The Vimshottari dasha is the timing system most Vedic astrologers use. It divides a notional 120-year life into nine Mahadashas (major periods), each ruled by one of the nine planets, and splits every Mahadasha into nine Antardashas (sub-periods). Where you start in the cycle depends on the nakshatra the Moon occupied at your birth, which is why two people born a few days apart can be in completely different periods.
Two points matter more than anything else on these pages. First, a period brings forward what the ruling planets already promise in your chart: the same Saturn Mahadasha can be the making of one person and a slow, heavy stretch for another. Second, the Antardasha lord works inside the agenda of the Mahadasha lord, so the pair is read together. Each guide below explains the themes, what decides whether the period goes well, how it differs by ascendant, and simple practices that help.
For the method itself, with a worked chart, read Mahadasha and Antardasha explained. To see your own periods with dates, use the free kundali tool.
The nine Mahadashas
| Mahadasha | Length | Comes after | Followed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketu Mahadasha | 7 years | Mercury | Venus |
| Venus Mahadasha | 20 years | Ketu | Sun |
| Sun Mahadasha | 6 years | Venus | Moon |
| Moon Mahadasha | 10 years | Sun | Mars |
| Mars Mahadasha | 7 years | Moon | Rahu |
| Rahu Mahadasha | 18 years | Mars | Jupiter |
| Jupiter Mahadasha | 16 years | Rahu | Saturn |
| Saturn Mahadasha | 19 years | Jupiter | Mercury |
| Mercury Mahadasha | 17 years | Saturn | Ketu |
All 81 Antardashas
Pick the Mahadasha on the left; the Antardashas run from left to right in the order they occur. Each Mahadasha begins with its own planet’s Antardasha.
How long is each Antardasha?
An Antardasha lasts the Mahadasha’s years multiplied by the Antardasha planet’s years, divided by 120. The Jupiter Mahadasha (16 years) therefore contains a Saturn Antardasha of 16 x 19 / 120 = about 2.53 years, or about 2 years, 6 months and 12 days. Every guide gives the length of its period.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which Mahadasha is the best?
None is best or worst for everyone. A Mahadasha gives the results its planet promises in your chart: a well-placed planet that rules good houses for your ascendant tends to give a productive period, whichever planet it is.
↳ How do I know which Mahadasha I am in?
You need your birth date, time and place. The free kundali tool on this site works out your Moon's nakshatra and lists your Vimshottari Mahadashas and Antardashas with their dates.
↳ Does everyone go through all nine Mahadashas?
No. The full cycle is 120 years and it starts part-way through a Mahadasha, depending on the Moon at birth, so most people experience six or seven of them in a lifetime.
↳ Are Rahu and Ketu periods always difficult?
No. The nodes give results through the sign they occupy, its lord and the planets they join. Many people have their most eventful and successful years in a Rahu Mahadasha; what matters is the placement in your own chart.