Tajaka sahams of wealth
Tajaka · Money
Sahams are the Tajaka system's equivalent of the Hellenistic Arabic Parts — sensitive mathematical points in the Varshaphala (annual chart) derived by taking the arc between two planets and projecting it from a third. The 36 classical sahams map specific areas of life, and those related to wealth and fortune — particularly Artha, Vyapara, and Punya — are among the most consulted for financial forecasting.
What it is
The word saham (Arabic: سهم, «arrow» or «lot») entered Indian astrology through the Indo-Persian Tajaka tradition, which absorbed elements of Hellenistic lot-calculation via medieval Islamic astronomy. Neelakantha's Tajaka Neelakanthi lists 36 sahams, each computed from a specific trio of planets (or angles) using a fixed arithmetic formula: typically A + B - C (or variants), projected from the Ascendant of the annual chart.
The wealth-related sahams are among the most important. Punya Saham (lot of merit/fortune) is computed as Moon + Sun - Saturn and signals the accumulation of karmic fortune. Artha Saham (lot of wealth) derives from Venus + Jupiter - Saturn and directly indicates material gain potential in the year. Vyapara Saham (lot of trade/commerce) focuses on business and commercial activity. Vidya Saham (lot of knowledge) while primarily educational, also relates to income from intellectual work.
Each saham has a sign and degree placement in the annual chart. The house it occupies, the planet ruling that house, and any aspects it receives from benefic or malefic planets together describe the quality and timing of the life area it governs for the year.
How it is calculated
Sahams are always calculated within the Varshaphala annual chart, never the natal chart — this is a critical Tajaka-specific rule. The formula for each saham is fixed in the classical texts. As a representative example, the Artha Saham is: Venus + Jupiter - Saturn (day chart) or Saturn + Jupiter - Venus (night chart), measured in absolute ecliptic longitude and then reduced to a zodiacal position.
Once calculated, the saham's degree is placed in the annual chart and interpreted by: (1) the house it falls in; (2) the sign ruler of that house; (3) whether any annual-chart planet aspects the saham degree within a meaningful orb (usually 5°). An aspected saham is "activated" and gives results; an unaspected saham is dormant for the year.
What it reveals
The wealth sahams reveal where and how financial opportunity concentrates in a specific year. Artha Saham in the 11th house with Jupiter's aspect in the annual chart, for example, strongly suggests a year of income growth, gains from networks, or profitable investments. Vyapara Saham in the 10th with benefic aspects points to a year when commercial ventures tied to career flourish.
Beyond forecasting, sahams help prioritise which life areas to actively engage during a given annual cycle. Unlike slow transits that remain active for months, sahams are strictly annual — the chart is rebuilt from scratch each birthday, and the saham positions shift accordingly, making them highly specific to the year in question.
Frequently asked questions
Are Tajaka sahams the same as Hellenistic Arabic Parts?
They share the same mathematical ancestry — both use the three-point lot formula (A + B - C). However, the Tajaka sahams are defined for and applied to the annual Varshaphala chart, while Hellenistic lots are typically interpreted in the natal chart. The specific formulas, names, and interpretive frameworks also differ. Tajaka is a tradition-specific construct; treating sahams and Hellenistic lots as interchangeable is a category error.
How many sahams are there, and which are most commonly used for financial analysis?
The canonical Tajaka list contains 36 sahams covering all major life topics. For financial analysis, the most commonly consulted are Punya Saham (merit/fortune), Artha Saham (wealth), Vyapara Saham (trade), Vidya Saham (knowledge-income), and Karma Saham (action/livelihood). Many practitioners also examine Labha Saham (gain) and Dhana Saham if listed in their reference tradition.
Do sahams work in both day and night charts?
Yes. Like Hellenistic lots, most Tajaka sahams have separate day and night formulas that reverse the arithmetic direction (day: A + B - C; night: A + C - B or some equivalent reversal). The distinction is based on whether the Sun is above the horizon (day chart) or below it (night chart) in the annual Varshaphala. Not all authorities agree on which sahams require reversal, so practitioners follow the specific classical text they work with.
Classical sources
- Neelakantha, Tajaka Neelakanthi
- B. V. Raman, Varshaphala
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