Chapter 11 · दशा Dasha
Dashas: timing
A chart shows what is promised; the dashas show when. This chapter explains the Vimshottari dasha system, how its starting point comes from the Moon, and how periods divide into sub-periods, with a working calculator.
- How the 120-year Vimshottari cycle is divided
- How the Moon’s nakshatra sets the starting period and its balance
- How mahadashas divide into antardashas
1. Planetary periods
Jyotish times events through dashas, planetary periods. The system Parashara treats as the most important is Vimshottari, a cycle of 120 years divided among the nine grahas in the order of their nakshatras: Ketu 7 years, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19, Mercury 17. During each period, the planet ruling it brings its results to the fore.
The cycle starts from the lord of the Moon’s nakshatra at birth, and the part of that nakshatra the Moon has already crossed is taken off the first period. Enter the Moon’s position and a date of birth to see the sequence.
| Mahadasha | Starts | Ends |
|---|
2. Periods within periods
Each mahadasha divides into nine sub-periods (antardashas), in the same order, starting with the mahadasha lord itself. Each sub-period’s length is in proportion to its planet’s years. Select any row of the table to see its antardashas. These divide again into pratyantardashas, which is how readings narrow events to months.
A note on conventions: this calculator uses a year of 365.25 days. Some practitioners use a 360-day year for dashas; the texts are read differently on this point, and the dates shift accordingly.
Worked example · Albert Einstein
Einstein’s dashas
| Mahadasha | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury (balance) | Mar 1879 | Dec 1888 |
| Ketu | Dec 1888 | Dec 1895 |
| Venus | Dec 1895 | Dec 1915 |
| Sun | Dec 1915 | Dec 1921 |
| Moon | Dec 1921 | Dec 1931 |
| Mars | Dec 1931 | Dec 1938 |
| Rahu | Dec 1938 | Dec 1956 |
His 1905 papers, including special relativity, and his general theory of relativity in 1915 both fall in the Venus mahadasha (December 1895 to December 1915). Venus is exalted in his 10th house and rules the 5th, the house of intelligence. Dates use a 365.25-day year.
Birth data: 14 March 1879, 11:30 local time, Ulm, Germany; Rodden rating AA (from the birth record), as listed by Astrotheme from Astro-Databank. Positions converted by LotusAstro to the sidereal zodiac (Lahiri ayanamsa, about 22°10′ in 1879), whole-sign houses. One famous chart illustrates a technique; it proves nothing on its own.
Worked example · Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi’s dashas
| Mahadasha | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Sun (balance) | Nov 1917 | Nov 1919 |
| Moon | Nov 1919 | Nov 1929 |
| Mars | Nov 1929 | Nov 1936 |
| Rahu | Nov 1936 | Nov 1954 |
| Jupiter | Nov 1954 | Nov 1970 |
| Saturn | Nov 1970 | Nov 1989 |
| Mercury | Nov 1989 | Nov 2006 |
She married in March 1942 in Rahu–Saturn, Saturn being lord of her 7th house. She became prime minister in January 1966 in Jupiter–Sun, Jupiter being lord of the 9th, the house of fortune. She lost power in March 1977 in Saturn–Ketu and returned in January 1980 in Saturn–Venus, Venus being lord of the 11th, the house of gains. Her life ended in October 1984 in Saturn–Rahu; Saturn rules her 7th and 8th houses and is a maraka. Dates use a 365.25-day year.
Birth data: 19 November 1917, 23:11 local time, Allahabad (now Prayagraj), India; source given as her own account (Rodden rating A), as listed by Astrotheme. Positions converted by LotusAstro to the sidereal zodiac (Lahiri ayanamsa, about 22°42′ in 1917), whole-sign houses. One chart illustrates a technique; it proves nothing on its own.
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