The body of jyotish depends squarely on the epic texts known as Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (BPHS) which are essentially a comprehensive transcript of the dialogues between Muni Parashara and his acolyte Maitryaya. In 100 chapters, Parashara has captured nearly all of what traditional Jyotish is. There have been embellishments and additions and in some cases subtractions and variant opinions that have been provided by other doyens and even a significant portion of Parashara’s teachings have been attributed to what is known as Jaimini System. Jaimini system builds upon and elaborates a portion of the discourse. Without entering the quagmire of who came first and who adopted whose writings and similar never-ending controversies, most jyotishis would serve themselves better by avoiding getting embroiled into such debates and gratefully gain what they can from the writings of all of these great former astrologers; many of them being saints.

Phalita Jyotish or predictive astrology (that which shall fructify, or in other words bear fruit) deals with the important factor of karma which creates our destinies and also allows us to reverse the wrong-doings of earlier times through charity, penance, worship etc. Essentially, through developing right actions and right mental attitude. While the horoscope itself is essentially a snapshot of the heavens as viewed from the birthplace at the epoch of birth and holds important attributions and signatures of the incarnating soul, the planets do not stay frozen for our entire lifetime. Thus we incorporate two types of movements of the planets. One type is the direct movement which is studied as transits or gochara. The other type is a projected or progressed movement. These essentially are what is termed in Jyotish as dashas. These have been interpreted both as Dasha (surrounding conditions and states) as well as Disha (directions; the optimum plan of action).

One or Many

If one were to browse through BPHS one would see a few categories. There are dashas which are calculated based on the nakshatra such as Vimshottari, others are based on the rashis such as Chara dasha, while another popular dasha Kalachakra incorporates both the nakshatra and rashi. Aside from this classification, Parashara has indicated that some of the dashas can be utilized as general purpose and applicable to all, whereas other dashas are utilized when certain conditions are met with in a horoscope. For example, Panchottari dasa is utilized when someone is born in karka lagna and also has karka dwadashamsha rising in lagna.

Udu Dasha

Udu means the ‘flying’ as in a bird. The term is also utilized for nakshatras. Puristically, all nakshatra dashas are udu dashas, however, generally speaking vimshottari dasha is considered as the udu dasha. Vimshottari has been the primary staple dasa used by jyotishis in general. A minority of jyotishis have utilized other dasas too quite successfully and in recent times, Professor B. V. Raman, Mr. K.N. Rao, and more prolifically Sri Sanjay Rath and his disciples have been very instrumental in producing large bodies of work dealing with different dashas. In the case of many of the dashas, there are variant calculations prescribed and this then compounds with the other two uncertainties: which ayanamsha, which dasha year duration – and the situation becomes very complex. In astrology there is a major role played by what is known as the Law of Diminishing Returns. I have seen beginners and even more advanced jyotishis to use too many factors and techniques which make it very confusing for most. The illustrated cases are very impressive but when the same dasha or principles are applied to a few more randomly selected charts, the solid platform risks becoming a floating barge in the Jyotish Baitarini!

Kiss

This stands for the ancient multicultural principle of Keep It Simple ‘Santon’! Since these articles are aimed at beginners, it would be more useful to learn a few dashas rather than a whole bag-full that would only cause mental indigestion. I have found two dashas, both belonging to the udu dasa group most useful. When the birth is in suklapaksha (bright half of moon, shukla prathama to poornima) vimshottari dasa must be used whereas if the birth is in krishnapaksha (Krishna prathama to amavasya) then ashtottari must be used. This is not to say that dashas such as chara, sthira, yogini, chakra, kalachakra and the rest of 32 dashas described in BPHS are to be ignored. But these must be taken up after gaining some confidence in vimshottari and astottari. Also, one must not rely on just articles in magazines or on the internet to consider themselves astrology literate. Internet articles in particular can be of the highest quality or questionable, therefore some prudent caution would not be out of place.

In subsequent articles we will go into more details about the methodology and other considerations and try to reduce if not eliminate the mystery around these very useful tools for timing of events.

Fundamental Basis

The basic premise behind dashas is simple and straightforward. Life is segmented into sections or periods which are represented by planets in the horoscope (nakshatra dashas) or the signs (rashi dasas). The orientation point for the nakshatra dashas (udu) is the natal moon. If we visualize that starting at moment of birth, the moon is progressing through the rest of the zodiac (at a speed lot slower than in transit, i.e., 2.5 days per sign) and as it passes through the different nakshatra, the planetary rulership changes. The planetary ruler is then considered to be the primary planet indicator during that period. Some of the dashas such as vimshottari and ashtottari have very long total duration, 120 and 108 years respectively and most individuals do not complete the full cycle. Others dashas such as yogini are shorter and one can have more than one cycle during a typical lifetime.

Vimshottari and Nakshatras 

Vimshottari is related to the quantity '120' and the entire dasha cycle spans over 120 years. The two luminaries, five planets and the two lunar nodes that are considered by Vedic astrologers in delineations, rule over periods varying from 6 to 20 years each during the 120 years in this order: Ketu (S. node of Moon), Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu (N. node of Moon), Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. These rule for 7, 20, 6, 10, 7, 18, 16, 19 and 17 years respectively. Nowhere in ancient texts does one find the rationale behind the assignment of this order (other than saying that the order follows the order of nakshatras or lunar asterisms, on which the dasha system is based) nor are the individual durations rationalized. These 'periods' are different from the ones that are attributed to Ptolemy and Babylonian astrology, and therefore must be of a different origin and the product of a completely different line of thinking and derivation. Some experts have tried to group the different dasha periods by drawing the dividing line after the Moon (which being the satellite of earth is considered the nearest body to earth and the orienting point in the scheme) in the vimshottari dasha sequence, thus giving us two groups, constituted by:

a) Mars, Rahu, Jupiter and Saturn, their periods totaling to (7+18+16+19=) 60 years, and
b) Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun and Moon, their periods totaling to (17+7+20+6+10=) 60 years.

The above scheme places the 'outer' planets in the first group and the luminaries (sun and moon) and the "inner" planets in the second group, with each group containing one of the two lunar nodes. The vimshottari order is preserved, as well if the two groups are joined together (mars, rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, mercury, ketu, sun and moon being the order of vimshottari dasas!). The rationale behind the assignment of individual period durations in the vimshottari scheme is not known, but this sequence is interesting and intriguing, at the very least.

In vimshottari dasha the sidereal asterismal position of natal Moon determines the point at which one enters into or starts the 120 year cycle. The 360d zodiac is divided into 27 asterisms, each 13d 20m long. The first 13d 20m starting at sidereal Aries 0d, is ruled by Ketu with Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury and Venus following in the same order as that followed in the rulership assignment in the vimshottari dasha.

Each vimshottari dasha period (mahadasha) is subdivided into nine sub-periods, also known as antardasha or bhuktis. The first bhukti in any dasha is ruled by the dasha lord itself and is followed by the bhuktis of other planets. The first bhukti in the dasha of Sun would be ruled by Sun, followed by the bhuktis of Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu and Venus. Each sub-period can be further divided proportionately into antaras, pratyantaras, sukshmas etc. However, given the controversies regarding the most 'accurate' values for ayanamshas (precessional corrections for converting tropical longitudes into sidereal longitudes) and inaccuracies in reported birth times, the practical usefulness of finer sub-periods may be questionable.

Is Vimshottari a Progression?

Those who are familiar with western astrology would perhaps know that in that system the primary progression is based on a degree a year progression. Planets are considered as moving one degree ahead each year, thereby completing 120 degrees in 120 years. If you think for a moment, vimshottari is based on the moon moving through a set of nakshatras (120 degrees) in 120 years! However, in the finer Jyotish system of dasha, it is the moon that we consider as progressing at unequal rates through the zodiac. For example if at birth moon was at the beginning of Ketu’s nakshatra, the nativity will experience 7 years of ketu followed by 20 years of Venus dasha (moon is moving through Venus star). So although in longitude (degrees) the star of Ketu occupies the same segment in the zodiac (13d 20m or 800 minutes) as does the star ruled by Venus, the moon moves through the two at very different speeds, thus giving the different durations of the dashas. The following table will help clarify:

Asterism beginning at the following sidereal longitudes of Moon:

          Deg      min      Deg      min      Deg      min      Asterism ruled by
         000       00       120        00       240       00                Ketu
         013       20       133        20       253       20                Venus
         026       40       146        40       266       40                Sun
         040       00       160        00       280       00                Moon
         053       20       173        20       293       20                Mars
         066       40       186        40       306       40                Rahu
         080       00       200        00       320       00                Jupiter
         093       20       213        20       333       20                Saturn
         106       40       226        40       346       40                Mercury

Understanding the Alphabet  – Nakshatras

Nakshatras are very useful in delving a bit deeper in the charts. Without understanding these, one’s handling of udu dashas would be shaky. There are many different ways in which these have been used, including, the presentation of effects experienced by those born with moon (and ascendant) in the different asterisms. Typically, the 360 degrees of zodiac can be divided into 27 segments which coincide pretty closely to the daily motion of the moon (or more accurately, the daily motion of the moon through a tithi. Each tithi is the time during which moon travels 12 degrees away from the sun, and since the sun is also moving through nearly a degree during the same period, the moon needs to move approximately 13degrees in order to maintain the 12 degree difference from sun.) The nakshatra is a segment that is 13d 20m long. There are 27 nakshatras in the zodiac. For muhurta (electional horoscopy) a sub-segment known as Abhijit is used by some jyotishis. Each nakshatra is associated with a fixed star (or two) and is listed in Dr. Raman's book for beginners. Each nakshatra has four divisions, each 3d 20m long. These are known as padas and these quarters are identical to the navamshas, and are 108 in number in the zodiac. 108 Is a very special number that appears in Hindu practices in more than one way (for mantra repetitions and other rituals, etc.).

Nakshatras and Dashas

Nakshatras also have a special connection with planets. Each nakshatra is ruled by one planet in the order of vimshottari dashas. The first nakshatra beginning at Aries 0, known as ashwini, is ruled by Ketu. The next one, bharini, is ruled by Venus (whose dasha follows that of ketu), next come krittika ruled by Sun, rohini ruled by Moon, mrigashirsha (Mars), ardra (Rahu), punarvasu (Jupiter), pushya (Saturn) and ashlesha (Mercury). The cycle then repeats in two sets, the next set of nine stars ruled by the planets ketu to mercury being: magha, purva phalguni, uttar phalguni, hasta, chitra, swati, vishakha, anuradha and jyeshta, and the third set comprising moola, purvashadha, uttarashadha, sravana, dhanishta, shatabhisha, purvabhadrapada, uttarabhadrapada and revati. Each set spans four signs, beginning with a fire, then earth, air and water sign.

Each set of nakshatra, therefore, contains all four elements.

Nakshatra lordship and dispositorship is important and gives rise to a scheme whereby each planet is associated with another planet through a body or soul (essence) relationship. This sharira-jeeva relationship is described in details elsewhere in this manual. The intrinsic elemental nature or guna of a planet in a horoscope must be kept in mind as being associated with not only the sign but also the nakshatra it is in. The nakshatra rising in the east (lagna nakshatra) also adds a significant extent to the personality of an individual in addition to the sign rising and must be paid attention to. Similar considerations must be noted for the lunar asterism and the different nakshatras that the karakas or significators.

Other Building Blocks

Combining nakshatra attributes with those of the signs that they are associated with (attributes such as, elements, malefic/benefic nature, chara-sthira-dwiswabhav state, male-female nature, etc.) can help fine-tune many details and impart a richness and texture to the horoscope readings. According to some jyotishis, one can view the influences of the sign/rashi/constellation on a planet as its exterior, physical or coarse influence, while the influence of the asterism or nakshatra would determine the finer or mental nature of the planet. The navamsha sign in which the planet is placed would describe the intrinsic nature and motivations that act on the planet, in a sense the karmic signature. The three can also be described as the form, living essence and motive of the planet in a cosmic sense.

Next time we shall look at tara sambandhas and other factors influencing the planets that one would be examining while analyzing a vimshottari dasha. Only through an examination of a matrix of influences can one truly decipher the meaning of the astrosymbolizm of dashas and how they connect and work cooperatively with transits within the confines of the horoscope of the nativity.

After dasas have been calculated using tables that are given in all ephemeris or with a program (since most people use computers these days), the next question that faces the astrologer is, how to translate all these periods and planets into a reading? Some basic considerations that may be followed are:

First and Foremost

The mahadasha period determines the primary jurisdiction of effects that one might experience during the dasha.

After Dasha comes Bhukti 

The results during the bhukti period would depend on the interaction between dasha and bhukti lords, mutual relationship, placement, attributes and strengths, etc., but a bhukti generally cannot give or take away what falls outside the jurisdiction of the dasha. The dasha effect generally supervenes and forms the boundaries of what is achievable. The only thing to watch out for is the bhukti lord is a yogakaraka and very strong. This sometimes makes it the primary determinant even surpassing the dasha lord.

Strength Prevails

The strength of the dasha and bhukti lords determine the extent to which the effects of these planets would materialize or be experienced by the nativity (jatak, one that is born).

Yogas Have a Say

Any special yogas or combinations formed by the dasha and bhukti lord in the natal horoscopes may materialize in their dasha and bhuktis or in the periods of the planets that are placed in the stars of the yoga-forming planets. For example, the mutual angular disposition of Jupiter and Moon results in gajakeshari yoga, a benefic combination for fame and success and gives a very steady level-headed mind set that is not swayed easily by sentiments. A person with stronger Jupiter and Moon would be more successful and higher-placed than another one with gajakeshari but with the two planets weak in the horoscope. Similarly, a person with gajakeshari in the 1st and 10th house is likely to experience a higher degree of success than one with the Jupiter and Moon in the 3rd and 6th signs from the ascendant (although the two planets are still in mutual angles). If the dasha and bhukti lords are mutually ill-disposed, such as in the 6th or 8th from the other, then their energies are not likely to be expressed in a harmonious manner. Somewhat similar to when the team members do not work in synch with each other! One factor to keep in mind though is what is known as rashi drishtis. The fixed (sthira) rashis aspect the movable (chara) rashis except the one next to them. So Scorpio will aspect Capricorn, Aries and cancer but would not aspect Libra. Similarly, Libra will aspect Aquarius, Taurus and Leo but not Scorpio. The mutable (dwiswabhav) rashis, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces aspect each other. They are all in kendras from one another and in general references made in yogas and other astrological combinations which refer to Kendra sambandha producing such and such effect is more pronounced when the planets are in dwiswabhav rashi! Gajkeshari yoga that is formed by Jupiter and moon being in dwiswabhava rashis is especially strongly expressed if the planets are benefic and strong otherwise.

Nature of Indicators

During a dasha (and to a lesser extent in a bhukti), influences of the planet/s are expressed according to the nature of the sign in which the planet is placed in the natal chart. Planets in cardinal (chara) signs generate restlessness, activity, outwardly directed expression, dynamism, the opposite effects are seen during periods of planets in fixed (sthira) signs. Mutable (dwiswabhav) signs generate ambiguity, bipolar responses and nervousness. The quadruplicity of the sign (all sidereal) must likewise be taken into account, particularly the way in which it interacts with the inherent nature of the planet. A fiery Mars in a fiery cardinal sign can express itself strongly and is very much in its own element. If it is not in a malefic house (6th, 8th or 12th from ascendant) or aspected by malefic planets, its periods signify a large amount of activity and personal growth and reshaping. Likewise, Moon in a watery sign would be able to express its effects more in the way it is supposed to. Moon in a fixed fiery sign would be very uncomfortable. This, incidentally, is perhaps the theme on which house ownerships, exaltation and debilitation are based.

KP and Asterismal Consideration

An important consideration to be kept in mind (the concept originating from Krishnamurthi Paddhati) is that the planet ruling over a period indicates the source of effect during its dasha or bhukti. If it is strong by rulership, position and association the effects during its period will be strongly felt and vice versa. The nature of the effect will be determined by the planet in whose star the dasha or bhukti lord is situated. The asterismal sub (which is the angular representation of the duration of bhukti in a dasha, considering the dasha duration to represent an arc of 13d 20m) indicates success or failure depending on its relationship (inherent and house-wise) with the asterism lord (indicating the effect during a dasha). The following example might make this more clear. In a horoscope, if Mercury is in Scorpio ascendant in the asterism of Mercury and sub of Venus. During the dasha of Mercury, the source of effects would be Mercury, the nature of effects experienced will be determined by the asterism lord, Mercury in this case and the houses ruled by it (8th and 11th) and occupied by it (1). Venus, the sub-lord is in the 2nd house and is in the 7th from the 8th house, 4th from 11th and 2nd from 1st house and Mercury. So, during the dasha of Mercury, the 8th and 11th house effects would flourish, while the 1st house will be moderately helped. This translates into numerous obstacles, gains from insurance or inheritances (8th), good earnings for one’s capabilities and a period of moderately good health and some personal growth (1). Mercury is an active planet but it is located in a fixed watery sign (Scorpio). It is strong in shadbal (strength determination), so the effects will be prominently felt. But since it is not in a very congenial sign, the native would have enormous restlessness without an opportunity for expressing it and things would move very slowly or not at all. There would be opportunities for spiritual and metaphysical experiences and growth. The intellectual as opposed to emotional faculties will be utilized more in these matters.

Planets are Known by the Company they Keep

Associations and aspects from other planets to the planets ruling the dasha and bhukti modify and modulate the effects of the period lords. As a general rule, friendly and benefic planets (natural benefics such as Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and waxing Moon, or benefic by disposition, such as planets ruling over angular and trinal houses from the ascendant) help move matters, malefics (natural such as Saturn, Mars or rulers of the 6th, 8th and 12th signs from the ascendant) exert the opposite effects. Sun and waning Moon and rulers of 2nd, 3rd and 11th signs from the ascendant have mixed effects, partly benefic and partly malefic. Some authorities consider the Sun as a cruel but benefic planet. Rahu and Ketu are shadow planets and assume the qualities of planets in whose sign they are placed in a horoscope. However, they generally tend to be malefic in nature. The nodes are in a class by themselves and different authorities have dealt with those in different ways. Some have assigned particular signs as owned by the nodes and signs in which they are exalted or debilitated, as is the case for other planets. Others have refrained to do so. My experience is that the nodes take on the attribute of their sign dispositor. Any planet which is in conjunction with the nodes loses its propensity to bring about effects and often expresses through the nodes in their dashas, bhuktis or transits. Nodes have a very significant influence on one’s life and nodal periods sensitize and expose one to influences beyond one’s immediate control. Perhaps these influences originate from actions in other time periods. They have been thought to signify karmic influences, Rahu signifying karma-generating actions (future karma) while Ketu signifies deeds already done and is more concerned with tying up of karmic loose ends.

One Swallow Does Not Make Summer

Dasha effects must not be studied in isolation. The reference to the natal chart is absolutely essential but they must be studied simultaneously with transits. The stars of the dasha and bhukti lords and of their asterismal dispositors represent sensitive zones during the dasha and bhukti. When these stars are transited by the Moon and/or Sun or other significant planets, the effect tends to fructify. The transit of the dasha and bhukti lords through different houses and stars should also be considered. There is some see-sawing that one can find in contemporary views, with some astrologers saying that the dasha supersedes transit influences, while there are a few who uphold the opposite view. The final vote is not in, obviously, but it would pay to closely study the transit of planets associated with the current dashas, vimshottari and chara. The latter dasha being not within the scope of this course may not be illustrated here or in future material pertaining to this course; however, the seed has been planted in your mind. Mastering vimshottari dasha, however, is definitely the first task one should perform. A very good compendium of rules and suggestions exists in a small booklet which includes both the Laghu and Madhya Parashari (companion booklets of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra), translated by S.S. Sareen and published by Sagar Publications. The considerations take one a step beyond what is written in other classical texts.

Although most Jyotish texts, ancient and contemporary, focus a lot on laying out the attributes of signs, planets, nakshatras, houses and the effects of combinations of these pointers, the beginner in Jyotish is often left wondering about the sequence in which these must be tackled or what weightage must be given to each of those individually. To complicate matters further, recommendations sometimes vary from one author to another.

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