Parashara: the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra · Chapter 3 of 9
The sixteen divisions
Varahamihira used six divisions of each sign. The BPHS uses sixteen (shodashavarga) (6.2–4), each a chart of its own read for a particular matter.
How each is counted (BPHS 6)
| D | Name | Size of part | Rule | Read for (7.1–8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rashi | 30° | the sign itself | the body |
| 2 | Hora | 15° | odd signs: Sun's half then Moon's; even signs the reverse (6.5–6) | wealth |
| 3 | Drekkana | 10° | the sign, its 5th and its 9th; presided over by Narada, Agastya and Durvasa (6.7–8) | siblings |
| 4 | Chaturthamsa | 7°30′ | the lords of the four kendras from the sign (6.9) | fortune |
| 7 | Saptamsa | 4°17′ | odd signs from the sign; even signs from its 7th (6.10–11) | children |
| 9 | Navamsa | 3°20′ | movable signs from the sign; fixed from its 9th; dual from its 5th (6.12) | the spouse |
| 10 | Dashamsa | 3° | odd signs from the sign; even from its 9th; the ten guardians of the directions preside (6.13–14) | power and position |
| 12 | Dvadashamsa | 2°30′ | from the sign itself (6.15) | parents |
| 16 | Shodashamsa | 1°52′30″ | movable from Aries, fixed from Leo, dual from Sagittarius (6.16) | vehicles |
| 20 | Vimshamsa | 1°30′ | movable from Aries, fixed from Sagittarius, dual from Leo (6.17–21) | worship |
| 24 | Chaturvimshamsa | 1°15′ | odd signs from Leo, even from Cancer (6.22–23) | learning |
| 27 | Saptavimshamsa | 1°06′40″ | "from Aries and the other movable signs" (6.24–26) | strength and weakness |
| 30 | Trimshamsa | unequal | odd: Mars 5°, Saturn 5°, Jupiter 8°, Mercury 7°, Venus 5°; even reversed (6.27–28) | evils |
| 40 | Khavedamsa | 45′ | odd from Aries, even from Libra (6.29–30) | auspicious and inauspicious effects |
| 45 | Akshavedamsa | 40′ | movable from Aries, fixed from Leo, dual from Sagittarius (6.31–32) | all matters |
| 60 | Shashtyamsa | 30′ | double the degrees in the sign, divide by 12, add 1 to the remainder (6.33–41) | all matters |
Where the text needs a convention
The research behind this website found several places where the BPHS (in the transcription read) does not fully settle the rule:
- D27: "from Aries and the other movable signs" is usually read as fire signs from Aries, earth from Cancer, air from Libra, water from Capricorn — an interpretation.
- D30: the BPHS names the lords and deities of the five parts, not the signs, so placing them in a chart needs a convention.
- D60: whether to count from the sign itself or from Aries is disputed; the 60 parts are named (Ghora, Rakshasa, Deva ... Indurekha), in order for odd signs and reversed for even, and are benefic or malefic (6.33–41).
A careful astrologer states the convention used.
Classes of dignity (BPHS 6.42–53)
A planet in a "good" division — its exaltation, moolatrikona or own sign — in several divisions earns a named class. In the ten-division scheme: 2 good divisions Parijata, 3 Uttama, 4 Gopura, 5 Simhasana, 6 Paravata, 7 Devaloka, 8 Brahmaloka, 9 Airavata, 10 Sridhama; the six- and seven-division schemes and the sixteen-division scheme have their own names. Divisions of a combust, defeated or weak planet do not count (6.42–53).
The twenty-point strength (BPHS 7.17–27)
Vimshopaka bala scores a planet out of 20 across a set of divisions. Each scheme has weights adding to 20 (7.17–27):
| Scheme | Weights |
|---|---|
| Six divisions | D1 6, D2 2, D3 4, D9 5, D12 2, D30 1 |
| Seven | D1 5, D2 2, D3 3, D7 2½, D9 4½, D12 2, D30 1 |
| Ten | D1 3, D60 5, the other eight 1½ each |
| Sixteen | D1 3½, D60 4, D9 3, D16 2, D2 1, D3 1, D30 1, the other nine ½ each |
In each division the planet scores by its relation to the sign's lord: own 20, great friend 18, friend 15, neutral 10, enemy 7, great enemy 5. The total is Σ (weight × score ÷ 20).
Reading the result: under 5, the planet cannot give good results; 5–10, some; 10–15, middling; over 15, fully favourable.
Summary
- Sixteen divisions, each with a counting rule and a matter (6.2–41; 7.1–8).
- D27, D30 and D60 need a stated convention.
- Planets dignified in several divisions earn named classes (6.42–53).
- Vimshopaka bala scores a planet out of 20 with four schemes of weights (7.17–27).
Exercises
- Which division is read for career and position? For children?
- From which sign do the navamsas of a fixed sign begin?
- What is the Vimshopaka weight of the navamsa in the six-division scheme?
- A planet scores 20 in every one of the six divisions. What is its Vimshopaka?
Answers: 1. D10 (dashamsa); D7 (saptamsa). 2. From its 9th sign (6.12). 3. 5. 4. 20 × 20 ÷ 20 = 20.