Jyotish Term
Antardasha — अन्तर्दशा
Short answer. An antardasha is a sub-period within a mahadasha, ruled by a secondary planet. It refines the timing of specific events within the longer mahadasha and is critical for short-window predictions.
Within each mahadasha, all nine grahas in turn rule a sub-period — the antardasha. The length of each antardasha is proportional to the planet's own mahadasha length divided into the parent mahadasha's total years. For example, in Saturn's 19-year mahadasha, Saturn's own antardasha lasts about 36 months (the longest), while Sun's antardasha within Saturn lasts about 11 months. The interpretive rule is that the mahadasha lord sets the chapter and the antardasha lord sets the chapter's current scene. A Saturn-Venus period (Venus antardasha in Saturn mahadasha) typically brings relationship, money, or comfort themes through a structured, delayed Saturn lens. The interaction between mahadasha and antardasha lords — whether they are friends, enemies, or neutral; whether they aspect each other in the natal chart — colors how the period actually unfolds. Specific dated events are typically narrowed further by pratyantardasha (sub-sub-period) and transits.
Related terms
- Mahadasha — A mahadasha is a major planetary period in the Vimshottari Dasha system, ranging from 6 to 20 years in length depending on the planet. The current mahadasha lord is the dominant influence over a major chapter of life.
- Dasha — A dasha is a planetary period — a span of time during which a specific graha (planet) is the primary influence over a person's life. Vedic astrology uses dasha systems to predict timing of life events, the most common being Vimshottari Dasha.
- Vimshottari Dasha — Vimshottari Dasha is the most widely used Vedic planetary period system, totaling 120 years across nine grahas. It is referenced by Sage Parashara as the dasha system suited to the current cosmic age and is calculated from the Moon's nakshatra at birth.
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