What Is a Dasha?
A Dasha is a period of life ruled by a planet. The planet in charge of the current period influences the themes that come forward, according to its sign, house and relationships in the chart.
The Vimshottari Dasha System
Vimshottari is the most widely used Dasha system. It assigns a fixed number of years to each of the nine Grahas, and the total is 120 years. The Mahadashas always follow the same order.
| Order | Graha | Mahadasha years | Nakshatras ruled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ketu | 7 | Ashwini, Magha, Mula |
| 2 | Shukra | 20 | Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha |
| 3 | Surya | 6 | Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha |
| 4 | Chandra | 10 | Rohini, Hasta, Shravana |
| 5 | Mangal | 7 | Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta |
| 6 | Rahu | 18 | Ardra, Swati, Shatabhisha |
| 7 | Guru | 16 | Punarvasu, Vishakha, Purva Bhadrapada |
| 8 | Shani | 19 | Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada |
| 9 | Budh | 17 | Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati |
How the First Dasha Is Decided
The sequence begins with the lord of the Nakshatra the Moon occupied at birth. If the Moon was in Rohini, for example, the first Mahadasha is that of the Moon. The Moon will already have travelled part of the Nakshatra, so only the remaining proportion of that first Mahadasha is left at birth.
Mahadasha and Antardasha
Each Mahadasha is divided into nine Antardashas, beginning with the Mahadasha lord. The length of an Antardasha is the Mahadasha years multiplied by the Antardasha lord's years, divided by 120.
In a Jupiter Mahadasha of 16 years, for example, the Saturn Antardasha lasts 16 × 19 ÷ 120, which is about 2 years and 6 months. Finer divisions, called Pratyantardashas, follow the same rule.
Other Dasha Systems
Other systems such as Yogini, Ashtottari and Chara Dasha are also used. Vimshottari is the one most commonly applied to the Moon-based Kundli.
Dashas in a Kundli Report
The Life Periods and Timing section of the Kundli report sets out your Mahadasha and Antardasha sequence and the transitions each period points to.