One of many different dasa systems, the Vimshottari, or 120 year system is the most commonly used. This dasa shows how karmas unfold throughout the life of each individual.

In this system the navagraha (nava meaning nine and graha meaning planet) rules specific periods of time. The planetary order of rulership and the period of rulership never varies from the following:

Ketu 7 years
Venus 20 years
Sun 6 years
Moon 10 years
Mars 7 years
Rahu 18 years
Jupiter 16 years
Saturn 19 years
Mercury 17 years

This particular order is the same as that found in the rulerships of the Nakshatras starting from the constellation Ashwini. There has been no explanation for the order or the time assigned to each planet provided by Sage Parasara (Father of Jyotish). Once again we have a situation where the rationale for something has been lost, however, the effectiveness of the tool has not been impaired in the least.

Finding the Start of Your Vimshottari Period.

To find the start of your Vimshottari periods we must first find the Nakshatra, also called constellation, of your natal Moon. The planet ruling the Nakshatra in which the Moon is found will be the point of entry.

For example if your Moon is situated at 5 degrees of Sagittarius we know that is the Nakshatra of Mula ruled by the Sun. Therefore in this case the major planetary period at birth would be that of the Sun.

In order to determine how much time is left under the rulership of the Sun a little division is required. We know each Nakshatra covers 13 degrees and 20 minutes or 800 minutes. In our example the Moon had traveled 5 degrees from the beginning of Mula Nakshatra at the time of birth. Therefore we know the Sun has traveled 13Ò20' - 5Ò = 8Ò 20 minutes. To make this easier reduce all degree to minutes and the formula becomes: 800 - 300 = 520 minutes remaining.

To obtain the percentage of time remaining to be covered divide the 520 minutes by 800 (800 divided into 520 gives 0.65).
Now multiply the duration of the planetary period, in this case it is 6 years by the percentage of the constellation yet to be covered (6 times 0.65 = 3.9 years). Multiply the remainder .65 X 12 months = 7.08 months. Repeat this last step with the remainder 0.08 X 30 days = 2.4 days.

After taking the above steps we know that 3 years, 9 months and 2 days have yet to be covered within the Nakshatra of Mula. Therefore 3 years, 9 months and 2 days after birth the Moon Mahadasa period would end and the Mars Mahadasa period would begin.

Smaller periods called Bhukti dasa can be calculated, however finding the beginning of the Mahadasa of birth is sufficient for the moment. Thankfully most computer programs calculate these major and minor periods for us, which makes our lives much easier.

© Phyllis Chubb, M.A. 2001-2002