What is a Mahadasha

Dasha refers to the system according to which planetary rulership at any specific period of one's life is worked out. It shows the time when effective results of any planet, according to its natal position, can be experienced. Each planet is assigned a certain number of years for its ruler ship, and this number differs from one system to another.

Each dasha is controlled by one planet, and the quality and relative benevolence of each period is determined by the condition and position of that planet in the natal chart.

There are nine planets or grahas which may rule dashas: the seven classical planets, plus the north node, Rahu, and south node, Ketu, of the Moon.

There are at least 43 different dasha systems, including:

1.            Vimshottari dasha

2.            Ashtotari dasha

3.            Yogini dasha

4.            Kaalchakra dasha

5.            Panchottari dasha

6.            DwisaptatiSama dasha

7.            Shasthiyayni dasha

8.            Dwadashottari dasha

9.            Shodashottari dasha

10.          Shatabdika dasha

11.          Chara dasha

12.          Sthira dasha

13.          Varnada dasha

14.          Shoola dasha

15.          Brahma dasha

16.          Kaal dasha

17.          Chakra Dasha

18.          Karaka Dasha

19.          Manduka Dasha

20.          Kendra dasha

21.          Navamsa Dasha

22.          Drig Dasha

Vimshottari Dasha

Vimshottari Dasha is most important dasha among all given and considered mostly by all astrologers for doing predicitons. Vimshottari Dasha is a 120 year long cycle of planetary positions based on the position of the Moon in one of the 27 divisions, or lunar mansions, called nakshatras. In this system, each planet is assigned a different mahadasha or major period, ranging from six to twenty years. For example, the mahadasha of Shukra (Venus), lasts twenty years and will bring the karmic pattern that Venus reveals in thehoroscope into the lime-light of the native's life.

Each of the seven planets and the two lunar nodes (making the nine navagraha) has its own period or mahadasha in the cycle. Eachgraha is the lord (or ruler) of three of the twenty seven nakshatras (3 x 9), which, together with the position of the moon, determine how the system operates. The order and times of the mahadashas are shown in the following table: