The birth chart tells the broad story of a life. The divisional charts, called vargas (divisions), are finer layers cut from the same planets and the same ascendant. Each one takes every sign of 30 degrees, divides it into a fixed number of parts, and gives each part a sign of its own. The planets and the Lagna are placed again by that rule, and the result is a new chart, with a new Lagna and new houses, read for one theme: wealth, siblings, marriage, work, parents, learning and so on.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra describes sixteen of them as a set, the Shodashavarga. This section has a page for each, setting out what the chart is read for, how it is worked out by the Parashari rules, and how much weight teachers give it. The rules match those used by the site’s divisional charts calculator, so you can check any result by hand.
The sixteen charts at a glance
The last column gives each chart’s share in the weighting commonly quoted for the Shodashavarga, a score for a planet’s overall dignity out of 20. It is a convention of the texts, and teachers differ about how far to rely on it, but it shows how the tradition ranks the charts.
| Chart | Name | Parts per sign | Traditional theme | Weight out of 20 | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Rashi | 1 | The whole life and body | 3.5 | D1 Rashi |
| D2 | Hora | 2 | Wealth and resources | 1 | D2 Hora |
| D3 | Drekkana | 3 | Siblings, courage and effort | 1 | D3 Drekkana |
| D4 | Chaturthamsa | 4 | Home, property and fortune | 0.5 | D4 Chaturthamsa |
| D7 | Saptamsa | 7 | Children | 0.5 | D7 Saptamsa |
| D9 | Navamsa | 9 | Marriage, dharma, planetary strength | 3 | D9 Navamsa |
| D10 | Dashamsa | 10 | Work and public life | 0.5 | D10 Dashamsa |
| D12 | Dwadashamsa | 12 | Parents and ancestry | 0.5 | D12 Dwadashamsa |
| D16 | Shodashamsa | 16 | Vehicles and comforts | 2 | D16 Shodashamsa |
| D20 | Vimshamsa | 20 | Spiritual practice | 0.5 | D20 Vimshamsa |
| D24 | Siddhamsa | 24 | Learning and education | 0.5 | D24 Siddhamsa |
| D27 | Bhamsa | 27 | Inborn strengths and weaknesses | 0.5 | D27 Bhamsa |
| D30 | Trimshamsa | 5 unequal | Difficulties and life lessons | 1 | D30 Trimshamsa |
| D40 | Khavedamsa | 40 | The maternal line | 0.5 | D40 Khavedamsa |
| D45 | Akshavedamsa | 45 | The paternal line, character | 0.5 | D45 Akshavedamsa |
| D60 | Shashtyamsa | 60 | The deeper background of a life | 4 | D60 Shashtyamsa |
How the rules are built
Every varga follows one of a few patterns, and seeing them makes the sixteen rules easier to remember. Signs are counted from Aries as the first sign, so an odd sign is Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius or Aquarius, and an even sign is Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn or Pisces.
- Count from a starting sign that depends on the sign. The D7 and D10 start at the sign itself in an odd sign and at the 7th or 9th sign from it in an even sign. The D9 starts from the sign itself, the 9th or the 5th, according to whether the sign is movable, fixed or dual.
- Count from the sign itself in every case. The D12 and D60 do this, and so does the D1.
- Start at a fixed sign by type. The D16, D20 and D45 start at Aries, Leo or Sagittarius according to whether the sign is movable, fixed or dual, with a different order for each. The D27 starts at Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn by element.
- Start at the same sign for every odd sign, and another for every even sign. The D24 starts at Leo or Cancer, the D40 at Aries or Libra. The D2 gives only Leo or Cancer.
- Jump to the trines or angles. The D3 takes the sign itself, its 5th and its 9th. The D4 takes the sign itself, its 4th, 7th and 10th.
- Unequal parts. The D30 alone cuts each sign into five uneven parts ruled by planets.
Which charts the tool draws
The divisional charts calculator draws any one of D2, D3, D7, D10, D12, D16, D20, D24, D27, D30, D40, D45 or D60 next to the Rashi chart, with every planet’s part and house. The Navamsa has its own Navamsa calculator, and the Dashamsa calculator gives the career chart with a longer explanation. The calculator does not draw the D4 at present. The page on the D4 Chaturthamsa gives the rule so that it can be worked by hand. The printable kundali keeps a paper copy of the main chart.
The classical sets and how teachers use them
The text groups the charts into smaller sets for faster work. The Shadvarga (six charts) is D1, D2, D3, D9, D12 and D30. The Saptavarga (seven) adds the D7. The Dashavarga (ten) is D1, D2, D3, D7, D9, D10, D12, D16, D30 and D60. The full Shodashavarga adds the rest. Scores for a planet’s strength across a set, called Vimshopaka Bala, are worked from these groups.
In everyday practice most astrologers read far fewer than sixteen. The Rashi chart and the Navamsa come first, the Dashamsa when the question is about work, the Saptamsa for children, and the others only when a specific question calls for one. The finest charts, D40, D45 and D60, are used by a minority and only when the birth time is known to the minute.
Reading them with care
Three cautions apply to all of the vargas.
Birth time. The finer the chart, the faster its Lagna changes. The D9 Lagna changes about every 13 minutes, the D10 about every 12, and the D60 about every 2. A birth time rounded to the nearest quarter hour can place the Lagna of the finer charts in the wrong sign. The planets’ signs are steadier than the houses.
Schools. The Parashari scheme is used here, but other schemes exist for several charts, especially the Hora, Drekkana and Trimshamsa. A different sign in another program usually means a different scheme, or a different ayanamsa, and not an error.
Meaning. A divisional chart refines the reading of the birth chart. It does not replace it, and it does not decide anything. A strong placement does not promise children, work or money, and a difficult one is not a verdict. For timing, the dasha periods show which themes are active, and for combinations in the main chart the library of yogas is the place to start. Where health, money or family matters are worrying, a doctor, adviser or counsellor is the right first call.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What is a varga in Vedic astrology?
A varga, or divisional chart, is made by dividing each sign into parts and giving each part a sign. The planets and the ascendant are then placed again, which gives a new chart for one theme such as marriage or work.
↳ How many divisional charts are there?
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra describes sixteen as a set, from D1 to D60. Later authors describe more, but the sixteen are the standard Parashari list and the ones covered here.
↳ Which divisional charts matter most?
Most astrologers read the Rashi chart and the Navamsa routinely, and add the Dashamsa for work and the Saptamsa for children. The finest charts are used mainly by specialists with an exact birth time.
↳ Why do I need an exact birth time for the vargas?
The higher the number, the smaller each part, and the faster the ascendant crosses it. For the D60 the Lagna can change in about two minutes, so a rounded birth time can give a different chart.
↳ Why does another program show a different sign in a varga?
Schools count some vargas differently, and a different ayanamsa can move a planet near a sign boundary. The site uses the Parashari rules and Lahiri, and states the rule on each page so it can be compared.