Vimshottari Dasha (Planetary Periods)

Where the birth chart shows potential, the dasha shows timing. Vimshottari is the most widely used dasha: a 120-year cycle in which each of the nine planets rules a fixed span of years, and life moves through these periods in a set order.

Your starting period and the balance remaining at birth are set by the Nakshatra of your natal Moon. The ruling planet of a period (its mahadasha lord) colours that chapter according to its placement, strength and the houses it owns.

Mahadasha years per planet

Ketu

7 years

Venus

20 years

Sun

6 years

Moon

10 years

Mars

7 years

Rahu

18 years

Jupiter

16 years

Saturn

19 years

Mercury

17 years

Levels of sub-period

Each mahadasha is divided into nine antardashas (sub-periods) in the same planetary order, and each antardasha into pratyantardashas — allowing timing to be refined from years down to weeks. The interplay of the period lords (e.g. a Jupiter–Venus sub-period) is read for the themes active at any moment.