Ashtakavarga: Scoring the Chart with Bindus

Ashtakavarga is a numerical system described by Parashara that measures how supportive each sign of the zodiac is for each planet. Its great practical use is in judging transits: two people can have Saturn crossing the same sign, and Ashtakavarga explains why it is hard for one and mild for the other.

Eight sources

“Ashta” means eight. For each of the seven planets from the Sun to Saturn, the eight sources — the seven planets and the Lagna — each give or withhold a benefic point, a bindu, to each of the twelve signs, according to fixed tables. For example, the Sun receives a bindu from Saturn in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th signs counted from Saturn’s position. Rahu and Ketu are not used.

Bhinnashtakavarga

Adding up the bindus each planet receives in each sign gives that planet’s own table, its Bhinnashtakavarga (also called Prastara in its detailed form). Every sign scores from 0 to 8. When a planet transits a sign where it has 5 or more bindus, the transit tends to be favourable; with 4 it is average; with 3 or fewer it tends to bring difficulty in that planet’s matters.

Sarvashtakavarga

Adding the seven planets’ tables gives the Sarvashtakavarga, a single score for each sign. The total for every chart is always 337, so the average per sign is about 28. Houses with more than 28 bindus are strong and deliver their results easily; houses below 25 are weak and need effort. It is a useful check: a 10th house with 35 bindus supports career, while an 11th with 22 suggests gains come slowly.

Judging transits

• Saturn crossing signs with many bindus in its own table makes Sade Sati or Ashtama Shani milder.
• Jupiter transiting a sign with high Sarvashtakavarga often brings growth in that house’s matters.
• A good transit through a sign with very few bindus may give little.
• Each sign can be divided further into eight kakshyas of 3°45′, each ruled by one source; a planet gives results when it passes through a kakshya whose lord contributed a bindu.

Other uses

Traditional texts also use Ashtakavarga for choosing favourable directions and signs for muhurta, for reductions (Trikona and Ekadhipatya Shodhana) used in longevity calculations, and for comparing the strength of houses quickly. It works alongside Shadbala, which measures planets rather than signs.

Our engine’s Sarvashtakavarga reproduces the 337 total and the sign-by-sign figures of professional software. Your dashboard’s Ashtaka tab shows both the planetary tables and the Sarvashtakavarga for your chart.