CHAPTER 15 – THE DASHA SYSTEMS

Durga Bhakti, Astrology And Ayurveda Free Whatsapp Helpline No - 8082275000

CHAPTER 15 THE DASHA SYSTEMS

In the delineation of a chart, the timing of events is perhaps the most intriguing and mind boggling chapter, which the astrologer has to encounter. The timing of events accordingly, is chiefly based on the Birth Chart, the progressed chart and various directions, the Solar Return Chart or Varshaphala and on the basis of Dasha System. At this stage, we will only confine ourselves to the last of these systems.

There are several systems or types of dashas prevalent in the large and unfathomable maze of astrology. Perhaps it will surprise the students to learn that there are over 30 distinct dasha systems in the techniques of prediction.

The four most important of these systems are:

1) Vimshottari Dasha System.

2) Ashtottari Dasha System.

3) Yogini Dasha System.

4) Kalachakra Dasha System.

Additionally, in the delineation of Solar Return Charts or Varshaphala Charts, the system of Hinamsha Dasha is unique and is confined to a period of the next ensuing one-year only.

In the present exposition, however we shall chiefly dwell upon the first two-dasha systems only.

Vimshottari Maha Dasha System

The total span of time covered by this system is taken as 120 years and hence the name Vimshottari. It may be pertinent to note here, that the total longevity of a human being under this system is estimated to be approximately 120 years and 5 days. This system of dasha appears to be popular throughout India and we too lay a lot of stress on following this dasha system only, as compared to the others. The dasha is controlled by nine planets i.e. the seven major planets plus Rahu and Ketu (the two shadowy planets) and they operate through their prescribed periods, which are not of equal proportions.

A casual reference to the Scheme clearly reveals that the total of 120 years ascribed to this dasha systems is arrived at by the product of the total duration of a Nakshatra (i.e. 13 degrees.20′) by 9 (i.e. the total number of planets considered). It may by kept in mind that in Vimshottari Dasha System only the 27 Nakshatras are considered and Abhijit is excluded.

Each Nakshatra has a planet assigned as its lord and each planet is allotted a certain number of years as its total term of Dasha. There seems to be no definite manner to determine how these number of years are fixed. Although we have already discussed the order of the Nakshatras in a previous chapter, we repeat the same here for the sake of convenience, and give alongside their lords and the number of years allocated to them.

NAKSHATRAS	NAKSHATRAS	NAKSHATRAS	LORD	YEARS
Ashwini	Magha	Moola	Ketu	7
Bharani	P. Phalguni	P. Shadha	Venus	20
Krittika	u. Phalguni	U, Shadha	Sun	6
Rohini	Hasta	Shravana	Moon	10
Mrigasisa	Chitra	Dhanishtha	Mars	7
Ardha	Swati	Shatabhisha	Rahu	18
Punarvasu	Vishakha	P. Bhadra	Jupiter	16
Pushya	Anuradha	U. Bhadra	Saturn	19
Ashlesha	Jyestha	Revathi	Mercury	I7
			Total	120 yrs

The position of the Moon in a particular Nakshatra, in the Birth Chart indicates the ruling period at Birth and the next dashas succeed in the order given above. If at birth, the Moon has just entered a particular Nakshatra, the full period of its assignment will prevail. But if the Moon is at some other later part, accordingly, the period gets proportionately reduced. The period pertaining to the part of the Nakshatra that has already traversed at the time of birth is called BHUKTA while the period that remains to be transited by the Moon is called BHOGYA.

Antara dasha (sub period)

The first antara dasha in any Maha dasha starts with the lord of the Maha dasha itself. (I.e. in Jupiter Maha dasha, first antara dasha will be of Jupiter it self and then follow as per Nakshatra order i.e. Saturn, mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, and end with Rahu, it will end the Jupiter Maha Dasha and a new Maha dasha will start of Rahu.)

Pratyantara dasha (sub-sub-period)

In the timing of events precisely, even these are considered as rather big and yawning gaps and hence, a further subdivision is made which is called as the Pratyantara dasha or the sub-sub-period.

It should be borne in mind that the first period of the Pratyantara dasha will be that of the antara dasha lord and not of the Maha dasha lord. (I.e. in Jupiter Maha dasha, Rahu antara dasha, Pratyantara dasha will be not of Jupiter but Rahu).

Note: In ancient time, the unit of time, which was followed, was measured in ghatis, pala and vipala. (I.e. 60 vipala makes a pala, 60 pala’s make a ghati and 60 ghatis make a day).

Accordingly, the formula available in the ancient works uses this method of measurement. However, in today’s context, the ghatis, pal a and vipala are now replaced by hours, minutes and seconds,

CLARIFICATION:

The various categories of period referred to above, have been described as Maha Dashas, Antara Dashas and Pratyantara Dashas. It is pertinent to point out here that mostly in South India, these three periods are described differently. Hence Maha dasha is either described as such or as Major Period; Antara Dashas are described as Bhuktis while the Pratyantara dashas are referred to as Antaras. The students should bear in mind this usage, so as not to be confused.

The ancients have gone a step further in dissecting these dashas and a further division of the Pratyantara dasha has been made as the sub-sub-sub periods, which are also commonly referred to and known as Sookshma Dashas.

ASHTOTTARI DASHA:

This dasha spans over a period of 108 years and is being followed by a few astrologers in the South and it is being claimed that results achieved by them through this, dasha system are encouraging.

In this system, only eight planets are considered i.e. Sun to Saturn plus Rahu. Ketu is completely ignored under this system. Another significant observation is that Abhijit Nakshatra is considered in the treatment of Ashtottari dashas. Yet another peculiarity under this system is that under this dasha system, the basis and calculations start with the Ardha Nakshatra.

The order in which the lords are placed is also different from that of the serial order followed under the Vimshottari dasha. Hence, the order followed in this system is:

Planet	Sun	Moon	Mars	Mercury	Saturn	Jupiter	Rahu	Venus
Years	6	15	8	17	10	19	12	21

You will observe that the sequence of planets as well as the allocation of years has a definite plan. The malefics and benefics are placed alternatively and you need to remember the number of years allocated to the two luminaries only. Thereafter, every alternate planet’s years increase by 2 years over the previous planet in that group. Thus, while Sun has 6 years, the next malefic (alternate planet), Mars has 6. + 2 = 8 years and the next malefic (alternate planet) Saturn has 8 + 2 = 10 years and finally, the next malefic (alternate planet) Rahu has 10 + 2 = 12 years. Similarly, while Moon has been allocated 15 years, the next benefic Mercury (alternate planet) has 15 + 2 = 17 years; the next benefic Jupiter alternate planet) has 17 + 2 =19 years and finally the next benefic, Venus (alternate planet) has 19 + 2 = 21 years allocated to it.

These years allocated to the various planets are equally distributed to the different Nakshatras attached to them. Thus:

Sun	Moon	Mars	Mercury
6 years	15 yeas	8 years	17 years
Ardha Punarvasu Push Ashlesha Each 1.5 yrs	Magha Purva Phalguni Uttar Phalguni Each 5 yrs	Hasta Chitra Swati Vishakha Each 2 yrs	Anuradha Jyeshtha Moola Each 5.8 yrs
Saturn	Jupiter	Rahu	Venus
10 years	19 years	12 years	21 years
Purva-Shadha Uttar-Shadha Abhijit* Shravana Each 2.5 yrs	Dhanishtha Shatabhisha Purva-Bhadra Each 6.4 yrs	Uttar-Bhadra Revathi Ashwini Bharani Each 3 yrs	Krittika Rohini Mrigasisa Each 7 yrs

You would have observed that all the malefics have been allocated four Nakshatras each, while all the benefics have been allocated three Nakshatras each.

The last pada (Charana) of Uttara Shadha Nakshatra and the first 1/15th part of the next Shravana Nakshatra (53′. 20″) together, constitute the Abhijit Nakshatra. Thus, the total duration of Abhijit Nakshatra is 253′. 20″. In other words when the Moon is at 9.06 .40′ 00″, Abhijit Nakshatra Starts and when the Moon leaves 9.10°.53′.20″ Abhijit Nakshatra ends. Thus, the total length of Abhijit is 4 degrees.13′.20″ i.e. 253′.20″

YOGINI DASHA:

This Dasha system is also partially followed in South India. The Yogini Dasha is of 36 years, with three revolutionary circles, which also finally works out to a total of 108 years, like the Ashtottari dasha.

But we need not go into the details of this and various other dasha as systems. However, we feel compelled to return back to the Vimshottari dasha system, now, with reference to the Sayana Chart. When Varahamihir expounded his brilliant works on Astrology, the concept of Aynamsha was not known. In fact, in all his works there is no mention of the word Aynamsha even once. Obviously, therefore, all that is stated in his monumental works, including yoga’s and aspects and even dashas, apply equally to Sayana Charts.

SAYANA VIMSHOITARY DASHAS:

The same concepts, as discussed above while dwelling on the Vimshottari Dasha apply here too. For example, the dasha at birth is fully based on the precise longitude of the Moon at birth. The chronological order of the planets is also the same. The number of years allocated to the planets also remains unchanged.

But, there is one difference. Instead of using the names of the Nakshatras, the span of each Nakshatra (13⁰ and 20′) is measured from 0⁰ Aries. The other difference is that in Niryana, the first span of 0⁰ Aries to 13°.20′ pertains to Ashwini, whose lord is Ketu, in the Sayana Dasha System, this first span, is allocated to Sun, which is not only consistent with the theory that the entire Sayana System is solar based but this also leads to the chronological order of events and requirements in the development of life itself. Thus:

Sun	Vitality	Moola
Moon	Nourishment	Paushana
Mars	Emergu/ Action	Shakti
Rahu	Tricks/Ends	Yukti/ Prayukti
Jupiter	Physical Maturity	Vandhakya
Saturn	Intellectual Maturity	Praudhatva
Mercury	Intelligence	Buddhi/ Gyana
Ketu	Contemplation/(Emancipation)	Chintan/ Vairagya/ Moksha
Venus	Reading for Rebirth	Punarjanma

SAYANA VIMSHOTTARI DASHAS
SIGNS	DEGREES From to		PLNT.	YRS.	DAYS	DEGREE DAYS PER	MINUTE DAYS PER	SECOND DAYS PER
Aries/ Leo/ Sagittarius	00.00	13.20	SUN	6	2190	164.25	2.74	0.05
	13.20	26.40	MOON	10	3650	273.75	4.56	0.08
	26.40	10.00	MARS	7	2555	191.63	3.19	0.05
Taurus/ Virgo/ Capricorn	10.OO	23.20	RAHU	18	6570	492.75	8.21	0.14
Taurus/ Virgo/ Capricorn	23.20	06.40	JUP.	16	5840	438.00	7.30	0.12
Gemini/ Libra/ Aquarius	06:40	20.00	SAT.	19	6935	520. I 3	8.67	0.14
Gemini/ Libra/ Aquarius	20.00	03.20	MER.	I7	6205	465.38	7.76	0.13
Cancer/ Scorpio/ Pisces	03.20	16.40	KETU	7	2555	191.63	3.19	0.05
Cancer/ Scorpio/ Pisces	16.40	30.00	VENUS	20	7300	547.50	9.13	0.15

TECHNIQUES OF JUDEMENTS (DASHAS):

The interpretations of dashas are undoubtedly a difficult task, but by no means an impossible one. If you have the basic theory at your command, one assessment will naturally lead to another. In other words, you should be thorough with the basics. The following concepts should be kept in mind.

1) As discussed in the chapter of yoga’s, the benefics, malefics and neutrals should be critically evaluated.

2) The houses tenanted by Mahadasha; Antara Dasha lords should be kept in mind;

3) The houses owned by the Maha Dasha, Antara Dasha lords should not be lost sight of.

4) The yoga karaka planets with reference to the Lagna should be remembered.

5) The aspects received by the dasha lords, the quality of the aspecting planets as well as the nature of aspect itself is crucial.

6) The aspects given by the dasha lords to other planets and the nature of such aspects are also important.

7) The lordships of the Kendra’s and the konas should be kept in mind.

8) The position of the dasha lord’s vis-à-vis the lords of dusthanas should be noted;

9) The Parivartana (mutual reception) if any between dasha lords, is a factor to be reckoned with.

10) Ascertain the relationship of the Maha-dasha and Antara-dasha lords as per Panchadha Maitri table.

11) Ascertain the strengths of the dasha lords as per Sign and house positions.

12) If in order of Maha dashas, the fourth happens to be that of Saturn, the, fifth happens to be that of either Mars or Rahu or the sixth happens to be that of Jupiter, such dasha usually proves to be disastrous for the native;

13) The mid-point of any dasha is referred to as the period of DASHA-CHIDRA and almost invariably, proves to be dangerous; Accordingly,

(a) Saturn’s antara dasha in Sun’s Maha-dasha; Sun’s antara in Saturn’s Maha dasha;

(b) Mercury’s antara dasha in Mars Maha-dasha, Mars antara in Mercury’s Maha-dasha;

(d) Ketu’s antara dasha in Rahu Maha-dasha; Rahu’s antara in Ketu’s Mahadasha.

(e) Mercury’s + Ketu’s antara dashas in Moon’s Maha dash a should always be guarded and watched carefully;

14) The dasha of a planet in Rashi-Sandhi (i.e. at junctional point of a rashi) normally does not give good results.

15) The results of the dasha of a retrograde planet require a greater attention of the astrologer.

16) Judge the results of a dasha, based on the age of the native at that time, compared to the overall assessment and strength of the chart.

17) Antaras of Maraka planets, generally give evil results,

18) If during the Maha dasha and antara dasha of planets, Sun and Jupiter transit the exaltation points of that planet, extreme good results can be expected if the two lords are favorably placed towards one another, else, at least the intensity of the evil results will be greatly reduced.

The results of different Antara dasha in the Major dasha of a planet are routinely given in various texts. These are of course, quite generalised versions and need massive modifications, based on the strength or weaknesses of each chart, and hence we do not deem it fit to discuss the same here.

With this, we end the chapter on Dasha.