ASHTAKVARGA Basics Maharshi Parashar says, "if the 12 Bhavas, including Lagna, are occupied by, or aspected by benefic

Grahas, they yield auspicious results, according to their characteristics, but this happens, where the Grahas concerned are in their exaltation Rashi, own Rashi, or posited in a benefic Bhava. There will be no good effects, if such Grahas are in depression, or posited in an inauspicious Bhava. Similarly the Bhavas, associated with, or aspected by malefics in depression, or posited in malefic Bhavas, yield adverse results, according to their characteristics. This is how the general effects have been described by the Daivajnas. I have only repeated those effects. The main purposes of this Jyotish Shastra are to determine the longevity and joys and sorrows of the people, but because the movements of the Grahas are so subtle, even sages, like Vashista and Brihaspati, have not been able to be quite definite in this respect. Then how can a common man, particularly in Kaliyuga, do so". With this background he reveals this system of Ashtakvarga. The meaning of AshtakaVarg is literally the group or division of eight. In other words it is the combination of the good and bad positions of a Grah with reference to the seven Grahas and Lagn. So it is the combination of the benefic and malefic points in a planet's chart with reference to the position of the eight other Grahas (here Lagn is to be treated, as a Grah). The whole system revolves on the basis of transiting positions of planets and their natal position -- which is basically transiting position at birth and forms the fixed point of analysis.

Those who are not well versed with this system, could go through any classic like BPHS, Horasara, Phaldeepika, Jatakdeshmarga, etc. to become familiar with the preparation of ashtakvarga charts and the effects of transits of different planets in houses based on number of auspicious bindus.
The total auspicious Bindus given by planets is 337. Divided by 12, it gives an average of 28 bindus per rashi. Therefore, we can roughly say that for average results of a house, we need at least 28 Bindus in samuday ashtakvarga of that house. Due to the difference in rising period of rashis, the short ascension signs may give good results at 26 and long ascension may be favourable when they are with 30 bindus. One has to keep that in mind. Amongst the 12 Bhavas more than 30 bindus advance the effects of a Bhava, between 25 and 30 bindus produce medium effects and the effects of the Bhava, and which contains less than 25 bindus, get inauspicious effects. In order to get a complete picture of effects of various planets in a house, one has to see within the rashi, the contribution given by various planets (Bhinnashtak varga). The planets can contribute anywhere between 0-8 bindus

in any rashi or house. Without going into technical details, I am just mentioning here that Mars and Saturn can give 0 points whereas other planets give a minimum of 1 point in a rashi. Basically, Ashtakvarga is made to see transit effects of planets in relation to their natal strength. The favourable or unfavourable results are because of the transit of planets in the signs having different number of auspicious bindus in SAV of sign and BAV of planet. A sign and house having, say 37 bindus in SAV would mean that most of the planets have contributed auspicious points to this sign and house in relation to other planets and lagna. Hence whenever planets will transit on this sign, native will get mostly auspicious effects of the house concerned. So we can say that for any house to prosper, it should have minimum 28 (preferably 30) bindus, the more the merrier. If simultaneously, its karak and lord are associated with more bindus, the good effects are multiplied. If the transiting planet to such a house, has also given an above average number of bindus in its own Bhinnashtak, the results will surely be very auspicious. We may say:

When a benefic transits a sign with less bindus, native gets little happiness, in proportion with the no. of bindus. When a malefic transits a sign with less bindus, it causes great agony in reverse proportion of bindus When a benefic transits over a sign with greater no. of bindus, the native will have more favourable results of the house. When a malefic transits over a sign with greater number of bindus, it will give luck and not auspicious effects.

Even during the much dreaded Sade-sati, it is seen that if the 3 houses (2,1,12) transited by Saturn have more than 30 points, the adverse effects are not there. In the same way saturn's transit to other houses including 4th and 8th may be judged. Various effects of planets transiting in different signs and houses with different no. of bindus are given in classics. These may be referred to for interpreting the results of transits. E.g broadly, when Jupiter transits sign where he has given maximum bindus in his bhinnashtak, it invariably gives good results of its significations such as wisdom, progeny, etc. Of course, as I have said earlier, these effects must be moderated with intrinsic worth of the natal chart and dasha bhukti. Antar of a planet associated with more benefic bindus is auspicious.

Some Examples Case 1: a native 22.3.1936/17.15/Ahmedabad The ascendant has 21 bindus, LL sun is associated with 20 bindus and karak sun also has only 20 bindus, Thus first house is inauspicious. Native died in his 29th year. Case 2: Male 16.10.1930/22.55/Virpur (Saurashtra) Here ascendant has 36 bindus, LL mars has 35 bindus, and karak sun has 32 bindus. The native is well built, enjoys sound health with no major health trouble. Case 3: 6.2.1927/7.19/Ahmedabad Here the 5th house becomes weak. It has 24 bindus, 5L venus has 24 bindus and karak Jupiter is also with 24 bindus. He had no child at all. Case 4: 18.2.1940/21.00/Surendernagar 7H has only 15 bindus, with lord Jupiter and karak venus also therein, with 15 bindus each. The native could not get married Case 5: 26.10.1952/4.00/Patna The person has 27 points in 4H, 4L Jupiter is with 22 points, Karaks Moon, venus etc. are all with lower than average bindus. The person has married thrice, still never got domestic happiness. 7H with 30 points has given him marriage. Case 6: 2.6.1933/13.15/Bombay Native had great gains when Saturn was transiting through Gemini with 38 bindus. The moment it entered cancer, he lost all what he'd earned. Case 7: Female 18.2.1974/9.55/Delhi Her 5H and leo is associated with only 22 benefic bindus. Saturn has given only 2 bindus in his BAV. In February, while Saturn was in leo, she faced a near fatal occurrence of pnuemonia while she was pregnant, and doctors had to take out a premature baby. Both mother and baby have still not recovered from the misery.