The D16 Chart in Jyotish

Welcome to my series on the divisional charts of Jyotish. These articles provide an accessible overview for my clients, explaining how each chart adds unique depth to your astrological profile.

Today, we explore the D16 or Shodasamsa chart—a fascinating window into your past-life karma related to material comforts, vehicles, and your emotional foundation. This chart reveals the karmic patterns you’ve inherited regarding possessions, pleasure, and the sense of “home” you carry within.

A Quick Note: An accurate birth time is essential for this and any divisional chart beyond the D1.

What is the D16 Chart?

The D16 chart is created by dividing each 30-degree zodiac sign into 16 equal parts of 1°52’30”. It is uniquely focused on opening up and analyzing the 4th house of your main birth chart (D1).

• Core Purpose: To reveal your karmic relationship with material security, vehicles, real estate, emotional comforts, and inherited patterns of pleasure. It answers the question: “What karma am I working through in my relationship with the material world and my private life?”

The Unique Signature: Rahu & Ketu Conjunction

A distinctive feature of the D16 is that Rahu and Ketu are always conjunct (in the same sign) instead of in their usual opposition. This is because the D16 deals with divine gifts and karmic assignments from a past life—what was “chosen for you” by a higher power regarding your material journey. This conjunction represents the focal point of your karmic lessons and gifts in the realm of possessions and comfort.

Rahu & Ketu Conjunction Through the Houses:
The house containing this Rahu/Ketu conjunction highlights the life area where your material and comfort-related karma is most active.

1. 1st House: Karma tied to your self-image, body, and how you present yourself to the world through possessions.

2. 2nd House: Karma related to family wealth, speech, values, and inherited resources.

3. 3rd House: Karma involving siblings, communication, short journeys, and personal courage.

4. 4th House: Karma deeply rooted in home, family, emotional security, and inner peace.

5. 5th House (Purva Punya): The fruit of past-life good credit. Positive karma manifesting as creativity, joy, love affairs, and speculative gains.

6. 6th House: Karma related to health, service, debts, and overcoming conflicts.

7. 7th House: Karma played out through partnerships, marriage, and business relationships.

8. 8th House: Karma involving inheritance, transformation, secrets, and joint resources.

9. 9th House: Karma related to long journeys, higher learning, spirituality, and teachers.

10. 10th House: Karma manifesting in career, public reputation, and social status.

11. 11th House: Karma related to gains, friendships, aspirations, and social networks.

12. 12th House: Karma of solitude, spirituality, foreign connections, and liberation from material bonds.

The Heart of the Chart: The 4th House & Its Lord

As the D16 expands the D1’s 4th house, the 4th house lord and any planets within it are paramount for analysis.

A. The 4th House Lord by Sign: Karma Regarding Vehicles & Movement
The sign ruling your D16 4th house reveals your karmic inclinations toward vehicles and transportation.

1. Aries: Dynamic, sporty vehicles; a karmic drive for excitement and adventure in travel.

2. Taurus: Luxurious, comfortable vehicles; a karmic attachment to stability and quality.

3. Gemini: Practical, versatile vehicles; a karmic interest in technology and communication gadgets.

4. Cancer: Emotionally significant vehicles; a karmic link between vehicles and family security.

5. Leo: Stylish, attention-grabbing vehicles; a karmic desire for status and self-expression.

6. Virgo: Efficient, well-maintained vehicles; a karmic focus on practicality and detail.

7. Libra: Aesthetic, harmonious vehicles; a karmic value for beauty and balance.

8. Scorpio: Powerful, private vehicles; a karmic need for control and intensity.

9. Sagittarius: Adventurous, spacious vehicles; a karmic quest for freedom and exploration.

10. Capricorn: Reliable, durable vehicles; a karmic focus on practicality and long-term investment.

11. Aquarius: Unique, unconventional vehicles; a karmic draw to innovation and eco-friendly options.

12. Pisces: Comfortable, compassionate vehicles; a karmic seeker of emotional or spiritual escape.

B. The 4th House Lord by Nakshatra: Karmic Patterns of Home & Emotional Foundation
The Nakshatra placement adds a layer of spiritual and psychological detail about your karmic home life.

1. Ashwini: Quick changes at home; a karmic need for independence.

2. Bharani: Transformation and regeneration of the home environment.

3. Krittika: Leadership and determination in creating domestic harmony.

4. Rohini: Strong attachment to comfort and nurturing surroundings.

5. Mrigashira: Flexibility and a need for variety at home.

6. Ardra: Intellectual communication and mental growth within the family.

7. Punarvasu: Expansion and creating an abundant, supportive home.

8. Pushya: Attachment to tradition and fostering emotional security.

9. Ashlesha: Intense emotional dynamics and hidden motivations at home.

10. Magha: Upholding family authority, legacy, and honor.

11. Purva Phalguni: Creating a luxurious, harmonious, and entertaining home.

12. Uttara Phalguni: Focusing on social connections and community within the home.

13. Hasta: Meticulous organization and practicality in domestic matters.

14. Chitra: Bringing creativity, artistry, and balance into the home.

15. Swati: Idealism, independence, and seeking diplomatic solutions at home.

16. Vishakha: Building alliances and partnerships within the domestic sphere.

17. Anuradha: Commitment and dedication to nurturing long-term family bonds.

18. Jyeshtha: Power dynamics and a focus on control within the home.

19. Mula: Transformation, upheaval, and uncovering deep truths at home.

20. Purva Ashadha: Aspiration and growth-oriented domestic life.

21. Uttara Ashadha: Discipline, responsibility, and contributing to societal welfare through home.

22. Shravana: Creating a nurturing, knowledge-centered home environment.

23. Dhanishta: Seeking achievement, status, and recognition through the home.

24. Shatabhisha: Eccentricity, originality, and unconventional approaches to home life.

25. Purva Bhadrapada: Spirituality and transcendence as a domestic focus.

26. Uttara Bhadrapada: Service, sacrifice, and compassion within the family.

27. Revati: Creativity, imagination, and fostering unity in the domestic environment.

C. Planets in the 4th House: Active Karmic Influencers
Planets residing in the D16 4th house directly shape your karmic experience of home and comfort.

1. Sun: A karmic need for recognition, leadership, and self-expression at home.

2. Moon: Deep emotional bonds and a karmic drive to nurture and secure the home.

3. Mars: Assertive, dynamic, and independent family dynamics; karmic lessons in patience.

4. Mercury: A karmic focus on communication, learning, and adaptability at home.

5. Jupiter: Expansion, abundance, and a karmic emphasis on moral values in domestic life.

6. Venus: A karmic love of beauty, harmony, and relationship-building at home.

7. Saturn: Karmic lessons in structure, discipline, responsibility, and long-term planning for the home.

8. Rahu: Unconventional, disruptive, or revolutionary influences on home life; a karmic break from tradition.

9. Ketu: Spiritual detachment, solitude, and a karmic release of material attachments related to home.

10. Outer Planets (Modern Interpretation):

    • Uranus: Sudden changes, innovation, and a need for freedom at home.

    • Neptune: Idealism, sensitivity, and a spiritual or creative domestic atmosphere.

    • Pluto: Intense transformation, psychological depth, and empowerment through home life.

Conclusion

The D16 Shodasamsa Chart is a profound map of your soul’s material and emotional inheritance. It reveals not just what comforts you are drawn to, but the karmic why behind your relationship with security, vehicles, and home. By understanding these patterns, you can consciously navigate your material life, transforming potential attachments or conflicts into opportunities for growth and fulfilling your soul’s journey in the physical world.

All research and writing are done by me. My primary sources are my class notes, traditional teachings, and the foundational text, the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.