THE STELLAR PERSPECTIVESub-Lords and the 249 Divisions
Unequal stellar subdivisions
Each nakshatra measures 13 degrees 20 minutes, equivalent to 800 arcminutes. KP divides it into nine unequal subs using the Vimshottari year allocations. The first sub is governed by the nakshatra's own lord, followed by the remaining lords in cyclic sequence.
| Lord | Nakshatras | Dasha years | Sub span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketu | Ashwini, Magha, Mula | 7 | 0 degrees 46 minutes 40 seconds |
| Venus | Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha | 20 | 2 degrees 13 minutes 20 seconds |
| Sun | Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha | 6 | 0 degrees 40 minutes |
| Moon | Rohini, Hasta, Shravana | 10 | 1 degree 6 minutes 40 seconds |
| Mars | Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishtha | 7 | 0 degrees 46 minutes 40 seconds |
| Rahu | Ardra, Swati, Shatabhisha | 18 | 2 degrees |
| Jupiter | Punarvasu, Vishakha, Purva Bhadrapada | 16 | 1 degree 46 minutes 40 seconds |
| Saturn | Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada | 19 | 2 degrees 6 minutes 40 seconds |
| Mercury | Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati | 17 | 1 degree 53 minutes 20 seconds |
The proportional formula
Sub span = 800 arcminutes × the lord's Vimshottari years / 120. The nine allocations total 120 years, so the resulting spans total one complete nakshatra. A pada is an equal quarter of a nakshatra and is a different division.
In Ashwini, Ketu's sub ends at Aries 0 degrees 46 minutes 40 seconds. Venus follows and ends at Aries 3 degrees. Aries 2 degrees therefore has Mars as sign lord, Ketu as star lord and Venus as sub-lord.
The 249 table
The 27 nakshatras contain 243 subs before they are split at sign boundaries. Six subs cross a sign boundary; splitting those entries produces the conventional 249 sign–star–sub combinations. The horary numbers index unequal entries rather than equal angular slices.
Sub-sub divisions
A selected sub can be divided again using the same proportional sequence to obtain sub-sub-lords. Finer divisions increase sensitivity to the input longitude. They offer finer coordinates within the method; they do not establish reliable second-level or microsecond-level event predictions.