"Ashta" means eight, "Varga" means division or group. Ashtakavarga is a system where each planet receives benefic points (called Bindus) from eight sources: the seven classical planets (Sun through Saturn) and the Lagna (Ascendant). Each source either contributes a Bindu (1) or does not (0) to each of the 12 signs, creating a comprehensive scoring matrix for every planet.

There are two key tables in Ashtakavarga: the Bhinna Ashtakavarga (BAV) which is the individual scoring table for each planet, and the Sarvashtakavarga (SAV) which combines all individual scores into a grand total for each sign. The BAV tells you how a specific planet will perform when transiting a given sign; the SAV tells you the overall strength of a sign across all planetary transits.

Why does Ashtakavarga matter? It answers a critical question that basic transit analysis cannot: two people with the same Moon sign will experience the same Saturn transit very differently. Ashtakavarga explains WHY — the bindu score for Saturn in that sign in their individual charts will differ, making one person's transit productive and the other's challenging.

Each planet's Bhinna Ashtakavarga (BAV) is a row of 12 numbers — one for each sign (Aries through Pisces). Each number ranges from 0 to 8, representing how many of the 8 sources contribute a benefic point to that sign for that planet.

The critical threshold in Ashtakavarga is 4 bindus. When a planet transits a sign where it has 4 or more bindus in its BAV, the transit tends to give favourable results in that planet's significations. Below 4 bindus, the transit is likely to bring challenges, delays, or unfavourable outcomes. The higher the score, the stronger the positive effect; a score of 0-1 can indicate significant difficulties.

The SAV row sums all seven planets' BAV scores for each sign. The total SAV across all 12 signs is always 337 points. The average per sign is about 28. Signs scoring 28 or above in SAV are considered strong — any planet transiting that sign tends to give better-than-average results. Signs below 25 are weak — transits through these signs tend to be more challenging regardless of the specific planet.

Trikona Shodhana is an advanced technique that reduces the BAV to yield more precise results. The basic principle: signs that share the same lord (Trikona signs) should have their minimum bindu value subtracted from all three. For example, Aries and Scorpio are both ruled by Mars. If Aries has 5 bindus and Scorpio has 3, subtract 3 from both: Aries becomes 2 and Scorpio becomes 0. This refined table is used for precise timing within a transit.

Ekadhipati Shodhana extends this principle specifically to signs sharing the same lord (dual-lordship signs). Mars rules Aries and Scorpio; Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Pisces; Saturn rules Capricorn and Aquarius; Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo; Venus rules Taurus and Libra. For each such pair, the lower value is subtracted from both. This gives a "net strength" that shows where a planet truly delivers its strongest results during transit.

Each sign of 30 degrees is divided into 8 Kakshyas (divisions) of 3 degrees 45 minutes each, ruled by the 8 Ashtakavarga contributors in a fixed order: Saturn (0-3°45'), Jupiter (3°45'-7°30'), Mars (7°30'-11°15'), Sun (11°15'-15°), Venus (15°-18°45'), Mercury (18°45'-22°30'), Moon (22°30'-26°15'), Lagna (26°15'-30°). When a transiting planet passes through the Kakshya of a source that contributed a Bindu, that specific 3-4 day window yields positive results.