The Navamsa (D9) chart
The Navamsa is the ninth divisional chart (D9). Classical texts treat it as second only to the birth chart itself, and many astrologers will not judge a planet without checking its navamsa.
How it is calculated
Each sign is split into nine equal parts of 3°20′. For fire signs the nine parts run from Aries, for earth signs from Capricorn, for air signs from Libra and for water signs from Cancer. A planet at 10° Taurus, for example, is in the fourth part of an earth sign: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries.
Each 3°20′ navamsa is also exactly one nakshatra pada, which links the D9 closely to the nakshatras.
What astrologers read in the D9
- The underlying strength of each planet — a planet weak in D1 but strong in D9 is said to improve over time.
- Marriage and partnership, traditionally the Navamsa’s chief subject.
- Dharma and the inner, spiritual side of life.
Vargottama
When a planet or the Lagna occupies the same sign in D1 and D9 it is vargottama and considered strengthened. This happens in the first navamsa of movable signs, the fifth of fixed signs and the ninth of dual signs.