There are certain periods in our life that are particularly transformational. Such phases can bring about events or situations that have a powerful effect in shaping our character, or the course of our lives. Astrologically, there are many ways to identify these periods in your life, and one of those ways is by understanding ‘Dashas’, or planetary periods, which are found by many to be one of the most unique and interesting topics in Vedic Astrology.
🌟 Maha Dasha - Life’s Great Planetary Phases
A Maha Dasha, or “great period” is a span of time in an individual’s life that is ruled by a particular planet, and provides a system to judge the effects of the planets through a person’s lifetime.
According to Sage Parashara, the renowned father of Jyotish or Vedic Astrology, each of the Navagraha, or nine planets, controls a particular time period. The nine planets include the seven classical planets plus Rahu and Ketu, the north and south nodes of the Moon. According to the Dasha system used most commonly by Vedic astrologers – the Vimshottari Dasha system – the age of a human being is considered to be 120 years. This span is divided into nine periods, each of which is ruled by a particular planet for a specific number of years. The planets fall into a certain sequence, as follows.
The first Dasha in someone’s life is determined by the ruler of the Nakshatra in which the Moon is placed at the time of birth. Each Nakshatra has one of the planets as its lord. So for example, if the Moon is in Krittika Nakshatra at the time of birth, then the first period will be the Sun’s Dasha, because Krittika is ruled by the Sun.
The length of the first Dasha is based on how far the Moon has traveled through the Nakshatra it is residing in at the time of birth. The initial planetary period will be immediately followed by the next planet’s period, as per the sequence. For example the Sun’s Dasha would be immediately followed by the Moon’s Dasha, which lasts for the next ten years.
🌙 Antar Dasha - Phases of our Day to Day Experience
Each Mahadasha is further divided into nine segments which are called Antardashas, and each of these is also ruled by one of the nine planets. While Mahadashas influence the large cycles of your life, or the big picture, Antar Dashas indicate what you are experiencing in your immediate environment.
You can use the align27 app to find out which Dasha and Antar Dasha you are running in the Birth Chart section.
🪐 What to Expect in Each Planet’s Dasha - a General Guide
The Dashas activate the planets in the chart. The more conscious and aware you are of what each Mahadasha is likely to bring specifically to you as an individual, the more you can balance your mind and energy accordingly. Even if a Dasha appears bad for you in your chart, with your awareness, understanding and remedies, it can be neutralized. Similarly, a Mahadasha that appears neutral can become better with your preparation and understanding.
Sun (Surya) Mahadasha - 6 Years
Positive Effects: Authority, success, leadership, recognition, and elevation in status. If Sun is well-placed, it brings fame, government support, and fulfillment of ambitions.
Challenges: Health issues related to eyes, heart, or bones; strained relationships with father figures; ego conflicts. Challenges arise if the Sun is afflicted or weak.
Moon (Chandra) Mahadasha - 10 Years
Positive Effects: Emotional fulfillment, mental peace, maternal happiness, increase in wealth, and popularity. It benefits professions related to public interaction, arts, and nurturing roles.
Challenges: Emotional turbulence, instability, mental stress, and health issues if the Moon is weak or afflicted. Relationships with the mother may face strain.
Mars (Mangal) Mahadasha - 7 Years
Positive Effects: Courage, determination, physical strength, and victory over enemies. It supports careers in military, engineering, sports, and technical fields.
Challenges: Aggression, impulsiveness, accidents, injuries, and conflicts. Malefic Mars can cause debts, disputes, and health problems related to blood or muscles.
Mercury (Budha) Mahadasha - 17 Years
Positive Effects: Intellectual growth, communication skills, business success, and financial gains. It benefits education, trade, writing, and analytical professions.
Challenges: Overthinking, deceit, miscommunication, and nervous disorders if Mercury is afflicted.
Jupiter (Guru) Mahadasha - 16 Years
Positive Effects: Wisdom, spiritual growth, education, prosperity, and good fortune. It enhances wealth, relationships, and success in teaching, law, or advisory roles.
Challenges: Overindulgence, laziness, or financial mismanagement. If Jupiter is weak, it may lead to a lack of opportunities or strained relationships.
Venus (Shukra) Mahadasha - 20 Years
Positive Effects: Luxury, artistic pursuits, love, marriage, and financial abundance. It supports professions in arts, entertainment, and beauty-related fields.
Challenges: Overindulgence, relationship troubles, health issues related to reproductive organs, or financial instability if Venus is afflicted.
Saturn (Shani) Mahadasha - 19 Years
Positive Effects: Hard work, discipline, stability, and long-term gains. It supports growth in fields requiring persistence, like politics, agriculture, and labor-intensive work.
Challenges: Delays, obstacles, isolation, health problems, and financial constraints if Saturn is afflicted. It may also lead to depression or loneliness.
Rahu Mahadasha - 18 Years
Positive Effects: Ambition, sudden gains, foreign connections, and unconventional success. It benefits careers in technology, research, and fields with innovative elements.
Challenges: Confusion, scandals, addictions, mental distress, and sudden losses. Rahu can amplify desires and lead to unethical behavior if poorly placed.
Ketu Mahadasha - 7 Years
Positive Effects: Spiritual growth, detachment, and liberation. It supports introspection and pursuits in mysticism, occult sciences, and meditation.
Challenges: Health problems, isolation, unexpected losses, or mental distress. Ketu’s detachment may lead to difficulties in material life if not well-placed.
Dig Deeper
Judging a Dasha’s Effect on You
Once you find out which Dasha and Antar Dasha you are currently in or moving into, you will want to understand what that means for you. Whilst a very generalized description of the Dashas can be given, it is vital to look into your own birth chart to understand what to expect, as there are multiple factors to consider.
The effect of a particular planet’s Dasha in someone’s life will depend on the condition and position of that planet in their natal chart. According to the sign (Rasi), house (Bhava), combinations (Yogas or Raja Yogas) and aspects (Drishti) that the lording planet is placed in, positive or challenging effects may be experienced.
When a Mahadasha lord is in its own sign or exalted (strong) then that period will bring good results. Similarly, if it is weakly positioned or debilitated (weak) then that planet’s period or sub period will bring difficulties.
Exploring the Effects Through Houses and Divisional Charts
The areas of life in which the effects are felt can be studied by looking at the house that the Mahadasha lord is in. For example, if someone is in their Rahu Dasha and has Rahu placed in the 6th house of their chart, they may experience problems relating to their health during their 18 year Rahu period, as the 6th house is connected with health and illness.
The planet’s position can also be analyzed in different divisional charts, or Vargas. For example, job and career is signified in the D10 divisional chart, so if someone is running their Saturn Antar Dasha and Saturn is debilitated and weakly placed in their D10 chart, they may experience problems and troubles related to their job during that phase..
Dasha Sandhi - Transformational Junctions between Phases
Many astrologers claim that entering a new Mahadasha is the most important time in your life. ‘Sandhi’ means junction, and ‘Dasha Sandhi’ signifies the junction between two planetary periods. The last few months of one period and the first few months of the next planet’s period are very transformative. In some cases your whole life changes when you go from one cycle to the next.
During this transition there can be a period of confusion. There are often big changes in work, home or any aspect of life, or you could suddenly start feeling different or emotional. When this happens it can scare you into thinking that your whole next Mahadasha is going to be bad. It is important at this time to stay balanced and not become fearful. Remember that the universe is preparing you for the new phase of life that you are entering into.
You could also experience a positive event or achievement at the time of transition. In either case, give yourself a period of adjustment into a new way of being. Moving into a new Mahadasha is like rewiring the way you think and act in the world.
Knowing in advance when these Dasha Sandhis occur based on your birth chart is extremely helpful to prepare you for the upcoming changes. If you are in a relationship it is useful to know when your partner is changing from one Dasha to another, as you can then understand the changes they are going through as they rewire from one planet’s energy to another.
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