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Meaning
of Dashas?
The Horoscope or birth
chart, gives the basic indications for an individual or
event. For example, Mars in the 3rd house (bhava) means
success through one's own efforts. The question then
arises as to when this will occur; in one's youth,
middle-age, old-age, or in a mixture of these
timeframes?
It may also happen that contradictory indications occur.
How can these occurrences be reconciled? If Mars is
indicating success, but Sun indicates obstructions, how
do we integrate these opposing forces to arrive at a
consistent picture of the birth chart?
The answers to these questions can be found in the
dashas, which are systems used for timing of events in
Jyotish. If two grahas show opposing indications, it may
indicate that each will occur, but at different times.
Part of one’s life may show success and rise in
career, while other parts may show obstructions and
struggle. The dashas allow a determination of when these
periods will express themselves, and to what degree.
Both influences may also occur simultaneously (success,
but with much effort).
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| Planets
Family |
Vimshottari Dasha
There are many dasha
systems available in Jyotish. Based upon the birth chart
each system has its own particular uses and rules for
when they should be used. The most popular dasha system
is Vimshottari. This belongs to a class of dasha systems
that are nakshatra-based . Nakshatra-based systems use
the nakshatras to calculate the start of the dasha
cycle.
Vimshottari dasha, is calculated based upon the
nakshatra position of Moon at birth which determines the
start of the dasha, and each graha from Sun - Ketu has a
dasha period associated with it. Suppose Moon is in
Pisces at 16-10 (16 degrees, 10 minutes of arc) at
birth. Since there are 27 nakshatras of extent 13-20,
this corresponds to the 26th nakshatra, which is Uttara
Bhadrapada, whose ruler is Saturn. Hence, this person
was born into the Saturn Vimshottari dasa period.
Sub-Periods
Life consists of cycles
within cycles within cycles. This is reflected in the
dasha scheme through the sub-dashas or sub periods known
as Bhukthi or Antardasha. Just as there are 9 major
dasha periods, called mahadashas (maha means great, so
mahadasha means great period), there are also
sub-periods. There is no limit to the number of
sub-periods that can be considered, but in most cases
2-4 are considered.
Each sub-period consists of the 9 graha periods, in the
same order as shown above, starting with the mahadasha
period. For example, the Mercury dasha starts with the
Mercury sub-dasha, followed by Venus, Ketu, Sun, Moon,
Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, and ending with Saturn. After this
the Ketu mahadasa begins, with the sub-periods being
Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, and
Mercury.
The length of each sub-period maintains the same ratio
as the length of the mahadasha period. For example, the
Mercury mahadasha lasts 17 years, which is 17/120 of the
entire Vimshottari dasha cycle. The Mercury sub-period
of the Mercury mahadasha is therefore 17 x 17/120 = 12
months. The Venus sub-period of Mercury lasts 17 (length
of Mercury mahadasa) x 20 (length of Venus mahadasa)/120
= 2.83 years. In a similar way, the lengths of all the
sub-periods, sub-sub-periods, and so on can be
calculated.
Dasa
Periods and the Cycles of Unfolding Karma
The dasa shows how
our karma unfolds in Astrology. There are many dasa
systems in Vedic Astrology that allow us to se karma
unfolding here on Earth. The most prominent is the
Vimshottari dasa system. It is a system that uses a
120 year cycle where each planet rules a certain
number of years, which is also broken down into sub
periods from there. The sub periods (called bhuktis)
are in the same order and divided relative to the dasa
length below. For instance Ketu dasa starts with Ketu
/ Ketu, then Ketu / Venus, then Ketu / Sun, etc. Very
accurate results are possible using this dasa system
to predict what karmas will unfold at what time.
The
planetary dasas in the Vimshottari dasa system unfold
in this order.
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
There is much speculation about why they are in this
order. I have heard many theories and I like them all.
There is a strange harmony to this dasa order that
seems to work. It is relevant to view the dasa system
as a microcosm of the human life.
The dasa system starts with Ketu, as it is the planet
where we are closest to God, where the soul is not yet
rooted in the body as we often observe in very young
children. Ketu is the dasa where we become aware of
all that we do not need. Just as the infant only needs
breath and minimal sustenance, beyond that he is more
essence than substance. Relative human age 0-1
years
Venus dasa is when this baby is nurtured and cared for
by Venus, the nurturer. Venus is the dasa that feeds
the fat baby. Hers is the longest dasa as on Earth as
we come here to learn to care for each other, in a
body first. So this body needs care and courtesy while
it is learning. This is the most important time in our
lives, when our mind and perceptions about the world
are forming. Relative human age 1 -3 years
Sun dasa shows the emergence of our individual
identity, ready to shine from his light, no longer
feeling the need to be supported by others. This
necessary ego-centricity allows a healthy sense of
self to emerge, a healthy ego is one where we feel
positively empowered, not allowing others to run over
our boundaries or us to over run theirs. Relative
human age 4-12 years
Moon dasa is the need to connect this individual
experience with others in a meaningful way. It is no
longer enough to just feel ourselves shine; we must
learn to see ourselves as a reflection through the
eyes and experiences of others and reflected back to
us in society. We become sensitive like the awkward
teenager in the Moon dasa. Relative human age 13 -
19 years
Mars dasa is when we learn to compete with others in
the world and learn to make allies instead of enemies
out of our competitors; through courage and
disciplined action we test our principles in a world
of consequence through the gregarious and raucous
energy of Mars. Relative human age 20 - 27 years
Rahu shows our worldly life and our material
existence. With the exuberance of youth behind us we
are in the world, enmeshed in Maya and accumulation.
Marriage, Children, career, and all the trappings of
adult worldly life and its ability to veil our higher
intelligence is the soul in Rahu dasa. Relative
human age 28 - 40
Jupiter dasa is where we can reclaim our inherent
wisdom after Rahu runs us crazy! It is a time when we
feel our load has been lightened or at least we feel
back in control of our mind. Jupiter comes to provide
insight, maturity and life lessons, as he is also
Guru, teacher, so we can share some of our wisdom with
others. Relative human age 40-55
Saturn dasa is when we will become aware of our
limitations and learn to be practical about them.
After the enthusiasm of Jupiter, Saturn will bring us
back to Earth and make us face reality. Reality is not
the optimism of Jupiter it is the cold hard facts of
Saturn. Those facts are the death of our body and the
temporal nature of all material life. Saturn will give
us the time to work through our karma in isolation.
Relative human age 55 - 65
Mercury dasa is when we can become like a child again,
playful and non-judgmental, but through knowledge and
clear thinking, not through ignorance. After the
practical heaviness of Saturn our mind is clear and
open and capable of discrimination, jnana yoga. Relative
human age 65 - ?
Transition Periods
Between Dasas
When these dasas change, major shifts in energy
occur. This is why people seem to change overnight,
the dasa are what change. To prepare us for these
radical shifts the preceding bhukti period is always
a preparatory time, whose energy is similar to the
next dasa period. Observe:
The last Bhukti of Ketu dasa is Ketu / Mercury.
Mercury Bhukti prepares the worldly mind for the
approaching Venus dasa, as Mercury is the builder
and the planet that wants to tangibly manifest a
worldly life, he helps to bridge the otherworldly
Ketu to worldly Venus.
The last Bhukti of Venus dasa is Venus / Ketu. Ketu
Bhukti prepares the mind for the purgative nature of
the Sun dasa. After 20 years of accumulation in
Venus dasa the last 14 months Ketu starts to take
the things away we no longer need.
The last Bhukti of Sun dasa is Sun / Venus. Venus
Bhukti prepares the mind for the Moon Maha dasa, as
the Moon is where we will seek worldly connection
and happiness through family and the public and the
Sun dasa is where we may have been reclusive or
interested in more soul (and sole) pursuits.
The Last Bhukti of Moon dasa is Moon / Sun. Sun
Bhukti helps to prepare the mind for the upcoming
Mars dasa, as the independent nature of the Sun is
similar to that of Mars. Mars is the time when we
will find our worldly strength and courage; the Sun
Bhukti begins that fiery transformation in the mind.
The Last Bhukti of Mars dasa is Mars / Moon. Moon
Bhukti prepares the material mind for the
approaching Rahu dasa and his attachment to the
world. The Moon is the archetype of the Soul's
descent into form, Rahu is the subconscious
attachment to materiality and its ability to eclipse
the mind, (the Moon) thus the Moon is helpful here.
The last Bhukti of Rahu dasa is Rahu / Mars. Mars
Bhukti prepares the inspired and gracious mind for
Jupiter with his courage and discipline. The end of
Rahu illusions is spent with the general of God's
army clearing a path through courage, clarity and
mental innocence so Jupiter will have the room to
teach us his higher lessons.
The last Bhukti of Jupiter dasa is Jupiter / Rahu.
Rahu Bhukti prepares the practical and realistic
mind for Saturn by reattaching itself to stress and
worldly concerns. Jupiterian optimism must give way
to Saturn realism. Rahu represents our worldly
attachments and bring the stress of Saturn in a
subconscious way.
The last Bhukti of Saturn dasa is Saturn / Jupiter.
Jupiter Bhukti prepares the mind for the Mercury
dasa through increased optimism and hope. This
renewed optimism clears a path for Mercury through
which he can use to develop our skills, experiment
and play. Mercurial play is how we learn about the
world.
The last Bhukti or Mercury dasa is Mercury / Saturn.
Saturn Bhukti prepares for the approaching Ketu dasa
by focusing and constricting the energy of Mercury.
Much has been built and discovered in the 17 years
of Mercury dasa, we must learn to focus in Ketu,
Saturn teaches us to concentrate.
Then it starts over again.
The Moon in the
Dasa Scheme.
The start of the first planetary dasa
cycle is reckoned from placement of the Moon at
birth. The Lord of the Nakshatra (corresponding star
in the Moon sign) will determine the 1st dasa
period. The percentage of the amount of distance
traversed by the Moon through that Nakshatra is
deducted from the balance of the mean dasa length to
determine the first dasa length. Example - if the
Moon had traveled ¼ through the Nakshatra of
Bharani, ruled by Venus, then ¼ of the length of
Venus dasa would be deducted from it's mean length
of 20 years. Thus the first dasa would be Venus for
16 years.
The Vimshottari dasa is shown from the Moon because
it is from the Moon that everything grows, first in
our consciousness then later in the world. The Moon
is the consciousness; it is the mind that has been
with us for time immemorial. It is where our deep
mental impressions (called samsaras) reside. When a
planetary dasa runs, first we get the samsaras from
that planet, based on our past karma with it, and
then we act upon those samsaras, creating new karma.
If we have misused that planet's energy in past
lives or this one, we get those difficult samsaras
when the dasa runs, thus attracting the experiences
we must in order to experience our mistakes and
learn from them. If we have used that planet well,
we get those samsaras also.
It is important to note that assessing dasa periods
in a general way can be dicey. There are as many
possibilities with dasas as there are charts. Venus
for instance is a first rate benefic, yet as a
dusthana lord or debilitated, her periods can seem
like hell. This is because of what is mentioned
above. A debilitated planet will show the difficult
karma associated with it. In that case the themes
stated below will be the areas of loss and suffering
experienced. As an example if Venus is harmed we
will especially feel pain in relationships, wealth,
happiness, etc, when her dasa runs, because those
are the things she rules. The planets have an innate
quality and energy and when their period runs we
will feel that energy for good or ill. When
referring to these dasa periods we are also
referring to their sub periods
Ketu - 7 years. First and foremost the
Ketu's job is help us complete the karmas we are
finishing in this life. His job is to give us only
what we need and take everything we do not need in
order for our soul to develop. Worldly success is
just as possible in Ketu dasa as any other, but much
of the time they are things that only last through
his dasa and no further. Again, this is because he
gives it so we can finish with it, then he takes it
when his dasa is finished. Of course losing things
in life usually does not feel very good, so many
times on either end of Ketu dasa, people are
suffering, as something is about to end. But Ketu
only hurts us if we are too attached to things that
are unnecessary. Ketu supports esoteric and healing
careers like Astrology, Yoga or other sacred healing
practices. Mostly though, his dasa is hot and
fast and can make life seem out of control. People
should always avoid making long-term commitments at
the end of Ketu dasa, as life is about to change
drastically. If we are too attached to a meaningless
life of materiality, Ketu can hurt us deeply. His
dasa follows Mercury who is a very worldly planet
and a builder, so often times the worldly gains of
Mercury are parsed by the South node and his need
for a Spartan existence. Ketu is a malefic planet
and a cruel one so his energy will feel harsh, even
when he is giving good things.
Medical indications: Ketu can give Mars type
of accidents and diseases as well as mysterious
illnesses, muscular or nervous system disorders.
Psychologically he gives self-doubt as well as a
hyper criticism of all he is associating with.
Venus - 20 years. Venus is a time when
we will mainly seek worldly happiness and a loving
partnership. Coming after Ketu dasa, Marriage is
often a theme in Venus dasas or a marriage that has
more loving qualities of Venus. Wealth is also an
important theme as are Women, children and other
people in general. Venus as a benefic will want to
give things to us and we must be careful not to fall
into the worldly quality of her charms and sensual
pleasures. Although Venus is Mother Lakshmi, the
Goddess of beauty and wealth, Venus is also the
great caretaker and her dasa will make us take
better care of people or ourselves or make us aware
that we are not doing a good job in that area of
life or that we are not being treated with the
courtesy and respect that we deserve. She is a
Brahmin, a teacher, and she would like to teach us
in a gentle way, but unfortunately, we do not learn
life's deep lessons when we are happy in the world,
as Venus would like us to be. We generally only
learn when we are suffering. In being a caretaker
she would like us to be of service and that also
means service to God, as Venus is also the main
planet of devotion and a higher path of surrender.
This great benefic would like to give us the kingdom
of God an a silver platter (with a good meal!) Even
when we suffer during her dasa there are lessons to
learn and it is as gentle as possible.
Medical indications: As a kapha planet she
can give illnesses related to internal organs,
mainly of the reproductive system, STD's, as well as
the kidneys, diabetes.
Sun - 6 years. The Sun dasa shows the
time when the Souls energy burns deeply into the
life. We would like to purify and hone our
expression down to only that which serves to take us
to the heights we have imagined. It is the time when
we are finding our true selves. We may experience a
crisis of confidence, which spurs the need to seek
inner truth. Education, spirituality, politics,
business, affecting the world in a big way, can also
be themes of the Sun dasa. If the Sun in weak, we
will feel hurt by the inability to project the
confidence we need to blaze a path to truth and
light that we have envisioned. The Sun is the planet
of confidence and charisma, and also the planet with
the most inherent strength as he lights up the
entire chart. His strength and forbearance will
likely have us sacrifice something, especially after
the excess and hedonism of Venus dasa. The nature of
the Sun as a cruel Graha is that he will separate us
from those things extraneous and in the way. Power
is the theme of the Sun dasa, the power to shine as
truth and to express our unique Soul nature. But we
may also suffer, as the Sun will burn the impurities
we have gathered along the way and separate us from
those who do not support or comprehend our new and
unique path.
Medical Indications: The Sun rules the basic
vitality and energy in the body, so if he is weak in
the chart his dasa period may show an overall
decline in vitality. Also he rules the heart and can
give heart attacks in his dasa period.
Moon - 10 years. The Moon dasa is a time when
we seek connection. Marriage, family and Motherhood
(especially for women) will be themes. But also
activities involving us with the public and other
people will be themes. Starting a business, buying a
home, staking a claim in the tangible world will be
important. A strong or well-supported Moon can make
it s dasa the best time of our lives. A weak Moon
can make us feel that everyone else has that
"normal life" that we don't. If the
connections to family and children and home are
absent, there could be much suffering in Moon dasa.
It is also a time when memories of our own childhood
can become major themes as the Moon rules our
memories. We will likely revisit our own childhood
through the evolution of our growing family or lack
of. How were nurtured and how we nurture others will
be played out and this possible loss experienced. If
indicated we may experience some deep mental crises
at this time as the Moon is the main planet of
mental illness and insanity. The Moon is a gentle
Graha, so even if we are suffering there is no
cruelty to her energy. Yet she is fickle and
lovesick, needy and totally impressionable. Just as
the Moon itself is the most sensitive part of who we
are, so too the Moon dasa can be the most vulnerable
part of our life.
Medical Indications: The Moon shows the
overall constitution and water in the body, the
water that maintains our tissues. If the Moon is
weak we will have excess vata, which makes for
nervousness and anxiety in her dasa period. The Moon
also rules the breasts and can show breast cancer or
tumors when harmed.
Mars - 7 years The Mars dasa is another hot
and fast dasa. It is a time when we will be involved
in pursuing our goals with energy and passion. There
will likely be a sense of excitement and energy
during this time as well as a daring course through
the 7 years of Mars dasa. Sports, competition and
other interests will be important at this time. Mars
is the planet that makes us want to improve our life
through disciplined action. His dasa will either
bring us closer to that improvement, or when Mars is
compromised, we will suffer, noticing our lack of
strength, courage and inability improve. This will
either bring complacency, or bring us into conflict
with others through arguments, fighting and power
struggles. It is the nature of Mars to fight for
what is right, but we will be overtaken by our
enemies, suffering due to our perceived
powerlessness if he is weak. Associates, allies and
those that we do battle with will also be themes in
Mars dasa, as well as siblings and business
relationships and entanglements of all sorts with
them. Mars also rules landed property so buying a
home may be important. Mars is a malefic planet so
even when he gives things, there is a harsh quality
to it.
Medical Indications: He brings stress,
hypertension and overexertion, so health problems
like heart attacks and other stress related ailments
might appear during his dasa. Also problems with the
blood, like leukemia are possible as Mars rules the
marrow.
Rahu - 18 years. Rahu dasa is a time
when our material life can spin out of control. Rahu
is the planet of our material attachment. Rahu is
associated by sign, house and planetary conjunction
and aspect with the qualities we are most in need of
developing in this lifetime. As his energy eclipses
our mind on a subconscious level, his dasa period
can feel like things we do not understand are
compelling us. Mysterious scenarios will unfold and
put us in places we would have never imagined. Then
unexpectedly, everything changes and we are doing
something totally different. His energy is similar
to Ketu, (the other half of the Node) but with Rahu
it is our subconscious obsessions that are
controlling us, compelling us to develop those parts
of ourselves that are in need of developing. Yet
Rahu can bring enormous success during his dasa
period as he will be focused and determined to
explode the worldly quality of whatever he is
associating with. There is also psychic events and
kundalini experiences possible with Rahu. But in
general, during his dasa periods we are likely to
feel out of control as we accumulate or experience
without wisdom or maturity.
Medical Indications: Rahu creates mysterious
illnesses, often time of the nervous system like
weird allergies, toxic poisonings and environmental
diseases. Physical ailments that occur during Rahu
periods are especially hard to cure because of the
obscuring nature of this node. Many times a person
will not become cured until Jupiter dasa, when
suddenly something changes and they are better.
Jupiter - 16 years. After 18 years of Rahu we
get the dasa of the great benefic Jupiter. As guru,
Jupiter will always teach us something and give us
something. His dasa periods bring children,
marriage, wealth as well as titles and honors.
Jupiter is the planet of hope, faith and optimism
that allows us to keep going because we believe our
best days are yet to come. He can make us religious,
put us in touch with our Guru, and give the right
moral conduct and the awareness to do the good
rather than the bad. When Jupiter is weak his dasa
may make us unrealistic, overly optimistic or have a
sense of self-entitlement or a haughty view. He may
bring bad teachers or problems with them. Also when
weak, Jupiter will deprive health, wealth, children
and many other things, forcing the native to find a
deeper fulfillment without them. However, Jupiter is
a gentle Graha and though we may suffer, he will
give usually give knowledge and right understanding
of the problem. He has a way of putting us into
situations that increase our understanding of life
and our problems. Suddenly we will meet a person who
introduces us to our Guru, or some random event will
change our lives for the better. Jupiter is God's
grace, that ineffable force, that good karma that is
always leading us higher.
Medical indications: As a planet of expansion
and a kapha planet, Jupiter can create obesity. Also
he has to do with allergies and excess phlegm. As
ruling tissue he can be the excess mass that is
shown by the body producing cancer cells.
Psychologically, Jupiter brings optimism and
Saturn - 19 years. The expansive nature of
Jupiter gives way to the practical persevering
quality of Saturn dasa. Saturn dasa is a time when
we will face our limitations. The inescapable truth
is that our limited body and mind will perish one
day. Saturn makes us aware of this through the aches
and pains in our body; the death of our loved ones,
chronic illness and the resulting fear of these
things getting worse. The more attached we are to
worldly gain and pleasures; the more Saturn dasa may
hurt us. However great success is also possible, as
Saturn is a planet of practical efforts and
perseverance leading us toward our goals. He gives a
very responsible nature and high levels of ambition.
However, much of this external focus is an avoidance
of the inner work that must be done in order for the
mind and heart to settle. In such cases, Saturn may
bury us beneath a mountain of responsibility until
we relent or break down physically and emotionally.
His dasa can place us in hospitals; make us deal
with old people, death, legacies and inheritance.
Insurance, wills, banks, things attached to legacies
and family history are relevant. Saturn is the
planet of pressure, internal and external. He is the
great karmic taskmaster who rules with an iron grip,
bringing suffering commensurate to our avoidance of
truth. As such, a Saturn dasa is also a time when
enormous spiritual growth and progress is possible
through perseverance and facing the truth alone,
which is the only possibility. He teaches us to
thrive in isolation rather than crave worldly
distractions. He teaches us to get by with less and
simplify our lives. And, he teaches us humility and
sensitivity to others. Because when we suffer we
develop compassion for others who suffer.
Medical indications: Saturn is the
indicator of chronic illness. He is a vata planet
that brings pain to the joints and drying to the
body. Arthritis, paralysis, constipation, cancer as
well as problems with the knees, teeth and bones are
possible in Saturn dasa. Psychologically, he brings
depression, anxiety, fear, cynicism, bitterness and
depression.
Mercury - 17 years. The limitations and
restrictions that define Saturn dasa give way to the
playful and curious energy of Mercury dasa. Mercury
dasa is a time of learning, experimentation,
curiosity, mental stimulation and pursuing our
interests. But he can also be a time of excessive
stimulation and unfocused action. The neutral
quality of Mercury is always a potential problem. He
does not judge he builds. It is his job to find the
right details necessary to succeed and build our
life. Saying the right things, making the right
decisions, talking to the right people, are what
allow us to succeed, or not succeed as well as show
how we will go about it. Whatever is influencing
Mercury will show how we go about things and how
they will manifest in the world. Thus Mercury dasa
is a time when our career and worldly life could
skyrocket or plummet. We can either ascend to the
heights by devising an effective plan or become
overwhelmed by the many tasks and details of life,
which can spiral into mental escapism, lethargy and
fantasy. He is the lightning fast quality of the
mind. That speed is necessary for the equanimity
that he brings. The capacity to see all
possibilities at once and prioritize and assess them
accurately is what makes Mercury the God of
discrimination. More than any other planet, Mercury
gives us detachment from our emotions, which is
truly discrimination in action
Medical indications:
Lungs, allergies, skin problems, Speech defects,
Mercury is a planet of the mind, like the Moon,
serious afflictions to him can manifest as mental
illness.
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