Vimsottari and Udu Dasas: Parasara’s Key to Prognostication goes into the intricacies of the vimsottari and other nakshatra based planetery dasa (udu dasa) to bring out their need and usage. There is a rule in Jyotisha that says the bhukti of any planet in the third house from Mercury will give very rough going due to accelerated karmic payback, when Mercury is the mahadasha lord and that planet. The Vimshottari dashas of each planet and of Rahu and Ketu, have different effect to the native of the horoscope. Jupiter is known to bring much expansion and luck within property, wealth, friends and triumph in all undertakings. This is the planet you would hope to have a long duration. Calculating the Vimshottari Dasha Periods Although there are a number of different Dasha systems used in Jyotish, the Vimshottari Dasha system is by far the most popular. The Vimshottari Dasha system divides a 120 year archetypal human lifespan into 9 Major Periods, one for each of the nine Grahas of Jyotish.
Maharishi Parashar is considered as 'Father of Vimshottari Dasha'. He gave 42 Dasha systems, but thissystem is one of the best dasha system. Dasha means a period of time, which is ruled by a certain planet.This method is based on Moon Nakshatra. The prophecyof this method is considered accurate. It is also known as 'Mahadasha'.
In South India, astrologers are also using Ashtavatra method instead of vichitri, but this Dasha ispopular among astrologers in order to judge the result and timing of results.
Cycle of Vimshottari Dasha
It is most widely used dasha in astrology. A specific time period is allocated to all 9 planets in thismethod. There is a full cycle of 120 years for Mahadashas of all the nine planets. This cycle has beendivided into 9 parts and every part is governed by certain planetin Astrology.
According to this system, the average age of human is considered as 120 years so that he may have gonethrough each Mahadasha in his whole lifespan. In ancient times, the average age may have been so much,but it is decreasing year on year and hence it came down to 50-60 years currently. Few years back, theaverage age was considered as 60-70 years. You can see the graph of decreasing age of humans.
It clearly indicates that the average age of a person goes down to 50 percent in present era. That isthe reason, a person is unable to experience the effects of Mahadashas of all planets and ends up withhis life. With regards to that, there is another method defined in Vedic Astrology, named as Antardasha,Pratyantar Dasha etc, which are usually known as 'Sub Dasha', 'Sub Sub Dasha' etc. If we divide Antardashainto 9 parts, it is known as Pratyantar Dasha. The order of sub division of Dasha system is as follows:
Vimshottari Dasha>Antardasha>Pratyantar Dasha>Sookshma Dasha>Praanadasha>Dehadasha.
These periods are sub parts of Main Mahadasha. You can experience all planetary Antardashas in yourlifetime. The life event can also be judged through these Dasha Systems. During your Mahadasha period,you will experience the effects of all planets antardasha one by one based on its astrological order.The logic for further division of Mahadasha is same as Main Mahadasha. We have described below the orderfor your better understanding.
How to calculate Vimshottari Dasha or Mahadasha
A special method is introduced in Vedic Astrology to determine the period of Mahadasha. According tothis rule, 3 nakshatras are allocated to each and every planet, hence the number of Nakshatras becomes27, distributed among 9 planets. Mahadasha of planet is based on the placement of moon in certain Nakshatra. The Nakshatra Lord willdecide the Mahadasha of certain planet at the time of birth.
The duration of Dasha depends on the degree of Moon in certain Nakshatra. If moon enters into certainnakshatra at the time of birth, you will get the full Mahadasha of ruling planet of that particularNakshatra. Likewise, if Moon already passes over certain nakshatra, only few degrees of Moon still remainleft in certain constellation, you will receive very short period of Mahadasha of ruling planet of thatparticular Nakshatra.
Planets with their fixed number of years in Vimshottari Cycle
| S.No | Planet | Number of Years |
| 1. | Ketu | 7 Years |
| 2. | Venus | 20 Years |
| 3. | Sun | 6 Years |
| 4. | Moon | 10 Years |
| 5. | Mars | 7 Years |
| 6. | Rahu | 18 Years |
| 7. | Jupiter | 16 Years |
| 8. | Saturn | 19 Years |
| 9. | Mercury | 17 Years |
The order of vimshottari dasha has been described above. For example, if a person born in Krittika Nakshatra, that means Moon is placed in Krittika Nakshatra in his birth Chart , he willget the balance Mahadasha of Planet Sun first, followed by Moon, Mars, Rahu and so on. After Sun, there willbe Moon Dasha, It can not be Ketu or Venus or any other planet's dasha.
Vimsottari Dasa Calculator
Vimshottari Dasha and Its Results
Ashtottari Dasa
In Vimshottari Dasha, a rule has been described to know the results of planets Mahadasha. The auspiciousand inauspicious effects of planets can be determined through the Lagna Sign. The planets are auspicious for one Lagna whereas the same planet is inauspiciousfor different Lagnas. Therefore, the result vary from Lagna to Lagna.
For example: For Aries Lagna, Saturn isauspicious planet, For Taurus Lagna, again Saturn is auspicious planet and also a Yog Karak Planet in one's Kundali. For Virgo Sign Lagna,Mercury is auspicious and natural benefic planet,likewise for Cancer Lagna, Mars becomes beneficial planet. We can understand now how different planetsare beneficial for different Lagna.
We need to also check the strength of Lagna as well as benefic planet, the reason being, it will decidethe full and partial results of particular planet. If it is afflicted then the full results during theMahadasha of particular benefic planet won't be experienced. If it is placed well in horoscope , it willbless a person with all kinds of comforts especially during the Mahadasha.
Vimsottari Dasa
Combined Effects of Mahadasha and Sub Dasha planets Lord
While analysing to a birth chart, a first thought, came into mind, is that the person's life would beinfluenced much by the Main Mahadasha Lord or a person would be experiencing the results of AntardashaLord upto maximum extent. Hence in this situation, it is assumed that which planet would have the maximumstrength in Kundali, will be the most effective and influencingmuch during the Mahadasha of certain planet. The result will be based on the stronger planet. If Mahadashaplanet is strong, then it will force to Antardasha planet to give results accordingly or if Antardashaplanet is strong, will influence Mahadasha planet to give results accordingly.
Therefore, Vimshottari Dasha is a period of time which influences human life in a positive or negativeway depending upon the stronger lordships of certain Mahadasha Planet. It plays very prominent rolein Vedic Astrology due to its accuracy for predicting the time for happening of certain event.