What Ashtakavarga Shows
Ashtakavarga (अष्टकवर्ग) assigns benefic points (0-8) to each of the twelve signs based on the positions of seven planets and the Lagna. It reveals how favorable each sign is as a transit zone for a given planet. A sign with high points (5+) becomes a productive transit; low points (below 3) signals difficulty. It is the most reliable Vedic tool for judging transit strength.
How the Points Are Calculated
Each planet receives contributions from 8 sources: itself, the other 6 planets, and the Lagna. Each source either contributes a point (1) or not (0) to each of the 12 signs, based on classical rules. The Sarvashtakavarga is the total across all planets — signs with 28+ points are generally strong; below 22 points are weak areas in life. Binnashtakavarga (individual planet table) shows transit results for that specific planet.
Using Ashtakavarga for Transits
When Saturn transits a sign with 4+ points in your Ashtakavarga, expect better results than a sign with 2 points — even if that sign is traditionally unfavorable for Saturn. Check the Ashtakavarga score of any sign before predicting a transit's impact. For the most accurate timing, combine Dasha lords, Gochar position, and Ashtakavarga score together. All three must align for a strong event to manifest.