Another very important subdivision of the ecliptic circle is that of the Das’amsha or tenfold division of the sign into amshas of 3° each. Applied to the twelve signs we have as a result 120 divisions in the circle, answering to the Vimshottaradasha system of Planetary periods, notice of which has already been made. In this system the amshas do not run consecutively in the order of the signs of the zodiac through the various signs, but follow the order of the triplicities, known as the four “Elements,” Fire, Earth, Air, Water. Thus the Fiery Triplicity comprises Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. The Das’amshas begin with Aries, and the first 3° or amsha of Aries is ruled by Aries, the first of Taurus by Leo, and the first of Gemini by Sagittarius. The first amsha of Cancer is ruled by Taurus, the first of Leo by Virgo, and the first of Virgo by Capricorn, these being the Earthy Triplicity. The first amshas of Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius are ruled by Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, these being of the Airy Triplicity, and the first amshas of Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces are ruled by the Watery Triplicity comprising the signs Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. The second amshas of Aries, Taurus and Gemini are ruled by the Earthy Triplicity, the third by the Airy and the fourth by the Watery, the triplicities then recurring again in their order. A study of the following Table of Das’amshas will make the arrangement quite clear. The twelve signs of the zodiac which occupy the first column are seen to be divided into four groups answering to the four “Elements,” and the first divisions of these groups are occupied by the four Triplicities. These serve as entries or indices, and from them the signs run on in their natural order. Those who uphold the Vimshottaradasha system, in which the circle is divided into 120 parts answering to 120 years of life, will find their interpretations from the occursions of the Moon into these amshas, each of which answers to one year of life. Thus the Moon remains in one sign for ten years, during which it successively passes through ten sub-signs or amshas, reflecting the nature of the planets governing those amshas. It then passes into the next sign and takes up ten influences successively, and so passes to the next sign. Thus in one complete circle of the zodiac it will take up 120 different influences exerted by the several planets in the various signs. [Illustration: Figure 21. Table of Das’amshas.]