Shashtiamsa (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

: षष्ट्यन्श) - meaning the 60th division, in

Hindu astrology Jyotisha or Jyotishya (from Sanskrit ', from ' “light, heavenly body" and ''ish'' - from Isvara or God) is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology and more recently Vedic astrology. It is one ...

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

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 The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect ball of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core. The Sun radiates this energy mainly as light, ultraviolet, and infrared radi ...

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.

References

{{Jyotish Vidya, state=collapsed Technical factors of Hindu astrology Sanskrit words and phrases