How Vimshottari Dasha works
The Moon's nakshatra at birth determines which planet rules your first period and how many years of the 120-year cycle remain. Each planet's period activates its themes in your life.
The 120-year cycle
Nine planets share 120 years in fixed proportions: Ketu 7, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19, Mercury 17.
Balance at birth
Your first Mahadasha starts with the ruling planet of your nakshatra and runs only the remaining fraction of its total years.
Sub-periods
Every Mahadasha divides into Antardashas that layer planet energies — the finer detail astrologers read for timing events.
Planet period themes
Each Mahadasha carries a distinct life flavour — a useful shortcut for interpreting your timeline.
- • Ketu (7y) — spirituality, detachment, research, sudden change.
- • Venus (20y) — love, marriage, luxury, art, wealth and relationships.
- • Sun (6y) — authority, career rise, recognition, father, health of self.
- • Moon (10y) — emotions, public life, mother, mind, travel.
- • Mars (7y) — energy, career action, property, conflict, accidents.
- • Rahu (18y) — ambition, foreign lands, illusion, sudden fame or falls.
- • Jupiter (16y) — wisdom, children, expansion, fortune, spiritual growth.
- • Saturn (19y) — hard work, delays, maturity, service, longevity.
- • Mercury (17y) — business, study, communication, networks, writing.
Explore your full chart
Discover your soul planet and spouse significator with our Atmakaraka and Darakaraka calculators.
Open Atmakaraka Calculator