Ashtakavarga: Quantifying Planetary Strength and Transits

Overview

This session introduced Ashtakavarga, a numerical system in Vedic astrology that converts planetary positions into measurable values. “Ashtaka” refers to eight contributors — the seven visible planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn) plus the Ascendant (Lagna) — with Rahu and Ketu excluded. Through Ashtakavarga, astrologers can quantify planetary influence, evaluate the strength of houses, and predict transit outcomes with mathematical precision.

Key Concepts or Theories

• Ashtakavarga: A mathematical model assigning 0–8 benefic points to each house based on planetary contribution.

• Sarvashtakavarga: The total of all planetary Ashtakavargas (Bhinnashtakavargas).

• Bindu and Rekha: South Indian and North Indian systems of marking benefic points (dots or lines).

• Kaksha: Each sign’s division into eight parts (0°–3°45′, 3°45′–7°30′, etc.), ruled by specific planets.

• Shodhya Pinda: The final reduced number derived from Ashtakavarga calculations for transit analysis.

Important Questions Raised

• How do Ashtakavarga scores reveal strengths and weaknesses in life areas?

• Are Ashtakavarga-based transit predictions more reliable than other systems?

• Can destiny be altered by choosing auspicious times, such as for childbirth?

• How can astrologers balance general theory with Ashtakavarga-specific insights?

Key Takeaways

• Ashtakavarga transforms planetary placements into quantifiable scores for analyzing life potential and karma distribution.

• Sarvashtakavarga total = 337, averaging 28 points per house.

• Houses with above-average scores indicate strength; below-average scores highlight areas needing attention.

• The system is especially powerful for transit analysis, particularly during Saturn’s Sade Sati.

• Individual Bhinnashtakavargas are more precise than the overall Sarvashtakavarga for practical prediction.

• Ideal pattern: higher scores in 1st, 9th, 10th, and 11th houses; lower scores in 6th, 8th, and 12th.

Topic 1: Ashtakavarga Calculation Method

Each planet contributes benefic points to specific houses following unique classical formulas. For example, the Sun gives points to the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th houses from its own position. The astrologer demonstrated how to fill an empty chart with these points for each planet, creating the Bhinnashtakavarga.

When all planets and the Ascendant contribute their points, they combine to form the Sarvashtakavarga, showing cumulative house strengths. The instructor demonstrated the Sun’s Ashtakavarga formation step by step, explaining how points from the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and other planets are combined to yield the Sun’s strength profile.

Relevant Q&A

• Q: What does a low score mean?A: It indicates weakness or lack of support in that life area — something requiring conscious effort.

• Q: Can a house have zero points?A: Yes, though rare. It symbolizes near-total absence of support, which can be mitigated through karma and remedies.

Topic 2: Interpreting Ashtakavarga Scores

The average house score is 28, but interpretation depends on house nature and planetary influence. Benefic houses (1, 9, 10, 11) are stronger when scores are above average, while challenging houses (6, 8, 12) ideally stay lower, representing limited trouble.

High scores in difficult houses don’t automatically mean improvement; rather, they may intensify the house’s function — for instance, a high score in the 6th may create more competition or work challenges. Similarly, high scores in 11th or 10th indicate strong material results.

Relevant Q&A

• Q: Should good houses always have high scores and bad houses low ones?A: Yes, though moderation matters. The goal is balance, not extremity.

• Q: If one’s 11th house is strong and 12th weak, does it mean they’ll never donate?

• A: Not necessarily. It simply means the person avoids forced losses; charity is a matter of free will, not compulsion.

Topic 3: Transit Predictions Using Ashtakavarga

Ashtakavarga is most useful for predicting transits, especially during Saturn’s Sade Sati — the 7½-year period when Saturn transits the Moon sign and adjacent signs.

• For Saturn transits, houses with 0–1 points in Saturn’s Ashtakavarga signal testing phases.

• Transits are analyzed from the Moon, as the Moon governs mental response and perception of difficulty.

• Saturn acts favorably when transiting the 3rd, 6th, and 11th houses from the Moon.

Favorable transit houses for each planet:

• Sun: 3, 6, 10, 11

• Moon: 3, 6, 10, 11

• Mars: 3, 6, 11

• Mercury: 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

• Jupiter: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11

• Venus: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12

• Saturn: 3, 6, 11

Relevant Q&A

• Q: If the 5th house has low points, does it affect children?

  A: Yes, especially if malefics like Rahu influence it.

• Q: What if 9th has high points but afflicted by Mars or Ketu?

• A: It may bring mixed outcomes — delayed or conditional fortune rather than outright loss.

• Q: Can we change destiny by choosing cesarean birth times?

• A: No. The chosen time still falls within karmic design — free will operates only within that framework.

Actionable Next Steps

• Practice manual Ashtakavarga calculations for at least one planet.

• Compare your personal chart scores to understand life area strengths.

• Focus on Saturn’s Bhinnashtakavarga to study Sade Sati effects.

• Observe extreme values (0–1 or 7–8) to refine interpretive skill.

Supplemental Resources and Readings

• Jagannath Hora software by Narasimha Rao – for generating Ashtakavarga charts.

• Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (Vol. 2) – three detailed chapters on Ashtakavarga.

• Phaladeepika – classical reference on planetary transits and results.

• Astrology EKDK Diaries & Calendars – practical tools for auspicious date planning based on Nakshatras.