The Nature of the Soul

The Nature of the Soul Seen in Shastiamsha (D60) ¹

While the D40 chart means maternal curse (from the mother side of the native), and the D45 is paternal curse (from the ancestors of the native’s father), the D60 chart shows the native’s own curse, or blessing, from the past life. The D60 chart reveals secrets of past life karma — curses and blessings and what they bring to this life that we’ll have to face. This chart is called Shastiamasha in Vedic Astrology, whereas Shasti means sixty (60) and Amsha means portion.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Divisional charts are only useful and should be used only if the birth time is known with accuracy and precision! Otherwise, divisional charts should be ignored as their results will be misleading. The exact time of birth is what differentiates one twin from another as two souls cannot have the exact same Vedic horoscope as they don’t come out of the birth canal together and at the exact same moment in time; hence, every minute, even if it’s just ½, makes the difference!

The D60 also shows the native’s traits carried from past life unto the present life. D60 also represents dharma and the type of spiritual beliefs the native has, if any. Therefore, the 9^th Lord of D1 is also to be examined in its placement in D60, which will further reveal the reason the soul took birth.

The Ascendant of D60 represents us and how we are affected by past life karmas, both good and bad, in our present life. We need to examine the Bhavas (Houses), how many planets they have and how they are afflicted or benefited by conjunctions and aspects.

We want to look at the Ascendant Lord of D60 and what aspects are in the 1^st house of D60. If there are no planets in the 1^st house of D60, the native’s life will be free from any encumbrances of past life. If 1^st house or 1^st Lord of D1 or D60 is aspected by two or more malefics, it means a karmic curse on the native.

We also want to look at what planets are placed in 4^th House of D60, and where the 9^th Lord of D1 is placed in D60. In summary, we examine each house of the D60 for an accurate view of the native’s karma and purpose of his/her incarnation.

Nature of 1^st Lord in D60

• If the 1^st Lord of D60 is a benefic (Moon, Mercury, Jupiter or Venus), the native’s life will be smooth and progressive.
• If the 1^st Lord of D60 is a malefic (Sun, Mars or Saturn), the native’s life will experience slow growth and delays.

Placement of 1^st Lord in D60

If the 1^st Lord of D60 is …

• … in Trikona Houses (1, 5 or 9), it means the native was devotional in past life, therefore this present life will be good.
• … in Houses 2, 6 or 10, it means the native is materialistic and he/she was born solely to enjoy material pleasures.
• … in Houses 3, 7 or 11, it means the native lives an artificial and illusory life (example, film stars and those attached to illusions and fakery).
• … in Moksha Houses (4, 8 or 12), it means attainment of Moksha; meaning that the native took birth for that purpose and will attain it [therefore, this is their last required¹ physical incarnation].

Condition of the 9^th Lord / House of D1 in D60

If 9^th House of D60 is damaged, that means there will be a struggle in this life, the native is not blessed or helped by anyone and this life will be very tough and lack fulfilment of desired results.

Condition of Houses 6, 8 and 12 in D60

Who these houses’ lords are and which planets are posited there, must be examined as well. If they are not well placed in D1, it will affect the D60 as well. Any affliction of these houses in D60 must be carefully analyzed when predicting their results in D60. If these Lords are very weak, they are incapable of giving good results. For example, if 6^th Lord of D60 is Mars and is conjunct with Jupiter, so Jupiter is affected by 6^th Lord and therefore it loses some of its strength due to its association with the 6^th Lord and that creates some misfortune for the native.

Condition of Atmakaraka in D60

One important predictor can be the position of Atmakaraka in the D60. Atmakaraka is the planet which holds the highest degree² among the seven classical planets. Note the characteristics of the Atmakaraka in D60 to find a keynote of the native’s life narrative and contribution to society.

Condition of Debilitated or Exalted Planets in D1 and D60

If a planet is exalted in D1 but debilitated in D60, that will be its actual manifestation in one’s life at “harvest” time, a/k/a Dasha period of that planet. Likewise, if it’s debilitated in D1 but exalted in D60, its ultimate results will be manifested according to its placement in D60, as promised by karma law, particularly during its dasha periods.

Retrograde Planets in D1

Another use of D60 is to determine whether a retrograde planet will give fruits or not. Retrograde planet results are normally delayed, but not denied. Some schools of thought assert that a retrograde malefic gains power, while a retrograde benefic loses power. There is some merit to the different opinions on the true effects of retrograde planets. The Shashtiamsha lord helps make the determination of good or difficult results because the Shashtiamsha lord will either be malefic or benefic, and this may help to settle the case.

If the Planet falls into a malefic Shashtiamsha, it is considered that negative Akashic memory patterning is operating and there is a need for payback. In the case of negative Shashtiamsha position, it becomes more likely that results of the Planet will be delayed or denied.

Lordship of D60 and Its Meaning

Every Ascendant in D1 has its own deity (God/Goddess) ruling the D60, which hints the nature and the purpose of the physical birth of the Soul according to the Amsha (Distinctive Portion) in order of degrees. The list of deities is ordered according to odd and even signs, as instructed in Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra (BPHS), Chapter 6, Slokas 35 to 41.

The following are the listed effects per every 30 minutes for odd signs from 1 to 60. For effects of even signs, we reverse the list, whereas their degree begins at the 60^th Deity and follow in descending order. Degrees in an odd and even sign are shown in these segments whereas 0.3 means 0 degree 30 minutes as terminating point of the first Shastiamsha. For example, let’s suppose the Ascendant planet is in 11°37’ of Pisces in the natal chart (D1); because it has covered the 11.30 amsha, it will be seen in 12.00 of even sign [Pisces is the 12^th sign of the Zodiac, therefore it’s an Even Sign], thus, it will be in 37^th Shastiamsha known as Sudha.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All Shastiamsha Deities are to be considered as neutral (not good nor bad) and to be interpreted with respect to the planets and points coming under their division. For example, 5^th lord in Kulaghna Shastiamsha is very bad but, Saturn under Gulika Shastiamsha, Rahu/Ketu under Sarpa Shastiamsha or Venus under Ghora (which means, violent, vehement, but also venerable, etc.) cannot be taken as bad. Therefore, one needs to use common sense.

¹ No one is obligated to incarnate, unless it is to fulfill and resolve karma; otherwise, physical incarnation is entirely voluntary.

² Shubham Alock Signh claims the correct translation from original texts is highest “minute,” not degree, that establishes the karakas. This changes my Darakarka to Mars, which makes a somewhat more fitting scenario when compared to my lived reality in marriage matters; however, using Nadi method of analysis I obtain the same scenario, leading to my conclusion that Nadi is sufficient to arrive to definite conclusions without using minute instead of degree as the determinant of the Karakas per Jaimini. Also, he uses Chandra Hari Ayanamsha, which also changes my chart, moving Sun to 9th house along with the other 5 planets already there. I’ve found this to be an additional view of the horoscope, but not the ultimate final determinant.

Credits

The above study was compiled, and translated, based on the information shared by the following scholars:

1. Barbara Pijan Lama
2. Dr. Dharmesh Mehta
3. Shubham Alock Signh