Within the vast ocean of knowledge that is the astrology of ancient India, the ashtakavarga system occupies a unique place for evaluating both the static potentials of a birth chart and for dynamically qualifying the effects of transits. In fact, there is saying in the tradition that to evaluate the effects of transits of planets without ashtakavarga is a criminal act. Ashatakavarga means "Eight-Fold Division" and refers to how eight factors distribute benefic points to other signs/houses from their natal position. This distribution results is a summary point total for each sign/house and an individual point total for each planet for every sign/house. The use of these totals for interpretation has many applications and can shed light on the strengths and weakness of a birth chart that may otherwise be hidden.