Divisional chart D4 – Properties and Inheritance

Chaturthamsha D4 – Property and Inheritance

Published in Gochara, BAVA April 2016

The fourth divisional chart or Chaturthamsa (D4) is seen for landed assets and property. It operates at the physical level. There are four one-fourth divisions (7◦30’) in every sign. The first quarter of every sign falls in the same sign, the second quarter falls in the next Kendra or fourth from it, the third quarter in the seventh from it and finally the last quarter falls in the tenth house from itself.

Let us examine some principles first. The fourth house and its lord has to be examined for strength in the Rashi chart (D1). It shows the general enjoyment derived from the matters of property. If fourth lord is weak or if there are malefics in the fourth house, it can bring troubles or may result in unfortunate situations with respect to property matters.

The natural Karaka (significator) for properties are Mars and Ketu (built up). The dispositor of fourth Lord in rashi becomes the temporal significator. However, if fourth Lord is exalted in Rashi, then it becomes the ultimate controller and can overrule the natural significator. The conditions of the significators natural and temporal should be examined in detail in the Chaturthamsha (D4).

The significations of various house in D4 are as follows

Further, texts describe the nature of accommodation signified by planets as follows

How many houses?

In determining how many houses, we have to see the dignity of lagna lord in D4 and how many planets are conjunct with the lagna lord and also count the number of Rashi aspects to fourth house paying special attention to the Atma Karaka and the fourth Lord of D4.

If the fourth Lord aspects the fourth house of D4, then one will live in a very nice house always. If the Atma Karaka is placed in the fourth, then one lives in a grand palace. Similarly if the fourth and fifth house of D4 are connected, then also one prefers to live in a large place.

Will I inherit?

Saturn is the key planet for inheritances. If it is placed in the eighth or aspecting it by rashi aspect, or associated with the eighth Lord in a good house, it assures inheritance. This is both for D4 and D12.

In addition to the rules mentioned above for D4, we must examine Dwadashamsha or D12. The eighth house in D12 is for inheritance from father and third for inheritance from mother. Link between second and eighth will ensure inheritance from father and the third and eighth from Mother. A strong association between the lagna and eighth assures inheritance.

In the following paragraphs I have attempted to explain the principles highlighted above by some real life examples. The one case that struck me was the story of three brothers in Delhi, where the youngest one inherited the property of parents, a large free hold independent house with several floors in a prestigious location in South Delhi, in entirety leaving the elder two brothers without claim. The property was initially going to be divided between them, but there was a surprise turn of events in that the will was changed in favour of the younger one and the middle brother who was independently wealthy had no intention of making a claim for himself but helped the younger one acquire the property in entirety.

Example 1 – A tale of two brothers, Multi-storied house in a posh locality in South Delhi

Analysing the elder brother’s Rashi Chart (D1), the fourth lord is Jupiter placed in the twelfth in a dusthana and the dispositor Sun is debilitated and conjunct with the Llagna lord. This is not very fortunate and shows that the elder son lives away from the family and his relations with his father and immediate family is strained. There is also an exchange between the lagna lord Mercury and Venus, indicating this person loses the closeness with the family as Mercury by exchange occupies twelfth from the second house of family.

Mars the natural karaka, is retrograde and is the eighth Lord showing inheritances placed in the ninth house and stronger that Ketu (the other karaka for built up property) in the fifth in Capricorn.

Looking at the D4, Sun is exalted in the fifth house, showing a great blessing. The fourth lord Jupiter is placed in the ninth house indicating possibility of some gains, but has no aspect on the fourth house. Ketu is placed in the eighth house, however there is an exchange with Moon in the twelfth house, signifying a change of mind of his mother that crucially affected the inheritance.

Atma Karaka Mars is placed in the dushikya bhava (third) is unfortunate in the sense that he may have to share or renounce his property in favour of his younger siblings.

There are no planets in the sixth house, however, the third lord Saturn is in a kendra, meaning he can make a claim for his inheritance.

The younger brother’s chart shows more promise. The fourth lord Mars in D1 is in the eighth house which is unfortunate in respect of other matter of happiness but not so much in matters of inheritance. It is conjunct with Rahu, the second lord of wealth and family. This combination is aspected (rashi) by the Lagna lord Saturn who is in Sasha Mahapurusha yoga. The dispositor is Sun and is placed in the seventh in a Kendra.

Looking at the D4, the eighth house is aspected by the fourth lord Saturn in the fourth and lagna lord Venus from the second, meaning he wants the inheritance. In fact a Libra Lagna is usually fortunate in matters of inheritance as the first and eighth are owned by the same planet. Rahu, the Atma Karaka also aspects the fourth from the house of gains, indicating the property is a large one. Third Lord Jupiter is in a Kendra aspected by Rahu (AK), Venus (lagna lord), Mars and Ketu from the fifth, he will battle for his inheritance. Moon is in the sixth house, showing initially the mother may have been against it.

Mars, is placed in the fifth with Ketu, showing he is quite blessed. However, as these are malefics and Saturn is the ruler of the 5th, the property may be a bit run down. Sun the temporal significator is in the 10th house of Maraka, signifying a death has to happen to inherit.

As Saturn is in the fourth house in D4, it helped secure the property and he inherited in Saturn maha and antar dasha. Saturn is also in Marana Karana Sthana in D1, so he gained after the death of his parents and also went through death like suffering to claim it. The elder brother lost claim to the property in the Maha Dasha of Venus, and antar dasha of Saturn. Saturn for the elder brother, is the third lord in a kendra in the seventh, should have helped him fighting for his claim, but the dispositor is in the fifth with an exalted Sun, so the father convinced him to renounce his share for his blessings. Venus is placed in tenth house (Maraka) and Saturn is the third lord of renunciation.

A quick look at the D12 of the two brothers shows that the younger brother is in favour. In the case of the elder brother Saturn is the lagna lord and has no aspect on the eighth house or the fourth. The eighth lord of inheritance is in the sixth house. In the case of the younger brother, Saturn the fourth lord is in the fourth house and the eighth lord is in lagna ensuring the inheritance.

Example 2 – Real Estate Lord – Over 100 Rental Real Estate Properties in the UK

The Fourth Lord in D1 is Sun who is in Digbala blessed by Indra Devata. Mars the karaka for property is exalted in the ninth house and is conjunct the lagna lord. The other karaka Ketu is in Mulatrikona with the retrograde but debilitated (exalted) second lord of wealth in the eleventh. This combination is stronger and shows a great promise with respect to property, so Ketu becomes the overall controller.

Looking at the D4, Sun is lagna lord in his own house, meaning he has a forthright attitude about properties. Jupiter is in his own house in the fifth showing great blessing and this Jupiter is aspecting the eleventh house of gains and income and second house of accumulated wealth. Both the seventh lords Saturn and Rahu (AK) are in the second, showing rental income, the dispositor Mercury who also owns the eleventh house of longevity of properties is in the eighth aspecting the second house assuring long contracts. Venus being in the third house in D4, he shares his fortune and personal property with his wife. They together own over 100 properties, none of them too big as the second Lord is with Ketu. Ketu can mean small or a multitude of properties.

The property business started after marriage as Venus is the ninth house of fortune in the Rashi. Personally they live very modestly as fourth house has a debilitated Moon, who is exchanging with Mars and is not aspected by Jupiter the fifth lord or the Atma Karaka.

Example 3 – Acquisition with the help of Mortgage and Timing the Sale

Fourth Lord Moon in the Rashi chart is placed in the second house and is exalted, so it becomes the ultimate controller that will deliver a property. In the D4, this Moon is exalted as well and placed in the 5th house showing great blessing. The lagna lord of D4 is Saturn, debilitated in the fourth house but is conjunct an exalted planet, so this person will have a beautiful place but it will be an old property due to the presence of Saturn. Malefics in the fourth cause problems, so there could a number of problems in renovation, cracks and leaks. Rahu, the Atma Karaka also aspects the fourth house ensuring a handsome property.

During Rahu dasha and Moon antar dasha, the person keenly started hunting for a flat. Mars is the eleventh lord in the eighth, that assured a mortgage, and finally as soon as Mars antar dasha started, a beautiful South facing, period property with plenty of sunlight was acquired. Due to the presence of an exalted Moon in the fifth house no expense was spared in renovating the home to best and luxurious standards. However, during the maha dasha of Jupiter, antar dasha of Mercury (Planet in the tenth takes you away from home usually for career), the person was sent away from London by her employers. The place was rented to a foreigner, represented by Rahu in the third (share property if there is planet in the third) that activated the Saturn in the fourth and caused a lot of damage to the property.

This person is thinking of selling the property as Jupiter is the twelfth lord and is in the ninth house of investments. (Sixth from the fourth, property has appreciated in value). As Mars, the eleventh lord is in the eighth, assuring longevity, it’s not so easy to carry out this plan. The best time would have been during Jupiter dasha Mercury antar dasha as Mercury rules the ninth house and is placed in the tenth (Maraka or sale). During the antar dasha of Ketu and it would have been difficult to part with the property as it rules the 11th house of longevity. Now, the person is running Venus antar dasha and Venus is the tenth lord placed in the ninth house of investment. It may be, in the next one year possible to realise a sale especially in the first part of dasha as Virgo and Libra or both head rising and will give results in the first half. This is further confirmed by Venus being in the twelfth in the Rashi chart and again in the ninth from the fourth house.

Om Tat Sat


Pandit Sanjay Rath’s teachings of Chaturtamsha and Dwadashamsa
Brihat Parashara Hora Sastra

2 Replies to “Divisional chart D4 – Properties and Inheritance”

  1. My D4- pisces ascendant

    I have rahu in 4th house of gemini I think.
    Saturn sun and mars in 11th capricorn.
    Doesnt look too good.

    Moon is in 5th house
    Saturn in 11th

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