Vargas (Ṣoḍaśa-varga): Subtle Divisions in Vedic Astrology
Vargas (subtle divisional charts) subdivide each rāśi (sign) to refine a horoscope
far beyond the basic chart. They help differentiate charts cast for births close in
time (even twins) and allow astrologers to assess specific life areas with much
greater granularity. Sage Parāśara describes sixteen such divisions, collectively
called the Ṣoḍaśa-varga. Mastery of vargas is considered essential for accurate,
specific predictions.
Why Vargas Matter (Beginner’s View)
Finer resolution: A sign remains on the horizon ~2 hours; many people born in that
span would share the same basic chart. Vargas separate “look-alike” charts.
Topic-specific reading: Each varga spotlights a domain (e.g., spouse, profession,
education), letting you verify and detail promises seen in the main chart.
Overview of the Sixteen Vargas
The sixteen divisions named by Parāśara are listed below; the remainder of this
article explains how to construct and use each.
Rāśi (the full sign, 30°)
Horā (½ sign, 15°)
Drekkāṇa (⅓ sign, 10°)
Caturthāṁśa (¼ sign, 7°30′)
Saptāṁśa (1/7 sign, 4°17′8.5″)
Navāṁśa (1/9 sign, 3°20′)
Daśāṁśa (1/10 sign, 3°)
Dvādāśāṁśa (1/12 sign, 2°30′)
Ṣoḍaśāṁśa (1/16 sign, 1°52′30″)
Viṁśāṁśa (1/20 sign, 1°30′)
Caturviṁśāṁśa or Siddhāṁśa (1/24 sign, 1°15′)
Bhāṁśa or Saptaviṁśāṁśa (1/27 sign, 1°6′40″)
Triṁśāṁśa (special 30th parts, unequal)
Khavedāṁśa (1/40 sign, 0°45′)
Akṣavedāṁśa (1/45 sign, 0°40′)
Ṣaṣṭyāṁśa (1/60 sign, 0°30′)
How to Construct Each Varga (with use-tips)
1) Rāśi (Main Chart)
The basic natal chart using whole 30° signs. It is the foundation for all analysis.
(Listed among the sixteen by Parāśara.)
2) Horā (D-2): Wealth Lens
Divide each sign into two 15° halves. In odd signs, the first 15° are the Sun’s
(Siṁha) Horā and the second 15° are the Moon’s (Karka) Horā; in even signs, the
order reverses (Moon first, then Sun). Commonly used for wealth and prosperity.
3) Drekkāṇa (D-3): Siblings & Past Karma
Divide each sign into three equal parts of 10°. The 1st Drekkāṇa belongs to the
same sign; the 2nd to the 5th from it; the 3rd to the 9th from it. Used for
siblings and their well-being.
4) Caturthāṁśa (D-4): Luck & Residence
Divide the sign into four parts of 7°30′. 0–7°30′ belongs to the same sign; 7°30′–
15° to the 4th sign from it; 15°–22°30′ to the 7th; 22°30′–30° to the 10th. Applied
to fortune and property/residence.
5) Saptāṁśa (D-7): Children
Seven parts of 4°17′8.5″. In odd signs, the seven parts proceed in natural order
from the sign itself; in even signs, the first part goes to the 7th sign from it,
then proceed in order. Used for children/grandchildren; can also reflect
temperament.
6) Navāṁśa (D-9): Spouse & Dharma
Nine parts of 3°20′. In movable signs the first navāṁśa is the same sign; in fixed
signs it starts from the 9th; in dual signs from the 5th. Results tend to manifest
more surely by navāṁśa than by rāśi; when a planet occupies the same sign in both
(called Vargottama), it is highly auspicious.
7) Daśāṁśa (D-10): Profession & Honors
Ten parts of 3°. In odd signs, 0–3° start from the same sign and then proceed; in
even signs, 0–3° start from the 9th sign from it and then proceed. Useful for
profession and “specific benefits.”
8) Dvādāśāṁśa (D-12): Parents
Twelve parts of 2°30′. The first part is the same sign; the remaining eleven follow
in natural order. Interpreted for father and mother.
9) Ṣoḍaśāṁśa (D-16): Vehicles & Comforts
Sixteen parts of 1°52′30″. In movable signs, the sequence begins from Meṣa,
proceeds to Vṛṣa, etc., till the 12th (Mīna); the 13th restarts from Meṣa and
continues to the 16th ending in Karka. In fixed signs, the first is Siṁha and last
Vṛścika; in dual signs, first is Dhanu, last Mīna. Assessed for pleasures/troubles
from conveyances.
10) Viṁśāṁśa (D-20): Spiritual Pursuits
Twenty parts of 1°30′. Starts from Meṣa in movable signs, from Dhanu in fixed
signs, and from Siṁha in dual signs; then proceeds regularly. Used for tapas,
learning, and inner practices.
11) Caturviṁśāṁśa / Siddhāṁśa (D-24): Education
Twenty-four parts of 1°15′. In odd signs, the sequence begins from Siṁha; in even
signs, from Karka; then proceeds regularly. Employed for learning and academic
attainments.
12) Bhāṁśa / Saptaviṁśāṁśa (D-27): Strength & Weakness
Twenty-seven parts of 1°6′40″. Start-sign depends on the element of the rāśi: in
fiery signs begin from Meṣa; earthy from Karka; airy from Tulā; watery from Makara;
then proceed in regular order.
13) Triṁśāṁśa (D-30): Miseries & Troubles
Unlike equal divisions, each sign is split into five unequal parts assigned to
Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus. In odd signs: Mars 0–5°, Saturn 5–10°,
Jupiter 10–18°, Mercury 18–25°, Venus 25–30°; in even signs the order reverses
(Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars with spans 5°, 7°, 8°, 5°, 5° respectively).
Used for adversities and suffering.
14) Khavedāṁśa (D-40): Auspicious/Inauspicious Happenings
Forty parts of 0°45′. In odd signs, the first division is Meṣa; in even signs,
Tulā; then proceed in order.
15) Akṣavedāṁśa (D-45): Composite Factors
Forty-five parts of 0°40′. In movable signs start from Meṣa; in fixed from Siṁha;
in dual from Dhanu; proceed regularly thereafter.
16) Ṣaṣṭyāṁśa (D-60): Very Fine Karma Signatures
Sixty parts of 0°30′ each; first belongs to the sign itself, then proceed in order.
Parāśara emphasizes its predictive utility, but it requires extremely accurate
birth time and is therefore rarely reliable in practice.
How Vargas Are Used (Applications by Life Area)
Traditional assignments for the sixteen vargas are:
Rāśi (D-1): Physical well-being of the native.
Horā (D-2): Wealth and prosperity.
Drekkāṇa (D-3): Brothers/sisters and their welfare.
Caturthāṁśa (D-4): Luck; residence.
Saptāṁśa (D-7): Children and grandchildren.
Navāṁśa (D-9): Spouse.
Daśāṁśa (D-10): Specific benefits; profession.
Dvādāśāṁśa (D-12): Father and mother.
Ṣoḍaśāṁśa (D-16): Vehicles and comforts.
Viṁśāṁśa (D-20): Spiritual pursuits.
Caturviṁśāṁśa (D-24): Education/learning.
Bhāṁśa (D-27): Strength and weakness.
Triṁśāṁśa (D-30): Miseries and troubles.
Khavedāṁśa (D-40): Auspicious/inauspicious events.
Akṣavedāṁśa (D-45): Overall composite indications.
Ṣaṣṭyāṁśa (D-60): Overall composite indications.
Navāṁśa is singled out as the most practically useful varga; the promise seen in D-
1 should be confirmed in D-9 before prediction, and planets often deliver results
according to their D-9 positions even over D-1.
Manasāgari also lists a classic set of emphases: Lagna—body/character; Horā—wealth;
Drekkāṇa—results of past karma; Saptāṁśa—number of siblings; Navāṁśa—overall;
Dvādāśāṁśa—spouse (per this author’s note); Triṁśāṁśa—death. (Author notes variants
exist and offers these as traditional attributions.)
Extra note: In the Tājika (annual) system, additional special divisional charts are
used, not covered here.
Sub-Groups of Vargas and Their Relative Importance
Astrologers do not always use all sixteen vargas uniformly. Traditional practice
groups them into four sets (e.g., Ṣaḍvarga, Saptavarga, Daśavarga, Ṣoḍaśavarga),
assigning relative weights so that the combined value of each group equals 20
units. Within these, Ṣaṣṭyāṁśa is accorded special theoretical importance in the
Daśavarga and Ṣoḍaśavarga, but in practice it is seldom used due to sensitivity to
birth time accuracy.
Practical Workflow for Beginners
Start with D-1: Judge the promise in the natal chart.
Confirm in D-9: Cross-check marriage, dharma, and overall strength; note any
Vargottama planets (same sign in D-1 and D-9).
Add topic-specific vargas: Use D-10 for career, D-7 for children, D-12 for parents,
D-24 for education, etc., per the list above.
Mind birth-time precision: Finer vargas (D-45, D-60) demand extremely accurate
times; interpret cautiously.
Key Terms (IAST)
Rāśi: Sign of the zodiac.
Lagna: Ascendant (rising sign).
Varga: Divisional chart (e.g., D-9, D-10).
Vargottama: A planet occupying the same sign in D-1 and the relevant varga (usually
D-9); considered highly favorable.
Kendra / Pāṇaphara / Apoklima: Angular / succedent / cadent houses; used frequently
across chart work.
At a Glance: What Each Varga Highlights
Use the following as a quick reference while reading charts: D-1 body & life, D-2
wealth, D-3 siblings/past karma, D-4 property/luck, D-7 children, D-9 spouse &
dharma, D-10 profession/honours, D-12 parents, D-16 vehicles/comforts, D-20
spirituality, D-24 education, D-27 strengths/weaknesses, D-30 adversities, D-40
auspiciousness, D-45 composite factors, D-60 composite karma signatures.
Notes & Cautions
Navāṁśa primacy: Always corroborate D-1 findings in D-9 before prediction.
Fine divisions: D-60 can be powerful but unreliable without recorded times to the
minute.
Alternative systems: Annual (Tājika) methods may employ additional divisional
charts not covered here.
Appendix: Construction Rules (Consolidated)
Horā (D-2): Odd signs = Sun 0–15°, Moon 15–30°; Even signs = Moon 0–15°, Sun 15–
30°.
Drekkāṇa (D-3): 1st = same sign; 2nd = 5th from it; 3rd = 9th from it.
Caturthāṁśa (D-4): 0–7°30′ same; 7°30′–15° 4th; 15°–22°30′ 7th; 22°30′–30° 10th.
Saptāṁśa (D-7): Odd = natural order; Even = start from 7th, then natural order.
Navāṁśa (D-9): Movable start = same sign; Fixed = 9th; Dual = 5th; each part =
3°20′.
Daśāṁśa (D-10): Odd start from same; Even start from 9th; each = 3°.
Dvādāśāṁśa (D-12): 1st same, then regular order; each = 2°30′.
Ṣoḍaśāṁśa (D-16): Movable start Meṣa; Fixed start Siṁha; Dual start Dhanu; each =
1°52′30″.
Viṁśāṁśa (D-20): Movable start Meṣa; Fixed start Dhanu; Dual start Siṁha; each =
1°30′.
Caturviṁśāṁśa (D-24): Odd start Siṁha; Even start Karka; each = 1°15′.
Bhāṁśa (D-27): Fiery start Meṣa; Earthy Karka; Airy Tulā; Watery Makara; each =
1°6′40″.
Triṁśāṁśa (D-30): Five unequal segments (Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus) in
odd signs; reversed in even signs.
Khavedāṁśa (D-40): Odd start Meṣa; Even start Tulā; each = 0°45′.
Akṣavedāṁśa (D-45): Movable start Meṣa; Fixed Siṁha; Dual Dhanu; each = 0°40′.
Ṣaṣṭyāṁśa (D-60): First belongs to the sign itself; then regular order; each =
0°30′.
