Jyotish Term
Dasha — दशा
Short answer. 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.
Where Western astrology relies primarily on transits (the current positions of planets relative to the natal chart), Vedic astrology adds a second layer: dashas. Each life is divided into successive periods, each ruled by a different planet, and the planet ruling the current period acts as the chief signifier of what is unfolding. Several dasha systems exist in classical Jyotish — Ashtottari (108-year cycle), Yogini (36-year cycle), Kalachakra, and Char Dasha — but Vimshottari is the most widely used because it is referenced explicitly by Parashara as the dasha system suited to this current cosmic age (Kali Yuga). Within each major dasha (mahadasha), sub-periods (antardashas) further refine the timing, and within those, sub-sub-periods (pratyantardashas) and so on. The dasha lord's house position, sign, aspects, and dignity in your natal chart shape how that period actually unfolds.
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.
- Antardasha — 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.
- 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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