VedaChartsThe Navamsha is the most-used divisional chart, but classical practice recognizes a wider set. Brihat Jataka chapter 21 names several others, and BPHS chapter 6 lists the canonical sixteen-fold Shodasavarga set BJ 21.1 .
This lesson gives a brief tour of the wider varga set. Foundation reading does not require deep work in any divisional chart other than the navamsha, so this is overview rather than detail. Each varga has specialized use cases, and most practitioners only consult them for charts where the corresponding life area is a primary concern.
The most-cited vargas
Hora (D2). The half-sign division. Each sign is split into two halves of 15° each. The D2 is read for wealth and basic resource flow. Classical practice treats the Sun-half (the first 15° of odd signs and the last 15° of even signs) as one zone and the Moon-half (the rest) as the other. Wealth comes through the half that holds the most planets.
Drekkana (D3). The decanate, or third-sign division. Each sign is split into three thirds of 10° each. BJ chapter 27 gives a rich pictorial portrait of the 36 drekkanas of the zodiac, mostly used in horary work but also in natal practice for siblings and courage BJ 27.1. The D3 is most often consulted for sibling readings and for confirming details about the 3rd house.
Saptamsha (D7). The seventh-sign division. Each sign is split into seven parts. The D7 is read for children and grandchildren. When the rasi 5th house and the D7 chart agree on a strong fertility signal, the chart's indications around children are amplified.
Dasamsha (D10). The tenth-sign division. Each sign is split into ten parts. The D10 is read for career and public role specifically. The rasi 10th house gives the broad career signal; the D10 chart gives the detail. Many practitioners consult the D10 for any career-focused reading, alongside the navamsha and rasi.
Dwadasamsha (D12). The twelfth-sign division. Each sign is split into twelve parts. The D12 is read for parents specifically. The rasi 4th and 9th give the broad signals for mother and father; the D12 refines them.
Shodasamsha (D16). The sixteenth-sign division, used for vehicles and conveyances. Less often consulted in foundation reading.
Vimsamsha (D20). The twentieth-sign division, used for spiritual practice and sadhana.
Chaturvimsamsha (D24). The twenty-fourth-sign division, used for education and learning.
Bhamsa (D27). The twenty-seventh-sign division, used for stamina and constitutional strength.
Trimsamsa (D30). The thirtieth-sign division, used for misfortune and difficult conditions. BJ 1.7 mentions the Trimsamsa specifically for the horoscopy of women, where it has a role in the classical text BJ 1.7. Modern practice reads it more generally for difficult life patterns.
Khavedamsha (D40), Akshavedamsha (D45), Shashtiamsha (D60). Progressively finer divisions used for specific advanced readings, particularly the D60 for fine karmic detail.
When to use the wider vargas
The practical rule for foundation reading is simple. Use the rasi for the broad picture. Use the navamsha for the second look at every chart. Use the other vargas only when the corresponding life area is a primary concern.
A chart focused on career: rasi + navamsha + D10.
A chart focused on partnership: rasi + navamsha (the navamsha 7th is the key partnership chart).
A chart focused on children: rasi + navamsha + D7.
A chart focused on relationship with parents: rasi + navamsha + D12.
A chart focused on spiritual practice: rasi + navamsha + D20.
For most readings, the rasi and navamsha together give enough detail. The wider vargas are precision tools used selectively.
A note on the drekkana
The drekkana (D3) is the only varga other than the navamsha that BJ covers in significant detail. BJ chapter 27 walks through 36 specific drekkana descriptions, mostly pictorial in nature: the 1st drekkana of Aries shows a dark man holding an axe; the 2nd shows a woman thirsty for water; the 3rd shows a fierce man; and so on through 36 specific images.
These pictorial drekkanas are most often used in horary astrology (prashna), where the drekkana of the rising sign at the moment a question is asked describes the situation being asked about. They are less used in modern natal practice, but worth knowing exist.
Try this
In the Chart Explorer, locate the panel for the Dasamsha (D10) chart in your chart. Compare your D10 placements to your rasi placements. Pick the planet that lords your rasi 10th house and find its D10 placement. Where does it land in the D10? The rasi 10th tells you the broad career signal; the D10 placement gives the second look.
If the D10 placement reinforces the rasi 10th, the career signal is structurally consistent. If they disagree, the D10 is what tells you how the career actually behaves under pressure.
Sources
- Brihat Jataka, Varahamihira; tr. N. Chidambaram Iyer, 1885
- Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, attributed to Parashara
Key Takeaways
- BJ 21 and BPHS 6 catalogue the wider varga set; the canonical set is the Shodasavarga (16-fold)
- Most-cited vargas: D2 (wealth), D3 (siblings), D7 (children), D10 (career), D12 (parents), D60 (karmic detail)
- BJ chapter 27 covers the 36 drekkanas in pictorial detail, mostly for horary use
- Foundation rule: rasi + navamsha for every chart; specific vargas only when the corresponding life area is a primary concern
- BJ 1.7 mentions the Trimsamsa (D30) specifically; modern practice extends its use to difficult life patterns generally
Check Your Understanding
Tests when to use which divisional chart.
For a chart-reading focused on career, which divisional chart adds the most detail beyond the rasi?
Keep practicing
Spaced practice locks this in faster than a single read-through.
Read alongside this
Long-form articles that go deeper on the same topics.
The Dasamsa (D10): Your Vedic Career Chart →
The D10 Dasamsa is the classical Vedic chart for work, vocation, and public role. A practical guide to how it is built, what it reveals beyond the D1 tenth house, and how to read career signals without overreading them.
The Dwadasamsa (D12): Parents, Ancestry, and Inherited Patterns →
The D12 Dwadasamsa is the Vedic chart of parents and ancestry. A practical guide to how it is built, what it reveals about mother, father, and the patterns passed down, and the common places it is misread.
The Saptamsa (D7): Children, Progeny, and What You Bring Into the World →
The D7 Saptamsa is the Vedic chart for children, creative output, and the work that outlives you. A practical guide to how it is built, what it reveals beyond raw fertility, and how careful practitioners read it today.
The Drekkana (D3): Siblings, Courage, and the Chart of the Third House →
The D3 Drekkana is the Vedic divisional for siblings, courage, and initiative. A practical guide to how it is built, what it reliably shows, and the misreadings to avoid.
The Hora (D2): Wealth, Resources, and How a Chart Accumulates →
The D2 Hora is the Vedic divisional for wealth and material stability. A practical guide to how it is built, what it reliably shows, and why Parashari and Jaimini traditions read it differently.
The Trimshamsha (D30): Misfortunes, Friction, and the Chart of Hidden Difficulty →
The D30 Trimshamsha is the Vedic divisional for misfortunes, character friction, and difficulties that do not show up in the Rasi. A practical guide to how it is built, what it reliably shows, and how careful modern readers use it.
The Shastiamsa (D60): Accumulated Karma and the Most Sensitive Divisional →
The D60 Shastiamsa is the most sensitive and highest-weighted Vedic divisional chart. A practical guide to how it is built, what it reliably shows, and why it requires accurate birth-time rectification.
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