Vedic

Vimshottari dasha

The main predictive system of Vedic astrology: your life divided into major planetary periods, over a 120-year cycle.

Included in the Pro plan

What is it?

The Vimshottari dasha divides life into periods each ruled by a planet, over a total cycle of 120 years: Ketu 7 years, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19 and Mercury 17.

The cycle starts with the ruler of your Moon’s nakshatra, at the exact point where the Moon stood. Each major period (mahadasha) divides into sub-periods (antardashas), themselves divided again.

What it’s for

Know which planet rules your current period
See mahadasha changes coming
Date more finely with the antardashas
Cross-check with transits (gochara)

Frequently asked questions

Why 120 years?

It’s the total length of the cycle: the sum of the nine planets’ periods. Since you are born partway through a period, you usually live only part of the cycle.

Do I need an accurate birth time?

Yes: the Moon’s exact position in its nakshatra fixes the dates of every period. A time error shifts the whole calendar.

Does Zodiac Intelligence offer other dashas?

Yes: Vimshottari is the most widely used, but other dasha systems are available in the Vedic space.