A Flowchart of the Iyer Divisional Chart Analysis Method

By Hank Friedman

Note: some unusual features of Iyer's method, to take into account, are:

Unique Nodal rulerships, etc.: Rahu rules Aquarius and has dig bala in the 7th house, Ketu rules Aries and has dig bala in the 10th house, both nodes are exalted in Scorpio and debilitated in Taurus. Always take into account their dispositor's strength (by sign, not house) when evaluating the dasa of either node.

Sole Enemies: If a planet is aspected by its sole enemy in a D chart, its dasa results are more negative than they would be otherwise. The sole enemy like a specific additional malefic for each planet. Since Rahu will always be with or opposite ketu, ignore its effect on ketu. The sequence: Sa --> Su --> Ju --> Ve --> Ra --> Ke --> Ma --> Me --> Mo --> Sa (e.g. Moon is sole enemy of Saturn)

Vargottama: If a dasa lord is in the same sign that it is in the birth chart, it is considered vargottama. A dasa lord that is vargottama is significantly strengthened, i.e. a strong positive influence.

Mercury: Mercury is always treated as a benefic in D charts.

Unique Amsas: Iyer computes certain divisional charts, e.g. D-16 and D-11, differently from more conventional methods. That is why most modern Vedic software produced in North America offers the option of selecting Iyer D charts.

1. Evaluate Conditioning by Dasa

A. Look at the dasa sequence from birth to the present. If the person has run the dasa of the ruler of the ascendant of the divisional chart – at an appropriate time in the person's life* -- then assess the placement of that dasa lord, and if it is clearly well-placed or poorly placed, then the subsequent dasas (throughout the life) will be respectively good or bad. In other words, if someone has a Leo ascendant in their D-9 Marriage divisional chart, and they ran the Sun dasa at a marriageable age, and the position of the Sun in the D-9 is good, then for the rest of their lives, relationships will go well.

*An appropriate time in the person's life (to run a dasa) is adulthood for career (D-10), marriage (D-9), children (D-7), assets (D-4) etc., and childhood for siblings (D-3), parents (D-12), health (D-6), education (D-24), etc.

B. Look at the dasa sequence for a particular theme/varga such as marriage. If during marriageable years, the first three dasas that run are of planets that are poorly placed in that varga, then a pattern of challenges in relationships is set into place, and difficult to change. (A positive pattern, of course, can also occur.)

2. Analyze each varga chart statically (i.e. without respect to dasa sequence):

A. Look for karaka bhavo nashya:

for the D-9, Venus (spouse) is in the 1st

for the D-12, Sun (father) or Moon (mother) in the 1st

for the D-3, Mars (younger sibling) or Jupiter (older sibling) in the 1st

for the D-7, Jupiter (child) in the 1st

If any of these occur in the relevant D chart, then the person indicated in parentheses or your relationship with them, is disrupted as a life them.

B. Evaluate the strength of the D chart. If there are many planets in or aspecting the 1st, or a planet in its own sign in the 1st, or the lord of the D chart strongly placed (and especially also aspecting the 1st), then that D chart is strong and things tend to go well in that arena of life.

C. Look for yogas in the D chart. (Note: only yogas that do not involve house rulership should be assessed.)

Yogas that should be noted include Maha Purusha yogas (true planet in own or exalted sign in an angle), kartari yogas, (the effects of planets hemmed in by benefics and malefics) mala yoga around the 1st house, if Mercury, Venus & Jupiter in the 12th, 1st & 2nd, great, if malefics bad.neecha bhanga yoga, if the lord of a planet debilitated in a D chart is in a kendra or aspects the planet, good results (unless the debilitated planet is in 3, 6, 8, 12). If neecha bhanga exists because the neecha planet is conjunct its dispositor, the dasa of the neecha planet goes well, but not the dasa of its dispositor. parivartana yoga, read planets in the D chart as if in their own sign (but do not move to the other house)

3. Begin the specific Dasa/Bhukti analysis:

A. For the Dasa lord, first look at house placement for the following:

I. Sankhya yogas. If the dasa lord is in one of these pairs of houses, look to the other house to see if it is occupied: 1/7, 2/12, 3/11, 4/10, 5/9, 6/8.

If there is no planet in the paired house, then the house placement is the major factor:

Dasa lord in houses 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, & 10 gives good results, dasa lord in houses 3, 6, 8, & 12 gives bad results, dasa lord in houses 2 or11 gives neutral but generally positive results unless other negative factors influence the dasa lord.

If there is a planet in the paired house, then a sankhya yoga exists. If the dasa lord is a malefic, its cycle is made worse (and even worse if the paired planet is a malefic). If the dasa lord is a benefic, then the cycle is made better (more better if the paired planet is a benefic). Subtle point: if the paired planets are in 1/7, 5/9, or 4/10 the dasa is better than paired planets with the dasa lord in 3, 6, 8, or 12, all other things taken into account.

If a malefic in a sankhya yoga is in poor condition, even worse results. If a benefic in a sankhya yoga is in good condition, better results. A well-conditioned planet in a bad house in a D-chart (without a sankhya yoga) indicates only somewhat undesirable results. Weak placement of a planet during its maha dasha can cause an unexpectedly positive event to reverse, cause problems, or otherwise be annulled.

B. Look for Influences upon the Dasa Lord and Important Exceptions:

i. Vargottama Lagna. If the lagna of a D chart is the same as the lagna of the birth chart, then that D chart's themes are very important to the person. Additionally, if the vargottama lord of the 1st house in the D chart is in a positive house and in good condition: the person is awake to themes of the D chart. If in negative house and weak: they're asleep. mixed: dreaming.

ii. D chart vs. birth chart influence. In general in a person's life, if a planet is strong in the birth chart and weak in the D chart, its themes are good for the person. But during the dasa of a planet, the position in the D chart is much more significant than the position in the birth chart. If a planet is strong in both, great; if a planet is weak in both, very difficult. It is important to understand that a completely confluent pattern in the birth chart may not be reversed by an opposite them in a D chart, even during relevant dasa periods.

iii. Birth chart conditions that affect D charts. If a planet is seriously combust (within 3 degrees of the Sun), or in a planetary war (especially the loser of the war), then that planet's weakness permeates all of the D charts too. Similarly, someone born on the New Moon, e.g. with the Moon within 1/2 sign of the Sun, makes the Moon weak in all of the D charts. If a planet is retrograde at birth, on the other hand, it is stronger in all of the D charts.

iv. Redemption by a strong benefic. If Jupiter is strong in a D chart (by being vargottama, in own or exalted sign, or with dig bala, i.e. in 1st house), it will nullify a bad house placement or bad sankya yoga for every planet it aspects (except possibly Venus). A very strong Venus occasionally has a similar effect.

v. Disruption by debilitation. If a dasa lord is debilitated or even conjunct a debilitated planet, its themes are disrupted for that D chart.

vi. Karakas. If karakas of a theme are well placed in a D chart, good for the theme. (And vice versa.)

vii. Flanking. If the 1st house or dasa lord are flanked by poorly conditioned malefics, negative results. (vice versa, too.) If there are benefics in the 12th, 1st, and 2nd houses of a D chart, this positive necklace has very positive results.

viii. Specific Planetary Exceptions. A Strong Mars in the 6th house in a D chart is good (unless paired with a malefic in the 8th). Saturn in the 1st house in good condition in the D-8 gives good results. Mercury in good condition in the 8th in D-4 gives good results. A weak and poorly placed Moon influenced by Ketu in the D-12 chart renders mother a widow, divorced, or separated from husband.

ix. Multiple Malefics. A dasa lord aspected by many malefics gives poorer results for that D chart.

x. Strong Malefics across Kendras. If a dasa lord is a strong malefic and the paired planet is a strong malefic, both across the 1/7 or 4/10 axis, then both dasas give good results.

xi. The 6th House. If a strong planet is in the 6th, the first half of the dasa goes well, and the second half poorly.

xii. Predicting Endings. If the dasa lord is in the 3rd or 8th house, without a redeeming sankya yoga, themes of the D chart will come to an end during the dasa, e.g. for D-10, career might end (retirement).

xiii. The 11th House. Especially for the D-11, the themes of the house placement of the dasa lord express themselves. For example, one's partner may receive honors if you are running the dasa of a well-placed planet in the 7th house of the D-11 chart.

xiv. Swabhukti. At the beginning of a dasa, when the planet is running its own bhukti, e.g. Sun/Sun, you only begin to notice the results of the dasa change if the dasa lord is in own sign in the birth or D-chart -- more powerful in D-chart – or in own nakshatra in birth chart. Otherwise, it is the second bhukti in which the effects of the dasa change are really notable.

xv. Sandhi. The time period immediately before and after a dasa lord changes to a new planet is a time of very significant flux. Many life changes will occur during this time.

C. Look at the relationship of the dasa lord to the bhukti lord.

I. How does the bhukti lord affect the dasa? If the two lords are not in mutual relationship and the bhukti lord does not have "control over the dasa lord", then the bhukti period is primarily determined by the dasa lord.

The dasa and bhukti lords are in mutual relationship if they mutually aspect each other, are in parivartana yoga, in each other's nakshatra, or are even in trinal or kendra relationship to each other. These mutual relationships are much stronger if they occur in the D chart, but should also be looked for in the birth chart if they don't exist in the D chart.

If they are in mutual relationship, then the dasa lord has the primary influence unless the condition of the bhukti lord is much more exaggerated (e.g. the dasa lord is ordinarily placed but the bhukti lord is either very strong or very weak).

The bhukti lord takes control over the dasa lord if:

a. The dasa lord is in the sign of the bhukti lord in the D chart, and not vice versa.

b. The dasa lord is in the nakshatra of the bhukti lord in the birth chart, and not vice versa.

c. The dasa lord is aspected by the bhukti lord in the D chart, and not vice versa.

d. If none of the above apply, and the dasa lord neither aspects nor rules the bhukti lord in the birth chart, but the bhukti lord does rule or aspect the dasa lord in the birth chart, the bhukti lord will have some influence on the dasa lord.

ii. What is the relationship between the dasa lord and the bhukti lord in the birth chart.

If the two lords have a noticeable relationship in the birth chart, then the bhukti period becomes a very important time for the fruition and resolution of the birth chart relationship between the two planets.

iii. To interpret the themes arising, look at the confluence between the dasa and bhukti lords in the birth chart.

If, in the birth chart, one lord rules the 5th and the other is in the 5th, or signficator for the 5th, or aspects the 5th or the 5th lord, then the themes of the 5th house are activated during the dasa/bhukti.

---------------------------------------------------

The true integration of Iyer techniques comes when you can "feel the lean" of the pattern in the chart you're examining and accurately predict through that recognition

Teachings in Western and Vedic Astrology July 2002

The Teachings of Iyer -- Part One

[Note: the following approach is my interpretation of Iyer's methods as taught to me by my Vedic astrology teacher Hart de Fouw.]

Sheshadri Iyer was one of the most brilliant Vedic astrologers of the 20th century, and among his many advances, he shared tremendous new insights on how to use divisional charts (Vargas).

He taught that we should evaluate the meaning of each Varga chart with respect to the planets whose dasa and bhukti are running at each period of a person's life. For example, if a person is running a Venus dasa, then one would focus on the position of Venus in each varga chart.

While the rules he developed for interpreting divisional charts by these methods have a lot of exceptions and clauses, there are many very useful general principles that are definitely worth applying even before one learns all of the subtleties:

1. For both the rasi (birth) chart and for each divisional chart, when the dasa lord and the bhukti lord have a relationship in the chart (e.g. mutual aspects, exchange of signs, exchange of nakshatras, or a mixture of these) then that dasa/bhukti period will be very significant for bringing to the surface and resolving and/or fulfilling the patterns represented by the two planets in relationship. E.g. Harrison Ford's career exploded when his Jupiter conjunct Mercury in Gemini in the 10th house was activated by the Mercury Dasa, Jupiter Bhukti.

2. If a person runs several dasas in a row that are all unfavorable or all favorable, during the relevant time in their life for the matter of a specific divisional chart, then that life theme becomes "conditioned" by the repetitive pattern and unlikely to reverse course. E.g. if a person from the age of 18 onward ran dasas of planets that were well positioned in the Navamsa (marriage) chart, then even if subsequent dasa lords are poorly placed, the marriage continues to go well.

3. For each area of life, the rasi chart should never be ignored. While the appropriate varga chart may indeed carry more weight in determining the outcome during any period, the promise of the rasi is constant and when the themes of the rasi chart and the varga chart support each other, then is the most likely time of an event happening. E.g. if in the rasi chart, a person has Mars as lord of the 7th, and Mars is well placed in the Navamsa chart, then it becomes likely that the person will be married during the Dasa or Bhukti of Mars.

Note: the following rules apply specifically to divisional (Varga) charts and not to the rasi (birth) chart. Please remember that when an area of life goes poorly, it can mean that either the relationship with that theme may be difficult, or the people or activities represented by that division may have problems. For example, if your Dwadamsa chart (parents) is going through a bad dasa, then either your relationship with a parent may be strained, or the parent themselves may be having problems.

4. No matter whether associated with malefics or not, in varga charts, Mercury is to be treated as a benefic. Similarly, unless the Moon at birth was within 72 degrees of the Sun (i.e. dark) in the rasi chart, in all varga charts the Moon is to be considered a benefic. Venus and Jupiter are always benefics in a varga chart, and Sun, Mars, Saturn, and the nodes (Rahu/Ketu) are always malefics.

5. The most important factor in determining if a period will go well is the placement of the dasa lord, i.e. whether the dasa lord (or bhukti lord, see # 5 below) is in a good house or a bad house. If a planet is in house 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, or 11 then the period will go well unless there is a sankya yoga -- see the next statement #4 -- and will go poorly if in house 3, 6, 8, or 12 (again unless there is a sankya yoga). Note: the only exception to this is if Mars is in the 6th house -- and no planet is in the 8th house -- then the Mars dasa goes well. If a matter does happen, e.g. marriage, while the dasa lord is in a bad house in the Navamsa, then its outcome is not likely to be positive. In other words, a matter may either not happen or not turn out well if begun during the period of a poorly-placed planet.

6. The preceding statement (#3) is superceded by a few considerations, foremost the presence of a sankya yoga. If there are a pair (or more) planets in specific houses: 1 and 7, 2 and 12, 3 and 11, 4 and 10, 5 and 9, or 6 and 8, then a sankya yoga exists. The primary rules for a sankya yoga are as follows:

A. If one of the planets in each of the pair of houses is a benefic (Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, or Moon) then a shuba -- good -- sankya yoga exists and the dasas of both planets will go well. For example, if Venus is in the 12th house and Mercury is in the 2nd house in the Navamsa chart, then marriage will go well in both periods (provided the person is, of course, of marriageable age).

B. If one of the planets in each of the pair of houses is a malefic (Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu or Ketu) then a papa -- bad -- sankya yoga exists and the dasas of both planets will go poorly. E.g. if Mars is in the 3rd house and Rahu is in the 11th house in the Dasamsa chart, then the career will go poorly during both the Mars and Rahu dasas.

C. If one of the planets in one of the pair of houses is a malefic and a second planet in the pair of houses is a benefic, then a mishra-- mixed -- sankya yoga exists and the dasa of the malefic will go poorly and the dasa of the benefic will be o.k. E.g. if Venus is in the 10th house and Mars is in the 4th house in the Drekkana chart, then during the Mars period, one's sibling may have problems or you may have problems with them, but during the Venus dasa neither are likely to be true.

D. The only thing that can reverse a bad house placement or bad (or mixed for a malefic) sankya yoga and make that period positive is the aspect or association of the planet with a strong Jupiter (a Jupiter that is retrograde, or is exalted, own sign, dig bala or Vargottama in a particular varga chart).

E. In the evaluation of Sankya yogas for the nodes, if Rahu is the only planet opposite Ketu (or vice versa) in houses 1 & 7 or 4 & 10 then no Sankya yoga exists. Another planet has to be opposite either of the nodes for the nodal period to be challenging in these house pairs.

7. Resolving Dasa lord, Bhukti lord differences. To ascertain whether a Dasa lord's control over a period will prevail, or instead a Bhukti lord will take over control of the period, there are several considerations:

A. If the Dasa lord is in the Bhukti lord's nakshatra in the rasi chart, or in the Bhukti lord's sign in varga chart (or even in the rasi chart), or receives a unilateral aspect from the Bhukti lord (while in any of these cases, the Bhukti lord is not in the sign nor nakshatra of the Dasa lord), then the Bhukti lord "takes over" and the quality of the period should be judged by the Bhukti lord's placement and not by the Dasa lord's placement

B. If the reverse of the above paragraph A is true, e.g. the Bhukti lord is in nakshatra of the Dasa lord, then the bhukti lord's placement can be pretty much ignored.

C. If the Dasa and Bhukti lords are both in good houses or good sankya yogas, then a good period will occur, and if both in bad houses or bad sankya yogas, then challenges will result.

D. If the Dasa lord is in a good placement and the Bhukti lord is in a bad placement (or vice versa), and neither takes control (see A and B above) then if they are in kendras or trines or mutual aspect to each other, some degree of blending will occur, with the dasa lord's placement the predominate influence. Otherwise, if they have no relationship at all, the Dasa lord's placement -- good or bad -- will prevail.

8. For areas of life where results are likely, e.g. a marriage or career or having children at appropriate ages, it is often the case that a bad placement will not stop the event from happening, but simply give challenging results, unless otherwise indicated in the rasi and appropriate varga chart.

9. If a karaka for a person is in the first house of the relevant varga chart, then there may be problems for that person, or the relationship may be denied or troubled. E.g. Venus (spouse) in the 1st in the Navamsa, Mars (younger sibling) or Jupiter (older sibling) in the 1st in the Drekkana, Sun (father) or Moon (mother) in the Dwadasamsa, and Jupiter (child) in the Saptamsa.

10. According to Iyer, one does not use house rulerships in varga charts (with the exception of the ruler of the ascendant). You can -- and should -- look at and use all yogas that do not depend upon house rulership in evaluating varga charts.

11. When a planet participates in the formation of many (good) yogas in the birth chart, and is well placed in a specific varga chart, then when the dasa of that planet unfolds, things will go particularly well (especially if the themes of the yoga match the meaning of the specific division). Similarly, if the dasa of that planet never happens, then we can only look to the bhuktis of that planet for the results it promises.

12. While we have focused here only on the placement of a Dasa lord, other factors certainly apply. If a planet has Dig bala or is vargottama in a particular divisional chart, that adds strength to that varga and is helpful. If a planet is retrograde (or the Moon is bright, i.e. within one rasi of Full) these add strength to a Dasa lord for all vargas, while if a planet is combust (within 3 degrees of the Sun) in the rasi or loses a planetary war, it is weaker in all vargas.

13. Similarly, if a planet is associated with or aspected by multiple malefics or in the sign of debilitation in a specific varga chart, then it is weakened, and the period - if well placed - might not be so positive, or -- if poorly placed -- could be quite challenging. If it is unassociated with malefics, and associated with benefics or in its own sign or exalted in a specific varga chart, then it is strengthened, and the period may go better than expected.

14. If a Dasa lord is in an ambiguous position, e.g. in a good house or sankya yoga but debilitated and aspected by Saturn, then the period will be mixed and not likely to give clearcut results.

I have learned about Iyers' teachings from my wonderful teacher Hart de Fouw. If I've made any mistakes in the above presentation, however, they are mine and not his.

These teachings may seem complex, but they are very valuable and worth learning and using.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aspect Orbs in Western Astrology

One might think that the orbs to be used for determining whether two planets, either in a birth chart, between charts, or by transit, are influencing each other, would be completely understood by now.

In actuality, there are many differences of opinions among astrologers as to the orbs to use, from those who count two planets as influencing each other if they are in the same sign, to those who use only tiny orbs of a degree or less, to everyone in between.

I don't believe anyone is the ultimate authority, and would not like to be considered that myself, but here are some of my thoughts on orbs:

1. In birth charts:

A. The stronger the orb, the more intense the internal connection. One thing that distinguishes the charts of famous thinkers is often predominance of planets in tight orb of each other (one or two degree orb). If a chart has mostly tight orbs, then the person experiences a great deal of inner integration and even if there are inner conflicts, they are conscious.

B. If, on the other hand, there are planets not connected by major aspects (conjunct, sextile, square, trine, or opposition) to any other planet, those planets operate as fragments, parts of the person that are autonomous, not connected to the rest of the psyche. If a chart only has weaker aspects (3 degrees or wider orbs), the person may have difficulties marshalling their resources.

C. If you widen the orbs too much, you get too many aspects, and might ignore the most important ones, i.e. those with the tightest orbs. That's why it is useful to look at a chart using only 3 degrees or less orbs as well as a chart with more normal orbs.

D. Since sextiles join signs that are in different elements, just as oppositions do but much less energetically, I think that a smaller orb -- say half that of an opposition -- is appropriate for the sextile aspect. (I also believe that a person learns over time to develop their sextiles, while their trines represent gifts given at birth.)

2. In transits:

A. I used to believe -- because of the teachings of Isabel Hickey -- that a transit was over after the transiting planet reached the same degree and minute as the natal point. But after careful observation, it has become clear that even after the exact "hit", the transits' effects still reverberate for quite a while.

B. I do find that the period of a couple of days right around the time of exact hit (when the transiting planet is at the same degree and minute as the natal point) is the time when the intensity of the transit is usually highest -- and an external event may be likelier to occur.

C. However, I also have seen that in watching many clients' and friends' transits, that if a transit has several swings (e.g. it approaches, then goes retrograde, then forward again), most of the approaches and exact hits will be inconsequential, i.e. have little or no effect.

D. I have been consistently amazed that I have, on several occasions, literally felt a planet enter the first degree before exact transit. I therefore consider the time range from one degree before exact to exact as the most important period for any transit.

3. In Chart Comparison:

A. Since there are many more aspects between charts, because you have twice as many points, the orbs for comparing charts should be significantly tighter (e.g. 5 degrees or less).

B. Like in birth charts, people who have strong interaspects to your chart will relate much more strongly to you than those who don't.

C. Interestingly, if a person has a strong aspect to your Sun, then that's what they'll trigger in you. If they have a strong aspect to your Saturn, then you'll act Saturnian around them.

D. I definitely have found that it is just not enough for two people to have compatible signs. In one couple who were my clients, their planets were consistently in compatible signs, but almost none in close aspect to each other. They recognized their similarity of temperament, and married, but felt -- throughout the marriage -- like "passing ships in the night" -- and eventually divorced as a result of the lack of strong connections.

The Differences between Birth Chart Analysis vs. Divisional Chart Analysisby Hank Friedman

Method Birth Charts Divisional Charts

Good Houses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 (2, 11)

Bad Houses 6, 8, 12 3, 6, 8, 12

The Meanings of the Houses Used Yes No (except for D-11)

House that represents a theme specific house, e.g. 4th for home First House of each D-chart

Karako Bhavo Nashya karaka in specific house, e.g. Venus in the 7th house, worse if strong

Karaka in 1st house of D-chart, e.g. Venus in 1st in

D-9, worse if weak

Planets Always Benefic Jupiter and Venus Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter

Weaknesses that flow from Birth Chart -------- Planetary War, Combust, New Moon, Eclipse

Strengths that flow from Birth Chart -------- Vargottama, Retrograde, Full Moon

Primary Strengths Own sign, Exalted, Dig Bala, Retrograde, Full Moon

Own sign, Exalted, Dig Bala, Vargottama

Secondary Strengths --------- Retrograde

Primary Weaknesses in Chart Combust, War, Debilitated Debilitated

Rulerships of Houses Used Yes No (except for 1st house lord)

Yogas used All Yogas including Yogas formed by House Rulership

Very few yogas: e.g. Pancha Maha Purusha,

Neecha Bhangha, Parivartana, Lagnadhi

Sankhya Yogas determine results No Yes

Type of enemy relationships to use Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter versus Mercury, Venus, Saturn

Sole Enemy

Nakshatra rulership employed No Yes

Sensitivity to Birth Time Errors Birth Chart stays correct for 1 - 2½ hours

D-27: 2 - 5minutesD-3: 24 - 45 minutes

Daghda Rashis Yes No

Neecha Bhanga 4 ways of Neecha Bhanga 2 ways of Neecha Bhanga

Explanation of Table

Note: the method of D-chart analysis was originated by Sheshadri Iyer, and was taught to me by Hart de Fouw. It is this approach that I am contrasting with birth chart analysis methods.

Good Houses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 (2, 11)

Bad Houses 6, 8, 12 3, 6, 8, 12

While the third house is a mild dusthana in birth chart work, it is a fully a negative house in divisional chart analysis. Dasa lords placed in the third house of a D-chart (with nothing in the 11th house) indicate an ending of the theme of the D-chart, e.g. in the D-10 if the dasa lord is in the 3rd house, retirement or career changes will occur during that dasa.

Houses 2 and 11 in D-charts are considered neutral houses, i.e. slightly positive. It takes less to make a dasa problematic when its dasa lord is in house 2 or 11, than if it occupies a good house.

The Meanings of the Houses Used

Yes No (except for D-11)

In birth chart work, the meanings of each of the houses are vitally important and used extensively. In D-chart analysis, house meanings are not used at all, except in the D-11 chart, where they indicate from what directions honors will be received, e.g. a well-placed dasa lord in the 10th house in the D-11 indicates honors will be through career achievements.

House that represents a theme specific house, e.g. 4th for home

First House of each D-chart

Karako Bhavo Nashya karaka in specific house, e.g. Venus in the 7th house, worse

if strong

Karaka in 1st house of D-chart, e.g. Venus in 1st in D-9, worse

if weak

In regular birth chart work, the standard meanings of each house apply. In D-charts, however, the First House represents the themes of that D-chart. E.g. The First House of the D-3 chart represents the siblings. One consequence of this is that malefics in the First House can indicate challenges for the themes of that D-chart. Also, many planets aspecting the First House of a D-chart indicate the theme quite energized in a person's life, as does the First House being Vargottama, i.e. in the same sign as the birth chart's Ascendant.

The principle of Karako Bhavo Nashya states that when the planet that signifies a person is in the house that represents the same person, problems arise. In birth charts, that means that if Mars is in the third house, younger siblings may have significant issues, or your relationship with one of them may be noticeably difficult.

Similarly, Moon in the 4th for Mother, Jupiter in the 5th for children, Venus in the 7th for spouse, Sun the 9th for Father, or Jupiter in the 11th for older siblings indicates challenges to the person or to the relationship with them. The stronger the natal planet is that represents the person, the greater the disruption. See examples below.

Karako Bhavo Nashya in the Natal Chart

In D-charts, however, since the First House represents the person, it is the placement of Venus in the First House in the D-9 chart that represents problems with relationships. Similarly, Mars or Jupiter in the First House in the D-3 for siblings, Sun or Moon in the First House for Father or Mother respectively in the D-12, or Jupiter in the First House in the D-7 for children cause difficulties. Additionally, for D-charts, the strength rule reverses: the weaker the planet is that represents the person, the more disruptive the effect. See examples below.

Karako Bhavo Nashya in Divisional Charts

Planets Always Benefic Jupiter and Venus Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter

In natal chart analysis, the Moon is sometimes considered to be a weak malefic when dark and waning, and Mercury becomes a malefic planet when it is associated with or aspected by malefics without any contact with benefics. But in D-charts, Mercury and the Moon are always benefic in nature.

Weaknesses that flow from Birth Chart

-------- Planetary War, Combust, New Moon, Eclipse

Strengths that flow from Birth Chart

-------- Vargottama, Retrograde, Full Moon

If, in a birth chart, a planet is seriously combust (within 3 degrees of the Sun), or in a planetary war, or the Moon is in the same sign as the Sun (i.e. within 30 degrees of the Sun), or the person is born during an eclipse, then the weakness of that planet will translate to all of the divisional charts. This means that good results will be significantly lessened and challenging effects amplified.

On the other hand, if a planet is retrograde, or occupies the same sign in the birth chart and a D-chart (i.e. is vargottama), or the Moon is in the opposite sign to the Sun in the birth chart, then its strength translates to the divisional chart(s) and even if badly placed there enables the person to deal with issues that arise effectively. If the planet is well placed in a D-chart, its positive effects are thereby amplified.

Primary Strengths Own sign, Exalted, Dig Bala, Retrograde, Full Moon

Own sign, Exalted, Dig Bala, Vargottama, Full Moon

Secondary Strengths Vargottama Retrograde

There are small differences between what makes a planet strong in a birth chart and what makes it strong in a D-chart. Both natal and D-charts see planets as strong when in their own sign, exalted, having dig bala, and the Full Moon. However, in the natal chart, a planet being retrograde gives it full strength, while in D-charts, such a planet has strength, but perhaps only half as much. On the other hand, a Vargottama planet in a natal chart (formed by being in the same sign as it is in the Navamsha chart) only offers full strength under certain specific conditions, while in a D-chart Vargottama planets (formed by being in the same sign as the natal chart, except the debilitation sign) have full strength unless the planet has one of the weakness that flow from the birth chart, as delineated in the last section.

Primary Weaknesses in Chart Combust, War, Debilitated Debilitated

While a planet can be combust or debilitated or in a planetary war in a birth chart, we ignore the degree positions of planets in D-charts and so neither combustion nor planetary war can arise in specific D-charts. In addition, since the D-chart position of a planet by sign influences Dasa effects significantly more than its position by sign in the birth chart, a planet debilitated in the birth chart has little negative influence over the same planet's effect in a D-chart.

Rulerships of Houses Used Yes No (except for 1st house lord)

Yogas used All Yogas including Yogas formed by House Rulership

Very few yogas: e.g. Pancha Maha Purusha, Neecha Bhangha, Parivartana,

Lagnadhi

In birth chart analysis, how house rulers combine, where they reside, what they aspect are major influences in interpreting charts. On the other hand, in D-charts house rulerships are completely ignored, except for the ruler of the D-chart's Ascendant. The ruler of the D-chart's Ascendant is very important, however. It represents the theme of that D-chart, and therefore its placement and strength show the likelihood of fulfillment of that theme in the person's life and its Dasa often brings results for the theme of the D-chart.

Because house rulerships are not used in D-charts, yogas that rely on house rulership are to be ignored completely in D-charts. There are therefore no Raja Yogas formed by house lords combining in D-charts, for example.

Pancha Maha Purusha yogas depend upon Kendra placement and strength by sign, and therefore they do apply to D-charts. Similarly, Parivartana Yogas are formed when two planets are in each others' signs. In D-charts, we don't look at the houses they occupy, however, and only see the Parivartana Yoga formed in a D-chart as strengthening each planet.

Lagnadhi and Kartari Yogas also work in D-charts. If benefics are in houses 6, 7, and 8 in a D-chart or in houses 12, 1, and 2, then the D-chart's Ascendant is strengthened and the themes of that D-chart go well. The opposite effect would happen if all three houses were occupied by malefics. Kartari Yogas also apply, but only if the adjacent houses to any house are only occupied by benefics or malefics. E.g. If Jupiter was in the 3rd house of a D-chart and Venus was in the 5th house in that chart, then the Dasa of a planet occupying the 4th house would become more positive, but only if there were no malefics in houses 3 and 5.

Sankhya Yogas determine results

No Yes

The most important factor is D-chart analysis, i.e. for determining whether each dasa go well or poorly for the theme of that D-chart, is the placement of the Dasa lord by house. If a Dasa lord is in houses 3, 6, 8, or 12, the D-chart's themes go poorly, unless there is a Sankhya Yoga.

The most common factor that can alter the effects of a poor or good Dasa lord placement is the placement of another planet in the "paired house". This is what forms the Sankhya yoga.

The paired houses are 1 &7, 2 &12, 3 & 11, 4 & 10, 5 & 9, and 6 & 8. If there is a planet in the 12th house in a D-chart, for example, its Dasa will go poorly for the themes of that D-chart unless there is a planet in the 2nd house that creates a positive Sankhya Yoga.

Remember that a Shubha Sankya Yoga is formed when there are benefics in both of the paired houses, indicating the dasas of both benefics go well for the theme of that D-chart. A Papa Sankhya Yoga is formed when there are malefics in both of the paired houses, indicating that the dasas of both malefics go poorly for the theme of that D-chart. And if there are only one or more benefics in one of the paired houses, and only one or more malefics in the other paired house, then a Mishra Sankhya Yoga is formed, indicating that the dasa of the benefic(s) goes well and the dasa of the malefic(s) goes poorly for the themes of that D-chart.

Sankhya yogas are not formed in the birth chart, nor used in natal chart analysis.

Type of enemy relationships to use

Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter versus Mercury, Venus, Saturn

Sole Enemy

In examining a birth chart, one pays attention to the two groups of friends indicated above in the middle column. Having the Sun conjoin Mars – since both are friends, or Saturn conjoin Venus (again both friends) is significantly less problematic than having Saturn conjunct Mars (enemies), for example. In D-charts, this type of consideration is either ignored or very secondary.

In evaluating birth charts, the principle of a planet being another's Sole Enemy is never used. Sole enemies are only used in D-chart analysis. As a reminder: Jupiter is the enemy of Venus, Venus of Rahu, Saturn of the Sun, the Moon of Saturn, Mercury of the Moon, Mars of Mercury, Ketu of Mars, and the Sun of Jupiter. Because Rahu and Ketu are always conjunct or opposite in D-charts, Rahu does not function as the sole enemy of Ketu.

Nakshatra rulership employed No Yes

The Vimshottari Dasa system is based upon the ruler of the natal Moon's nakshatra placement. Nakshatra rulers in the Vimshottari Dasa system are the same as the nakshatra rulers commonly used throughout Vedic astrology. (Note, other Dasa systems attribute different planetary rulers to each nakshatra.)

Besides determining what planet rules the first dasa (i.e. the ruler of the natal Moon's nakshatra), nakshatras are used in D-chart analysis in a few additional ways:

1. If a planet is in its own nakshatra (or own or exalted sign) in the birth chart, then at the beginning of its dasa, the change to the new dasa gives immediate results, both in every D-chart and in the natal chart. If the dasa lord in not in one of these placements, the new dasa's effects will take much longer to unfold.

2. If two planets in the birth chart are in each other's nakshatra, a nakshatra parivartana yoga occurs, indicating that the planets are strongly linked to each other, and affect each other in every D-chart.

3. If one planet is in the nakshatra of another (in the birth chart) then the second planet has a unilateral influence over the first planet in all of the D-charts (unless the second planet is also unilaterally influenced by the first planet in some way, e.g. by being in the first planet's sign in the D-chart, or by being unilaterally aspected by the first planet in the D-chart.)

Sensitivity to Birth Time Errors

Birth Chart stays correct for 1 - 2½ hours

D-27: 2 - 5minutesD-3: 24 - 45 minutes

One of the reasons why Vedic astrology uses Whole Sign Houses (i.e. where every house is one whole sign) is that it makes Vedic charts much less susceptible to inaccurate birth times. A Vedic natal chart's planets will only change house placements about once every 1 hour for short

ascension signs like Aquarius or Pisces Ascendants , or a maximum of every 2½ hours for long ascension signs like Leo and Virgo Ascendants.

Planets in D-charts, however, change the houses they are in much more frequently. A five minute error in birth time will definitely alter the house placement of planets in a D-27 chart, for example. That's why D-charts are so useful in rectifying a birth time (i.e. finding the precise birth time). The astrologer shifts the birth time forward or backwards in time by small increments and observes whether the changes in the D-charts better represents the reality of the person's life.

Daghda Rashis Yes No

Daghda rashis are essentially "moveable dusthanas", i.e. signs that have taken on the nature of the challenging houses. This concept is part of the Iyer analysis method, but only applies to birth charts.

If the ruler of a daghda rasi is in a good house (anything except 6, 8, or 12) then the challenges to affairs of the daghda rasi house are magnified (i.e. worse), while if the ruler of a daghda rasi is in house 6, 8, or 12 or another daghda rasi, the affairs of the daghda rasi house go well.

If the ruler of a good house is in a daghda rasi, again the affairs of that house become challenged.

Neecha Bhanga 4 ways of Neecha Bhanga 2 ways of Neecha Bhanga

In birth chart work, a planet in its sign of debilitation can be strengthened if its dispositor is in its own or exalted sign, or if it aspects the debilitated planet. This is also true in D-charts, however, with the additional condition that the debilitated planet in the D-chart must be in a kendra or trikona for significant amelioration to occur.

For natal charts, debilitation can also be helped if the planet that rules the sign that the debilitated planet is exalted in either aspects the debilitated planet or is in its own sign or exalted sign. This second set of rules does not apply to D-charts.

The D-chart analysis method is a very powerful method of Vedic astrological prediction, but it is vital to know which techniques to use in approaching D-charts and which apply only to natal chart analysis.