A timeline for life
Vimshottari Dasha is the most widely used timing system in Vedic astrology. It divides a life of 120 years into major periods, each ruled by one of nine planets. The period that is running, called the Mahadasha, is said to set the main theme of those years, and the planet that rules it is read according to its condition in the birth chart.
Western astrology uses transits and progressions to describe timing. Vedic astrology adds the Dasha as a second layer, drawn from the birth chart itself and not from the sky of today. The two are often read together.
The nine planets and their years
The word Vimshottari means 120. Each planet receives a number of years, and the total is 120.
| Planet | Years |
|---|---|
| Ketu | 7 |
| Venus | 20 |
| Sun | 6 |
| Moon | 10 |
| Mars | 7 |
| Rahu | 18 |
| Jupiter | 16 |
| Saturn | 19 |
| Mercury | 17 |
The planets always follow in this order, and the order repeats after Mercury. It is the same order of rulers that runs through the 27 Nakshatras.
How the starting point is found
The Dasha at birth is set by the Nakshatra of the Moon. The planet that rules the Nakshatra is the first Mahadasha. If the Moon is in Rohini, ruled by the Moon, the first Mahadasha is the Moon period. If it is in Ashwini, ruled by Ketu, the first is the Ketu period.
You are rarely born at the very start of a Nakshatra, so only part of the first period remains. The balance is found from how far the Moon has moved through its Nakshatra. If the Moon is halfway through, half of the period is left.
Example. The Moon is at 16 degrees 40 minutes of Taurus, which is the middle of Rohini. The ruler is the Moon, with 10 years. Half is gone, so 5 years of the Moon period remain at birth. The next periods follow in order: Mars for 7 years, Rahu for 18, Jupiter for 16, Saturn for 19 and so on. The person would enter the Mars period at age 5, the Rahu period at 12 and the Jupiter period at 30.
Antardasha and sub periods
Each Mahadasha is divided into nine sub periods called Antardashas, or Bhuktis, one for each planet, starting with the planet of the main period. The length of each is in proportion to the years of the planet.
The formula is simple. Multiply the years of the main period by the years of the sub period, then divide by 120. A Saturn Mahadasha with a Mercury sub period lasts 19 times 17 divided by 120, which is about 2.7 years, or about 2 years and 8 months.
The sub periods are further divided into Pratyantardashas and smaller levels. In practice most readers work with the Mahadasha and Antardasha.
How a period is read
Astrologers look at four things when reading a Dasha. First, the sign and house of the planet in the birth chart. Second, the houses it rules. Third, its strength, for example in its own sign or exalted, which is said to bring good results. Fourth, its relationship with the planet of the sub period.
A planet in a strong position and ruling favorable houses is said to give a supportive period. A planet in a weak position or ruling difficult houses is said to bring challenges. Because of this, no planet gives only good or only bad results. Jupiter can bring difficulties, and Saturn can bring rewards, depending on the chart.
General themes of the planets
These are broad traditional associations and not fixed outcomes.
Sun period. Identity, authority and the relationship with father figures. Moon period. Emotions, home and the public. Mars period. Energy, action and conflict. Rahu period. Ambition, change and unusual paths. Jupiter period. Growth, learning and good fortune. Saturn period. Effort, structure and responsibility. Mercury period. Communication, business and study. Ketu period. Detachment, spiritual interest and endings. Venus period. Relationships, comfort and creativity.
See the nine Grahas for more on what each planet represents.
Dasha and transits
Many Vedic astrologers combine the Dasha with current transits. The Dasha shows which planet is active and what themes it brings. A transit then shows when in that period events are likely to peak. For example, during a Saturn period, a transit of Jupiter over a sensitive point may bring relief. This pairing is the heart of Vedic timing work.
Other Dasha systems
Vimshottari is the most common, but it is not the only one. Others include Yogini Dasha, with a cycle of 36 years, and Ashtottari Dasha, with 108 years. Jaimini astrology uses a system of sign based periods called Chara Dasha. Most online tools use Vimshottari, and the rest are for advanced readers.
A word of balance
Scientific research has not shown that planetary periods predict events. Many people use the Dasha as a way to see their life in chapters and to ask what each chapter asks of them. Do not use it to avoid a decision or to blame a planet for a choice that is yours.