Antardasha (Bhukti)
An antardasha (bhukti) is a sub-period within a mahadasha. Each mahadasha has nine, one for each planet, starting with the mahadasha lord’s own, and they fine-tune the timing of events.
Also known as: Antar dasha, Antardasa, Apahara, sub-period
Every mahadasha is split into nine antardashas in the Vimshottari order, beginning with the mahadasha planet itself. Each one’s length is in proportion: multiply the mahadasha years by the antardasha planet’s years and divide by 120.
For example, Saturn’s own antardasha within Saturn’s mahadasha lasts 19 × 19 ÷ 120, about 3 years and 3 days. The Sun’s antardasha within Jupiter’s mahadasha lasts 16 × 6 ÷ 120, about 9 months 18 days. The shortest is Sun–Sun, about 3 months 18 days; the longest is Venus–Venus, 3 years 4 months.
Astrologers read the two planets together. The mahadasha lord sets the broad theme and the antardasha lord shows which part of it comes forward. Their relationship matters: when the sub-period lord sits in a kendra or trikona from the mahadasha lord, things tend to run smoothly; in the 6th, 8th or 12th from it, more friction is expected.
Many people notice the start of a new antardasha more clearly than the start of a mahadasha. It is a useful window, not a verdict: transits and the whole chart still decide how a sub-period feels.