! Pt.

Sanjay Rath "

Principles of Divisional
Charts

Primary Divisions
We must not forget that it was the
Hindus who discovered what is known
as the precession of the Equinoxes,
and in their calculation such an
occurrence takes place every 25,827
years. Our modern science, after
labors of hundreds of years has simply
proved them to be correct….
Count Viscount Cheiro
1.1 Time and
Space

Time and space are like endless rings without

a beginning and without an end. The
definition of the beginning of a linear time
scale or the starting point of the Universe has
been the vexed question of many a thinker
and this thought leads the mind to a definition
of God as being imperceptible. The great
Vedic thinkers personified God as
Kalapurusha[1] and harmonized these two
concepts of time and space into the four-
dimensional model of Bhachakra (geocentric
zodiac). Normally the Bhachakra is
represented as a two dimensional figure for
easy reading on paper, but the other
dimensions of a dynamic linear time and the
vertical declination of the planets were also
examined and noted. Thus, the first and
foremost point to bear in mind is that every
division of the zodiac has a similar or
matching division of time. As we study each
of the divisions, we will also examine the time
measure represented by it and will get
additional clues to interpret results and
delineate the effect of time on the division.

1.2 Rasi & Nakshatra

The division of the zodiac into twelve signs

and twenty seven (or twenty eight Nakshatra)
is the primary division in the paradigm of
Vedic Astrology. Every now and then a new
planet is seen and the doubts arise in the
minds of the learned on the continued validity
of the twelve sign zodiac. To clear these
doubts, it is necessary to understand the
basis of this primary division called Rasi. The
zodiac of 12 signs and 27 constellations was
prepared by carefully observing the
movement of the Sun and Moon in the
geocentric model of the universe.

1.2.1 Rasi – twelve Sun signs.

The relative motion between the Sun & Moon

shows that the Synodical Month (new moon
to new moon or full moon to full moon) is 29D
12H 44M 3S = 29.53059D. Rounding off to
the next higher integer we get 30 days during
which, the average solar motion is 30
Degrees. Finally, dividing the Bhachakra of
360 degrees by 30, we get 12 signs, or the 12
sun signs as the Sun[2] gets over-lordship of
all signs being their pater. The twelve signs
are Mesha (Aries), Vrisabha (Taurus), Mithun
(Gemini), Karkata (Cancer), Simha (Leo),
Kanya (Virgo), Tula (Libra), Vrischika
(Scorpio), Dhanus (Sagittarius), Makara
(Capricorn), Kumbha (Aquarius) and Meena
(Pisces).
Figure 4 : The Sun sign Zodiac

Figure 5 : Hora (Aho-Ratra)

This method of division of the Zodiac into two

halves is based on the distance of the sun
from the earth. This divides the zodiac along
an imaginary line passing through the zero
degrees of Leo and Zero degrees of Aquarius
into two halves. Half or Hora is derived from
the word Aho-Ratra[3] indicating the two-fold
divisions of the day into equal halves of light
and darkness. Thus, this division of the
zodiac was into the two parts called Solar and
Lunar halves[4] or Surya Hora and Chandra
Hora respectively. The solar half or Surya
Hora included the six signs in the zodiacal
order from Leo to Capricorn and the lunar half
or Chandra Hora included the six signs from
Cancer to Aquarius in the reverse order. This
division has nothing to do with Ayana. The
Sun and Moon own adjoining signs (i.e. Leo &
Cancer respectively) in their Hora’s while the
five other planets in the order of Mercury,
Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn (based on
their geographical distances from the Sun i.e.
Mercury is closest and Saturn is the most
distant) shall own the signs in their proximity
to Leo (and Cancer) reckoned in the zodiacal
(or reverse) order[5] (Figure -2)

1.2.3 Hora – (based on solstice)

The Rishi’s also observed the two solstices’
where the length of the day (i.e. daylight
duration) was the longest and shortest
respectively called the summer and winter
solstice[6]. The Summer solstice is the
longest day and marked the end of the hot
summer season and beginning of the rainy
season. So also the winter solstice marked
the end of the long nights. Thus, the zodiac
was divided into two halves along an
imaginary line passing through the Zero
Degrees of Cancer and Zero Degrees of
Capricorn, which showed the position of the
Sun at these two extreme points of longest
day and longest night. This formed the two
Ayana or halves of the zodiac comprising
three seasons each. The specific terms used
are Uttar-Ayana or Northern Goal and
Dakshin-Ayana or Southern- Goal and refers
to the ‘goal’ of the Sun as it seeks to reach
the northernmost point of the zodiac (i.e. Zero
degrees of Cancer) or southern-most point
(i.e. zero degrees of Capricorn). This can also
refer to the goal of seeking the northernmost
latitude[7], which coincides with summer
solstice, or the southernmost latitude[8],
which coincides with winter solstice.
Figure 6 : Ayana

1.2.4 Kendra (Quadrant)

The beginning of the zodiac was fixed based
on the position of the sun on equinoxes i.e.
when the days and nights are equally long
and this was at the zero degree of Aries and
Libra. In this manner, the four crucial points of
the zodiac were determined as zero degrees
of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. The
Rishi’s realized that there were actually two
zodiac’s – one where the solar system could
be considered as an independent system in
itself and another in which the solar systems
movement around another ellipse center
called VISHNU-NABHI is also accounted for.
These two zodiac systems are called Sayana
(Tropical) and Nirayana (Sidereal) Bhachakra.
The primary difference between the two being
the motion of the solar system in the universe
which is measured by the period of
precession of the equinoxes – 25,800 years
and when calculated from the point when the
same is zero (i.e. sidereal and tropical zodiac
coincide) is called Ayanamsa [9] . Now, the
difference between the starting points of the
two zodiac’s at any point of time is called
Ayanamsa. In the concept of the Hindu
calendar[10] we realize that Varahamihira’s
advocation of using the Suklanta Masa had a
lot to do with the nomenclature of the Months
on the basis of the normal Nakshatra position
of the Full Moon and this determined the start
of each lunar month (and not the Amanta
Masa system as is in vogue in most of India
today). In any case the star ‘Chitra’ was
observed as the point of fixation and ‘Chitra
Paksha’ referring to the opposite point from
‘Chitra [11]’ represents the beginning of the
zodiac.

The basic point is that the zodiac was divided

into four parts of ninety degrees each by the
four points representing the beginning of
Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn and that
these four points defined the four goals of
human existence as (a) Dharma –
righteousness and adherence to natural and
societal principles (b) Moksha –Spirituality
and emancipation from the cycle of rebirth, (c)
Kaama – existence of desires and their
fulfillment or denial as the cause of rebirth
and (d) Artha – wealth. The four parts, on the
other hand, divided the life into four ashrams,
which form the foundation of Hinduism. This
is also the concept in ‘Chatuspada [12]
Dharma’.

The Sankhya Shastra teaches extensively

about the Pancha Tatwa or the five forms of
existence of all bodies. These forms of
existence are (1) Prithvi (Solid state), (2) Jala
(Liquid state), (3) Vayu (Gaseous state), (4)
Agni (Energy state) and (5) Akash (ethereal
or vacuum state). Vacuum permeates the
entire universe and hence, the Akash Tatwa
is present throughout the Bhachakra. The
other four Tatwa were found to be in a
predominant form in Aries (Agni), Cancer
(Jala), Libra (Vayu) andCapricorn (Prithvi).

1.2.5 Trikona (Trine)

In a similar manner, the Trikona (trine) should

also be understood as being the division of
time into three aspects of past, present and
future. Using (a) Manu Smriti statement that
‘a day in the life of the Gods is a year in
human life’ we arrive at the basic equation of
1 Deg (=day motion of Sun) representing 1
year in Human life, and (b) Parasara’s
statement that the Param Ayus for human
beings is 120 years, we arrive at the angle of
120 Degree representing the present life, next
120 deg representing the future and 120
degree representing the past. The span of
120 degrees of the zodiac covers 9 Nakshatra
and thus, a group of nine Nakshatra before
Janma (birth) Nakshatra represents the past,
the group of nine from Janma represents the
present while the remaining group of 9
represents the future.

This three-fold division is very fundamental to

Vedic Astrology and we have the three types
of Chara (Movable), Sthira (Fixed) and
Dwisbhava (Dual) signs. Since the three
types are based on the original longevity
equation of Parasara (120 Deg = Full life), this
is used in the most basic methods to estimate
longevity.

1.2.6 Ritu – The Six seasons.

The change of seasons formed the primary

basis for the Hindu calendar where the year
was divided into six seasons called Ritu.
Rains were considered the blessings of the
Gods and the rainy season was considered
as that during which life came to this earth.
This formed the principle behind determining
the life giving portion of the zodiac as well as
the concept of the coming down of the
individual soul from the heavens above with
the raindrops [13]. The distribution of the
seasons in each Ayana, their extent in the
zodiac and ruling planets are given in Table-
1. Furthermore, the Ritu should be
understood only from the solar months [14]
(i.e. Sun’s transit) and not the lunar months.
Since the Sun was accepted as the cause of
all seasons, it was natural to give the over
lordship of the seasons to him.

Table 1 – Division of the seasons

Lord of Sun
Ayana Season
Season cove

Canc
Varsha Rain Moon
Leo

Virgo
Winter Sarad Fall Mercury
Libra

Scor
Hemanta Winter Jupiter
Sagi

Capr
Sisira Cold Saturn
Aqua

Pisce
Summer Vasant Spring Venus
Aries

Taur
Mars &
Grisma Summer
Sun
Gem

1.2.7 Nakshatra – (Lunar Mansions)

Having divided the zodiac into 12 signs based

on the Sun’s movement, it was necessary to
also divide this into parts to study the effects
of the movement of the Moon. Considered
independently, the Moon takes 27D 7H 43M
11.5S to go around the earth. This is called
the Sidereal month. Taking the integer 27 we
get the 27 Nakshatra or Lunar Mansion (each
130 20’ of arc). Each Nakshatra was identified
with a star, (or star cluster) and derived its
name from it. The 7-¾ hour shortfall in a
sidereal lunar transit was made up by a short-
span intercalary (hypothetical) Nakshatra
called Abhijit. The span of Abhijit is
determined proportionally as (7h 43m 11.5s/
24 hrs) x 130 20’ = 40 17’ 20″. This span is
from 2760 40’ to 2800 57’ 20″overlapping the
21st Nakshatra (Uttarasadha). This becomes
the 28th Nakshatra, which is used in some
Chakra like the Kala Chakra and the
Sarvatobhadra Chakra etc.

Table 2 : Nakshatra – Lunar Mansion

Planet
Number Nakshatra Deity Lord-s
(Vimso

1. Aswini Aswini Kumar Ketu

2. Bharani Yama Venus

3. Krittika Agni Sun

4. Rohini Brahma Moon

5. Mrigasira Chandra Mars

6. Ardra Rudra Rahu

7. Punarvasu Aditi Jupiter

8. Pusya Brihaspati [15] Saturn

9. Aslesha Sarpadeva[16] Mercur

10. Makha Pitri[17] Ketu

Poorva
11. Bhaga Venus
Phalguni

Uttar
12. Aryama Sun
Phalguni

13. Hasta Savitur[18] Moon

14. Chitra Tvashta Mars

15. Swati Vayu Rahu

16. Visakha Mitra Jupiter

17. Anuradha Saturn

18. Jyestha Indra Mercur

19. Moola Nirriti Ketu

Poorva
20. Jala[19] Venus
Ashada

Uttar
21. Viswadeva Sun
Ashada

22. Sravana Vishnu Moon

Asta
23. Dhanista Mars
Vasava[20]

24. Satabhisaj Varuna Rahu

Poorva
25. Ajaikapad Jupiter
bhadrapada

Uttara
26. Ahirbudhanya Saturn
bhadrapada

27. Revati Pooshan Mercur

1.3 Divisions of a sign

Division refers to an orderly division of the 30

degrees of a sign into parts called Amsa. The
charts constructed on the basis of the
ownership of these divisions[21] are called
Divisional Charts or simply D-Charts. The
sign is divided into ‘N’ number of parts where
‘N’ refers to the Varga number. Each part is
called an Amsa and maps into a specific sign
of the D-N Chart. If any planet or Lagna is
placed within an Amsa, then it is also in the
mapped sign of the D-Chart.

To understand this, let us consider the chart

of a person born on the 7th of August 1963.
Some of the planetary positions are Lagna
140 Pisces, Jupiter 260 07’ Pisces, Moon
19057’ Aquarius and Saturn 26050’ Capricorn.
The Rasi (D-1 Chart) will have Jupiter and
Ascendant in the first house in Pisces, Moon
in the 12th house in Aquarius and Saturn in
the 11th house in Capricorn. Let us attempt to
determine the Drekkana divisions and D-3
chart. Here ‘N’ = 3 and each sign of 300
longitude is divided into three parts of 100
each. Each of these divisions is called an
‘Amsa’ and more specifically a Drekkana or
‘Trine division’. The three Drekkana of all
signs would be in the longitude range (1) 0-
100, (2) 100-200 and (3) 200-300. The first
Drekkana of a sign is mapped to itself, the
second is mapped to the sign in the fifth from
it and the third is mapped to the sign in the
ninth from it.

Figure 7 : D-Chart construction

primar6

Thus, Lagna at 140 Pisces is in second

Drekkana and is mapped into Cancer the fifth
house from Pisces. Jupiter at 260 is in the
third Drekkana of Pisces and this is Scorpio in
the D-3 Chart. Moon is in the second
Drekkana of Aquarius and is placed in Gemini
in D-3 Chart. Saturn at 270 is in the third
Drekkana of Capricorn and is mapped to the
ninth house from Capricorn (i.e. Virgo) where
it is placed in the D-3 Chart.

1.3.1 Nomenclature

The divisions of the zodiac and the divisional

charts constructed on the basis of ownership
of these divisions are named on various
criteria. These include:

1. The division number: This is the numer

by which the sign is divided into parts. For
example ‘Saptamsa’ composed from Sapta
meaning seven and amsa meaning portion.
Thus, this is the one-seventh division of a
sign.
2. Other reference numbers: For example,
it is well known that there are 27 Nakshatra.
Hence the name Nakshetramsa coined from
Nakshatra and Amsa (portion) refers to the
one – twenty seventh (1/27) division or the
divisional chart prepared from this division
occupied by the Lagna and nine planets.
3. Usage and focus: Every divisional chart
(or division) has a specific use and a clearly
defined focus on a specific area of activity.
For example, Siddhamsa is coined from
Siddha referring to that body of knowledge
which a person learns and achieves
perfection in and Amsa means portion. So,
Siddhamsa refers to the division/divisional
chart where we study the learning process.
This is the 24th division (D-24 Chart). This is
also called the Bhamsa from the word ‘Bha’
(as in Bha-chakra which is the primary
representation of the zodiac as composed of
27 Nakshatra.
4. Multiple names: Divisions (D-charts) can
have multiple names from either of the three
aforementioned methods. For example the
16th division is called Shodasamsa [Shodas
(sixteen) Amsa (portion)]. This is also called
Kalamsa based on the 16 Kala’s in a 24-hour
day.
5. Rao’s Method: The nomenclature
introduced by Dr.K.N.Rao refers to each
divisional chart directly by its division number.
For example, the Siddhamsa is simply called
the D-24 Chart or just D-24 when the division
in the Rasi chart is being referred to.

Table 3 : Nomenclature

Division Primary Name Other names

D-1 Bhagana, Bha

Rasi
Chart chakra

D-2
Hora
Chart

D-3
Drekkana
Chart

D-4
Chaturthamsa Tureeyamsa
Chart

D-5
Panchamamsa
Chart

D-6
Shastamsa Kauluka
Chart

D-7
Saptamsa
Chart

D-8
Astamsa
Chart

D-9
Navamsa Dharmamsa
Chart

D-10
Dasamsa Swargamsa
Chart

D-11
Rudramsa Labhamsa
Chart

D-12
Dwadasamsa Suryamsa
Chart

D-13 to D-15 Charts Not used in Vedic

Astrology

D-16
Shodasamsa Kalamsa
Chart

Not used in
D-17 to D-19 Charts
Vedic Astrology

D-20
Vimsamsa
Chart

Not used in
D-21 to D-23 Charts
Vedic Astrology

D-24
Siddhamsa Chaturvimsamsa
Chart

Not used in
D-25 to D-26 Charts
Vedic Astrology

D-27 Bhamsa,
Nakshatramsa
Chart Saptavimsamsa

Not used in
D-28 to D-29 Charts
Vedic Astrology

D-30
Trimsamsa
Chart

Not used in
D-31 to D-39 Charts
Vedic Astrology

D-40
Khavedamsa Swavedamsa
Chart

Not used in