Shashtiamsa (Sanskrit: षष्ट्यांश) - meaning the 60th division, in Hindu astrology refers to the 60th division or varga of a Rasi or Sign equally divided or half-degree each. It is one of the sixteen shodasvargas that are considered important and relevant to important aspects of life. Virupas, a measure of planetary or bhava strength, are also known as Shashtiamsas.
Parasara’s explanation In his Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra, Parasara has defined the sixteen shodasvargas; with regards to the Shashtiamsa sub-division of a sign he states – ignore the sign position of a planet and take the degrees etc. it traversed in that sign. Multiply that figure by 2 and divide by 12, then, add 1 to the remainder which will indicate the sign in which the Shashtiamsa falls; the lord of that sign is the planet ruling the said Shashtiamsa. He has listed in a particular order the names of the sixty shashtiamsas falling in odd signs which order, he says, should be reversed for even signs. Planets in benefic shashtiamsas produce auspicious results while the opposite is true in case of planets in malefic shashtiamsas. In the context of varga classification he clarifies that the divisions falling in the planet’s exaltation sign, moolatrikona sign, own sign, and the signs owned by the lord of a kendra (angle) from the graha arudha are all to be considered as good vargas but not those divisions of a combust planet, defeated planet, weak planet and a planet in bad avastha situated wherein situated planets destroy yogas .
List showing names and order of Shashtiāmsās
S.No.ODD signs up to Shashtiamsa Benefic or Malefic S.No.EVEN signs 1 Ghorānsh Malefic60 2 Rākshasa Malefic59 3 DevaBenefic 58 4 KuberBenefic 57 5 Rakshogana Benefic 56 6 Kinnar Benefic 55 7 Bhrshta Malefic 54 8 Kulaghna Malefic 53 9 Garala Malefic 52 10 Agni Malefic 51 11 Māyā Malefic 50 12 Yama Malefic 49 13 Varuna Benefic 48 14 Indra Benefic 47 15 Kāla Malefic 46 16 Ahibhāga Benefic 4517Amrtānshu Benefic 4418Chandra Benefic 4319Madu Benefic 4220Komala Benefic 4121Padma Benefic 4022Vishnu Benefic 3923Vāgāsh Benefic 3824Dingchar Benefic 3725Dava Benefic 3626Ārdra Benefic 3527Kālanāsha Malefic 3428Kshitish Benefic 3329Kamalākar Benefic 3230Manda Malefic 3131Mrtyu Malefic 3032Kāla Malefic 2933Dāvagni Malefic 2834Ghora Malefic 2735Maya Malefic 2636Kantaka Malefic 2537Sudhā Benefic 2438Amrta Benefic 2339Poornachandra Benefic 2240Vishpradimā Malefic 2141Kulanāsha Malefic 2042Mukhya Benefic 1943Vanshakshya Malefic 1844Utpāta Malefic 1745Kālroopa Benefic 1646Saomaya Benefic 1547Mrdu Benefic 1448Sheetala Benefic 1349Danshtrākarā Malefic 1250Indumukha Malefic 1151Praveena Benefic 1052Kālagni Malefic 953Dandayudha Benefic 854Nirmala Benefic 755Shubha Benefic 656Ashubha Benefic 557Atisheeta Benefic 458Sudhāyoga Benefic 359Bhramana Malefic 260Indurekhā Benefic 1
Venkatesa’s interpretation Venkatesa in his Sarvartha Chintamani (Slokas I.29 & 112) explains that planets occupying cruel Shashtiamsas (1/60th division of a sign) produce evil results, planets in good Shashtiamsas, and which planets are also occupying good vargas or divisions become powerful to confer good results and that planets in exaltation, in friendly signs, own navamsas , own rasis, drekkenas, shodasmsas and trimsamsas possess Sthanabala and exercise the most favourable influence. The same text also states that those planets that are exalted or occupy their moolatrikonas vested with full strength destroy all their good effects in case they happen to occupy cruel shashtiamsas. The lord of the 10th conjoining with the lord of the lagna in the 11th house causes loss of wealth through rulers’ ire if it also happens to be Yamaghantakansha or Danshtrakaralansha (which are cruel and evil shashtiamsas). The lord of the Dhanabhava (2nd house) even if occupying a kendrasthana or a trikonabhava does not confer wealth if it also occupies a cruel shashtiamsa, the person will incur debts; the same results will ensue in case the lord of the navamsa occupied by the lord of the 11th house is in a cruel shashtiamsa. Benefic planets occupying cruel shashtiamsas do not confer good results during the course of their respective dashas or antra-dashas. Afflicted weak natural malefics situated in malefic shashtiamsa produce bad results. If at the time birth Saturn is in its sign of debilitation or in inimical sign or is eclipsed by the Sun and is associated with and aspected by planets and situated in a malefic shashtiamsa one meets a miserable death. Saturn occupying its own sign or exaltation sign does not generally afflict the natural benefics or their yoga-formations, and if not occupying its neecha navamsa (Aries navamsa) or a cruel shashtiamsa confers good results.
Signification The Birth Chart or Horoscope drawn for the time of birth verily indicates when events are bound to happen, and the Shashtiamsa Chart tells why events happen in the life of the native; both charts complement each other. Jataka Tattva tells us that the lord of the 10th house occupying evil vargas owned by evil planets and situated in cruel shashtiamsa makes one notorious. But, if the lord of the 10th associating with benefics is in the 5th shashtiamsa then he will be an able leader and ruler.
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