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Missing Signs in the Navamsa

by Steven Stuckey

�Navamsa� is translated as �nine divisions� and means that each astrological sign of the zodiac is divided into 9 parts. A sign is 30� in length and by dividing it in this way, we get 9 equal divisions of 3� 20�. The Navamsa Chakra is one of the many Varga or divisional charts mentioned in the Jyotish classical text, the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS), authored by the great sage Parashara Muni. There are a total of 16 divisional charts outlined in this text, each representing a different area of life.

All of the Varga charts, including the Navamsa, are derived from the basic Natal or Rashi Chakra. The Rashi Chakra is a representation of actual planetary positions as they exist for any particular moment in space and is therefore always considered to be the most important chart for astrological analysis. The .

various Varga divisions are calculated from the Rashi and therefore do not actually represent real astronomical positions of the planets, but rather expand upon and magnify the relationships between planets in the Rashi.

After the Rashi, the Navamsa is usually considered to be the next most important chart. Parashara states that this chart is used to determine the nature of the spouse, but it is also commonly used as a secondary geniture by astrologers. That is, it can be read as an entity in itself, like the natal or Rashi chart. In addition, it has the power to strengthen or weaken the planetary and house significations of the Rashi.

In Varga charts prior to the Navamsa, a sign is divided into 2 (Hora), 3 (Drekkana), 4 (Chaturtamsa), and 7 (Saptamsa) divisions. In divisions after the Navamsa there are 10 (Dasamsa), 12 (Dwadasamsa), 16 (Shodasamsa) 24 (Vimsamsa) and many more divisions up to 60 (Shastiamsa).

At 12 divisions (the Dwadasamsa), a sign is divided into 12 equal segments of 2� 30� each. Beginning from the sign of Aries, the first 2� 30� division is ruled over by Aries and the second division (from 2� 30� to 5� 00� Aries) is ruled by Taurus. The natural order of the zodiacal signs continues in this way until we reach the end of the first sign of Aries, with the last 2� 30� being ruled by the sign of Pisces. If we had a Rashi chart with a planet in the last 2�30� segment of Aries (i.e. from 27� 30� to 30� 00 Aries), then that planet would occupy the sign of Pisces in the Dwadasamsa chart. Converting any planetary placement from the Rashi chart to the Dwadasamsa chart will always result in an equal representation of the 12 zodiacal signs, because there are 12 equal divisions and there are 12 signs of the zodiac.

However in Varga charts that have less than 12 divisions, such as the Navamsa, all 12 signs of the zodiac cannot be represented. To see this more clearly, please take a look at Figure # 1 below that shows how the Navamsa divisions occur.

If we start by looking at Aries in the upper left column, we see 9 divisions of the sign extending along the horizontal axis of the table. The last division of Aries (from 26� 40� to 30� 00 Aries) is the sign of Sagittarius. If we had a natal chart with Jupiter at 27� Aries, then Jupiter would occupy the sign of Sagittarius in the Navamsa chart. Sagittarius is the 9th sign from Aries and therefore shows the limits of the Navamsa Chakra, since by definition it divides each sign into only 9 segments.

Similarly, if we study the sign of Taurus in Figure #1, then we also find 9 divisions, this time beginning from Capricorn and extending through Virgo-- and so on for the remainder of the signs. In this way, it becomes obvious that there are 3 signs not represented in each of the 12 signs. Aries is missing Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Taurus is missing Libra, Scorpio and Sag. Gemini is missing Cancer, Leo and Virgo.

There is nothing amiss here; it is quite simply the way the Navamsa has been designed.

To elaborate on this idea a bit further, you will also notice that the fire signs, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are all missing the same signs, i.e. Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

Similarly the earth signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are all missing the signs of Libra, Scorpio and Sag. The results of this observation are summarized in Figure #2

Figure 1 � Navamsa Chart Key

	0.00 - 3.20	3.20 - 6.40	6.40 - 10.00	10.00 - 13.20	13.20 - 16.40	16.40 - 20.00	20.00 - 23.20	23.20 - 26.40	26.40 - 30.00
Aries	Ari	Tau	Gem	Can	Leo	Vir	Lib	Sco	Sag
Taurus	Cap	Aqu	Pis	Ari	Tau	Gem	Can	Leo	Vir
Gemini	Lib	Sco	Sag	Cap	Aqu	Pis	Ari	Tau	Gem
Cancer	Can	Leo	Vir	Lib	Sco	Sag	Cap	Aqu	Pis
Leo	Ari	Tau	Gem	Can	Leo	Vir	Lib	Sco	Sag
Virgo	Cap	Aqu	Pis	Ari	Tau	Gem	Can	Leo	Vir
Libra	Lib	Sco	Sag	Cap	Aqu	Pis	Ari	Tau	Gem
Scorpio	Can	Leo	Vir	Lib	Sco	Sag	Cap	Aqu	Pis
Sagittarius	Ari	Tau	Gem	Can	Leo	Vir	Lib	Sco	Sag
Capricorn	Cap	Aqu	Pis	Ari	Tau	Gem	Can	Leo	Vir
Aquarius	Lib	Sco	Sag	Cap	Aqu	Pis	Ari	Tau	Gem
Pisces	Can	Leo	Vir	Lib	Sco	Sag	Cap	Aqu	Pis

Figure 2 - Missing Signs

Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sag	Missing Signs: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn	Missing Signs: Libra, Scorpio, Sag
Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius	Missing Signs: Cancer, Leo, Virgo
Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces	Missing Signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini

Naturally astrologers are more concerned with the actual sign and house placement of a planet in the Navamsa, along with its aspects and associations, and not necessarily with the positions that a planet is unable to occupy. This may be especially true today, since we all calculate charts with computers. The tables, like the one in Figure #1, have long been left by the wayside in deference to instantaneous printouts of all the various Varga divisions. Unless one consults such a table however, it may be virtually impossible to keep in mind these other possibilities.

We might be surprised to find out how much information can be deduced by a simple study of Figure #2. Here are a few simple observations of planet�s positions in the Rashi and their respective placements in the Navamsa:

If Mars or Venus should occupy a Fire sign in the Rashi chart, they cannot become exalted in the Navamsa, since their respective exaltation signs of Capricorn and Pisces are missing from all the Fire signs.
If Saturn should occupy a Water sign, it cannot become debilitated in the Navamsa, since the sign of its debilitation, Aries, is missing from all Water signs.
If Saturn occupies an Earth sign it cannot become exalted, because Libra is missing from all Earth signs in the Navamsa chart.
If the Moon occupies a Water sign (including its own sign of Cancer) it cannot become exalted in Taurus.
If Jupiter occupies a Fire sign, it cannot become debilitated in Capricorn.
Venus in Taurus in the Rashi cannot occupy its other sign of Libra in the Navamsa, but it can occupy its debilitation sign of Virgo.
Venus in Libra, on the other hand, can occupy Taurus while being unable to occupy Virgo.
Saturn in Capricorn in the Rashi cannot occupy its sign of exaltation (Libra) in the Navamsa, while Saturn in Aquarius in the Rashi can (occupy its sign of exaltation).

There are literally hundreds of similar deductions that can be made by referring to the combined Figures #1 and #2. These very interesting correlations are not limited to the planets themselves, but apply to all points in the chart, including the Lagna or rising degree. For instance, if Libra is rising in the Rashi chart, then Cancer, Leo or Virgo cannot rise in the Navamsa Chakra. If Leo rises in the Rashi, then Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces cannot rise in the Navamsa.

The Navamsa Chakra is often used to ascertain a planet�s strength in the Rashi; if a planet is weak in the Rashi Chakra, then perhaps its Navamsa placement may strengthen it, or if it is strong in the Rashi, it may lose some of that inherent strength in the Navamsa. Sign placement is one of the factors for ascertaining planetary strength, and can be judged across the entire spectrum of all 16 Varga charts and a corresponding value of strength determined. Nevertheless, much power has been attributed to the Navamsa chart by itself, and it is normally considered to be the most important division of all the Varga charts.

Because of this inherent power given to the Navamsa, perhaps it also holds a key to understanding more subtle differences in a planets placement by sign and other finer distinctions regarding the houses and other factors. As an example, consider the points made about Venus in numbers 6 and 7 above; if Venus is in Taurus in the Rashi, it cannot occupy Libra in Navamsa, but it can occupy Virgo, the sign of its debilitation. On the other hand, if Venus occupies Libra in the Rashi, then not only can it occupy Taurus in the Navamsa, but it cannot occupy Virgo. If you refer to Figure #1, you will also see that if Venus is in either Taurus or Libra, it is able to attain its exaltation sign of Pisces, since both Taurus and Libra include the sign of Pisces in their first 9 signs. So to summarize the above point, Venus in Libra can occupy its other sign of Taurus, attain its sign of exaltation (Pisces) and is incapable of becoming debilitated (in Virgo). On the other hand, Venus in Taurus can also occupy its exaltation, but it cannot occupy Libra and it could become debilitated in the Navamsa. We might conclude from this that perhaps Venus in Libra has more inherent power than Venus in Taurus. A careful study of other such combinations may lead to additional insights regarding the strengths and weaknesses of planets in various signs.

Steven Stuckey's Biography:

Steven Stuckey (Shastrakara das) began his study of Astrology in 1968. He started teaching classes in both western sidereal and Jyotish techniques in 1979 and was instrumental in the initial introduction of Jyotish in the United States. He currently resides in southern Oregon where he continues to teach and advise an international clientele.

Contact Information:
He may be reached by email at: [email protected]



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