Vimshottari dasha

Vimshottari means “of 120”. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra treats it as the foremost of the many dasha systems, and it is the one most Indian astrologers read first. Each of the nine planets rules one period, and together the periods add up to 120 years.

The order never changes: Ketu 7 years, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19 and Mercury 17. Your starting point is the lord of your Moon’s nakshatra. Someone born with the Moon in Rohini, which the Moon rules, begins life in a Moon period, then moves to Mars, then Rahu, and so on.

Each period is divided into sub-periods (antardashas) in the same order and proportions, and those again into pratyantardashas. A period does not bring the same results for everyone. It delivers what its planet promises in your chart: the houses it rules and occupies, its sign, strength and aspects.

A common misconception is that some dashas, such as Saturn’s or Rahu’s, are bad for everyone. Astrologers judge each period by the planet’s role in your chart and read it together with transits. Because the starting point depends on the Moon’s exact position, an accurate birth time matters.