufficient. Using more charts adds noise without adding signal when the birth time is uncertain.

Mistake 4: Ignoring the Divisional Lagna

Many students check where planets fall by sign in a divisional chart but forget to note which house they occupy relative to the divisional Lagna. A planet in Cancer in D10 might be in the 1st house or the 8th house depending on the D10 Lagna — and the results are vastly different.

Mistake 5: Confusing D1 Lordship with Varga Lordship

In the Parashari system, the lord of a house in the D1 is used to evaluate that planet's position in divisional charts. You do not reassign lordship based on the divisional chart's own Lagna. Some Jaimini practitioners differ on this point, but the standard approach uses D1 lordship throughout.

Mistake 6: Neglecting Vimshopaka Bala

Checking one or two vargas and drawing conclusions ignores the systematic assessment that Parashara designed. Vimshopaka Bala integrates strength across multiple vargas into a single score, which is more reliable than cherry-picking individual charts.

10. What AstroCalc Shows

AstroCalc provides divisional chart analysis at multiple levels:

• Chart Display: The D9 (Navamsa) and D10 (Dashamsha) are displayed alongside the D1 for quick comparison. Additional vargas can be viewed in the detailed divisional chart section.
• Vargottama Highlighting: Planets that are Vargottama (same sign in D1 and D9) are flagged in the planetary table, making it easy to identify your most consistently strong planets.
• Strength Scoring: The app computes dignity status for each planet across multiple vargas, giving you a quick visual indicator of which planets are strong across the board.
• Domain-Specific Views: When you explore career, marriage, or other life domains, the app presents the relevant divisional chart alongside the D1 analysis for that topic.

Start with the D1, then check the D9 for any question about planetary strength or marriage, and the D10 for career. The remaining vargas are available for deeper investigation when specific questions arise.

Individual Chart Deep-Dives

The most practically important divisional charts each have their own dedicated chapter:

• D1 Rashi Chart — Your physical reality and the base of all analysis
• D9 Navamsa — Soul, marriage, and the true strength of planets
• D10 Dashamsha — Career, vocation, and public life
• D60 Shashtyamsha — Accumulated karma from past lives
• D7 Saptamsha — Children and creative legacy
• D12 Dwadashamsha — Parents and ancestral karma
• D24 Chaturvimshamsha — Education and knowledge
• D30 Trimshamsha — Misfortune and disease

Primary sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (Chapters 6-8), Phaladeepika (Chapters 16-17), Saravali (Chapter 3), Jaimini Sutras (Chapters 1-2), Hora Sara (Prithuyasas)