MAHADASHA & ANTARDASHA IN ASTROLOGY.

In my previous blogs on Astrology i have told you about the importance of Nakshatras,12 houses of kundli,Lagna in vedic astrology.Today i will tell you about the importance of Mahadasha & Antardasha in one's life.

The Sanskrit term "Dasha" in Hindu astrology is used to indicate planetary periods. The planetary periods indicate when the good or bad effects are produced according to their placement by sign (Rasi), house (Bhava), combinations (Yogas or Raja Yogas) or aspects (Drishti). The Dasha Paddhati (system) of Directional Astrology is unique to the Hindus; it is found nowhere else. There are many kinds of Dasha systems, Parashara mentions forty-two of them, but of these only two are in vogue, namely, "Vimshottari" and "Ashtottari". Dashas provide a system to judge the effects of the planets throughout a person's life, by indicating how the planets distribute their effects. Each dasha is controlled by one of the nine planets, and the quality and relative benevolence of each period is determined by the condition and position of that planet in the natal chart.

Significance of moon.

The divisional longitude of each of the 27 nakshatras beginning with Ashwini and ending with Revati is 13 degrees and 20 minutes further divided into four quarters or padas. Each of the nine planets presides over a set of three nakshatras situated on the zodiac at a trine from each other. The commencing dasha or mahadasha at the time of birth will be that of the lord of the nakshatra in which the Moon is placed, which particular nakshatra is known as the "Janma nakshatra". If the Moon is in Taurus in Mrigsira the first dasha will be of Mars, the second will be that of Rahu and so on. The distance already covered by the Moon in Mrigsira will be the portion of the dasha of Mars that has elapsed; the distance yet to be covered will represent the portion of the dasha of Mars that is yet to be experienced. The balance is calculated on the basis of the rule of three only in the case of the first mahadasha; the subsequent mahadashas will have their full quota. The balance mahadasha at birth on the basis of the exact longitude of the Moon can be ascertained by using the ready reckoner provided in all Panchangas. The Antra-dashas or the sub-periods and the Prayantra-dashas of each planet is calculated on pro-rata basis in proportion of the years allotted to them in the 120 years cycle of Vimshottari dasha system. There are nine planets or grahas which severally rule the nine dashas: the seven classical planets, plus the north node, Rahu, and south node, Ketu, of the Moon.

Vimshottari Dasha

Vimshottari Dasha assumes that the maximum duration of life of an individual human being is 120 years which is the aggregate duration of all nine planetary periods i.e. Ketu 7,Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18,Jupiter 16, Saturn 19 and Mercury 17, in the order of their operation.The order and times of the dashas or mahadashas are shown in the following table:

Graha	Mahadasha	Lord of Nakshatras
Ketu (south node)	7 Years	Ashwini	Magha	Mula
Venus	20 Years	Bharani	Purva Phalguni(pubba)	Purva Ashadha
Sun	6 Years	Krittika	Uttara Phalguni(uttara)	Uttara Ashadha
Moon	10 Years	Rohini	Hasta	Shravana
Mars	7 Years	Mrigashirsha	Chitra	Dhanishtha
Rahu (north node)	18 Years	Ardra	Swati	Shatabhishak
Jupiter	16 Years	Punarvasu	Vishakha	Purva Bhadra
Saturn	19 Years	Pushya	Anuradha	Uttara Bhadra
Mercury	17 Years	Ashlesha	Jyestha	Revati