Chapter 3: Divisions of the Zodiac

From the aforesaid ten Vargas if we omit the Dasamsa, Shashtyamsa and Kalamsa, the remaining 7 kinds of divisions are known as Saptavargas. If from this we exclude the Saptamsa the remaining, 6 kinds of division are known as Shadvargas. Some are of opinion that the effect emanating from a Navamsa is similar (or equal) to that of the Rasi and Bhava.

The effect is full in the Rasis. In the other Vargas, it is half; and in the Shodasamsa, Dasamsa and Shashtyamsa Vargas, it is 1/4th. In an odd Rasi, planets are said to be in infancy, in boyhood, in adolescence, in advanced age and in extremis according to the first, second, third, fourth and the last six-degree portions respectively advanced by them in the sign. But in an even sign, these several divisions have to be made regularly in the reverse order.

Hora means half of a Rasi ; in an odd sign, the halves belong respectively to the Sun and the Moon, and in an even one, to the Moon and the Sun. The Drekkana or the third portions of a sign, are owned by the lords of the sign itself, of the son's or the 5th house and of the 9th or the house of Subha. The owners of the Dwadasamsas or 1/12th portions of a sign are to be reckoned from that sign. In an odd sign, the Trimsamsas or degrees, i.e., 1/30th portions allotted to Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus are respectively 5, 5, 8, 7 and 5. In an even sign, it is reversed. That is, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars have 5, 7, 8, 5 and 5 degrees respectively. The first Navamsas in the several signs from Mesha onwards commence respectively with Mesha, Makara, Tula and Karkataka.

In the case of an odd sign, the Krura Shashtyamsas or unpropitious 60th portions are 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 39th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 48th, 51st, 52nd and 59th. The rest are Saumya or propitious ones. In the case of even signs, it is reverse, that is— the Shashtyamsa portions stated as Krura in the odd signs are the propitious or Saumya ones in the even signs and vice versa.

The Sapthamsas or the 1/7th portions are in the case of an odd sign to be counted regularly from the sign itself, while in the case of an even sign they are to be reckoned from the 7th onwards. In the case of an odd sign, the Dasamamsas or 1/10th portions are to be counted from the sign itself ; in the case of an even sign, from its 9th onwards. The lords of the Shodasamsas or the 1/16th sub-divisions in the case of an odd sign are those of the 12 signs reckoned from that sign onward and Brahma, Vishnu, Hari and Ravi. In the case of an even sign, this is reversed. The renowned or auspicious parts of great excellence arise from the several Vargas (Rasi, Hora, Drekkana, etc.,) by the combination (of the special characteristics) of Trikona, Moolatrikonabhavana, Swakshetra, Swochcha, Kendra and Vargottama and number 7 in the case of the Saptha Vargas and 10 in the Dasa Vargas. Others reckon them as 13.

Consider with reference to the 13 Vargas a planet's position, whether it is in a friendly house, its own house or its exaltation house. You will have the following kinds of Vaiseshikamsas resulting. The combination of 2 Vargas is called Parijata ; the union of 3 Vargas is termed Uttama ; that of 4, Gopura. When 5 Vargas combine, it is called Simhasana. The union of 6 Vargas is called Paravata. The combination of 7 Vargas is called Devaloka ; that of 8 Vargas, Suraloka ; Airavata the name given for the union of 9 Vargas. Suppose Jupiter's position is 8 - 1° 25′-1″ or the 2nd degree of Dhanus. He occupies his (1) Moolatrikona (2) Drekkana (3) Saptamsa (4) Dasamsa (5) Dwadasamsa and (6) Kalamsa. Thus Jupiter must be declared to have attained a Paravatamsa.

A planet in a Parijatamsa will make the native respectable, endowed with many good qualities, wealth, happiness, power and dignity. A planet situated in an Uttamamsa will make him modest, clever and of good behaviour. A planet that has attained a Gopuramsa secures to the person concerned good intellect, wealth, lands, cows and house. A planet placed in a Simhasanamsa will enable the native to become the friend of a king or one on a par with him.

The planet that has attained a Paravatamsa will make the native endowed with very good horses, elephants, vehicles and other princely appendages. The person in whose nativity a planet has reached a Devalokamsa will be a king widely renowned for his good qualities. The planet that has gained an Airavatamsa in a person's nativity will make him a second God Indra fit to be saluted by kings. The planet in a Suralokamsa secures to the native good luck, wealth, corn, children and kingship.

If at a birth a planet be weak in all the 10 Vargas, it will cause the death of the native. If 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 out of the 10 Vargas be weak, the following are the effects in their order as a result thereof : (1) destruction (2) grief (3) calamity (4) unhappiness (5) love of relations (6) foremost among relations (7) friend of a king (8) a wealthy man and (9) a king. If a planet should be strong in all the Vargas, the native will be the best among kings. The effect of a planet's being in the Bala and other Avasthas will be that the native will be (1) progressing (2) happy (3) a king (4) suffering from disease and (5) dead respectively.

If there be a preponderance in strength of benefic planets in the Shadvargas, the native will be very wealthy and live for a long period. If the Lagna should happen to occupy Krura Amsas in the several Shadvargas, the native will be poor, short-lived and of a wicked disposition. But if the lords of those Amsas be strong, the person concerned will become a king. If the lord (1) of the rising Navamsa, (2) of the rising decanate or (3) of the (rising) Lagna Rasi be strong, the native will respectively be a person (1) endowed with happiness and comfort, (2) equal to a king, or (3) a ruler of the Earth possessing good fortune.

The person at whose birth malefics occupy the Sun's Hora in odd Rasis will be strong and sturdy, cruel in his behaviour and wealthy, while the one born with benefics posited in the lunar Hora of even signs will be brilliant in appearance, will speak mildly, will be pleasant and graceful. If it be otherwise, the effect also will be otherwise. If it be mixed, the effect will be mixed. In the case of a nativity where the Lagna and the Moon are very strong and the lords of the signs occupied by them be also similarly strong, the person concerned will be endowed with long life without any sorrow and will be widely renowned.

The last decanates of Simha, Mesha, Dhanus, Tula and Mithuna, the first ones of Dhanus and Mesha, the middle ones of Kanya and Mithuna are termed (Ayudha Drekkanas) or 'armed' decanates. The middle decanate of Vrischika is called "Pasa" (or noose). The first Drekkana of Makara is called "Nigala" (fetters) decanate. The first decanates of Simha and Kumbha and the middle one of Tula are vulture faced. The last decanate of Vrishabha is a bird (Pakshi) and the first decanate of Karkataka has a face like that of a pig.

The first decanate of Scorpio, the last one of Cancer and the last one of Pisces are termed Serpent decanates. The second of Mesha and Vrishabha, the first of Leo and the last of Scorpio are called quadruped decanates. Persons born in these (i.e., when these decanates are rising) will be without wealth, cruel in disposition, vile in character and indigent. In a dual sign, the 3 decanates in their order will be (Adhama or bad), (Madhyama or moderate) and (Uttama or good), while, in the case of a moveable sign, this order will be reversed. In a fixed sign, the order will be bad, good and mixed. Thus will the effects also be, when these decanates are rising. So say the wise.

If the lord of the (rising) decanate be in his own Varga, or associated with a benefic planet or be in his own exaltation or friendly house ; if the lord of the (rising) Trimsamsa, Dwadasamsa or Hora (Lagna?) possessing strength be in a similar position, the person concerned will be endowed with all good qualities, will always be pure, clever, long-lived, merciful and wealthy, will possess children, will be widely renowned and enjoy all comforts in a royal style.

Note the Rasi occupied by Mandi at a birth and note also where the lord of that Rasi is posited. The Lagna at birth will be a position triangular to that of the aforesaid lord or one triangular to the Navamsa occupied by the owner of the sign representing the Navamsa occupied by Mandi. It may be triangular to the Navamsa Rasi occupied by Gulika. When the Moon is strong, the Lagna should be deduced similarly through the Moon alone instead of through Mandi.

The Moon if posited in her own or a friend's decanate will make the native beautiful in appearance and possessed of good qualities. If she has attained an (Uttamavarga), she will also make him very lucky ; if she be posited anywhere else, she will endow the native with such qualities as belong to the planet owning the house occupied by her. Planets that are in their own Trimsamsas will do all that have been ascribed to them as Karakas. If there be at least one planet in his own or exaltation house and at the same time aspected by or associated with a friendly planet, the native will become a king endowed with riches.

A planet is blazing when he is in his exaltation ; he is happy in his Moolatrikona ; he is confident in his own house; he is delighted in a friend's house; calm when he has reached the Varga of a benefic planet. He is capable when he shines bright with unclouded splendour.

He is tortured when overcome by another planet. He is base by union with the Varga of a malefic planet. He is exceedingly distressed when he occupies an enemy's house. He is greatly afraid when he is in his depression. He is failing when he has set or disappeared.