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Take Exam (Pay Later)Calculation of Vimshottari Dasha
The Essence
Time, in the Vedic paradigm, is not a linear progression but a cyclical unfolding of ripening karma. While the Natal Chart (Rashi Chakra) represents the 'Sanchita' (accumulated) karma—the blueprint of what you are meant to experience—it is the Vimshottari Dasha system that dictates 'when' these events will manifest. Why 120 years? This cycle maps the human lifespan to the movement of the Moon through the Nakshatras (lunar mansions). Just as the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, the Vimshottari Dasha reflects the timing of the Soul's desires interacting with the material world. It is the cosmic clockwork that turns a dormant promise in your chart into a living reality.
Classical Verse
"Dashaphalam vina vyartham grahanam bhavaphalam | Varsha nishchayam na syat tasmad dasham vichintayet || (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra)"
Modern Translation
Translation: 'Without knowing the results of the Dashas, the results of the planets and houses are useless. Determination of the timing of events cannot be done, therefore one must think about (calculate) the Dashas.' Technically, the calculation relies entirely on the longitude of the Moon at birth. The zodiac is divided into 27 Nakshatras of 13°20' each. The specific Nakshatra the Moon occupies determines the first ruling planet (Mahadasha) of the life. The Calculation Logic: 1. Identify the Moon's Nakshatra and its Ruling Planet. 2. Determine the 'Balance of Dasha' (Bhogya Dasha): Calculate how many degrees the Moon has already traversed in that Nakshatra. The remaining degrees represent the proportion of time left in that first planet's period. 3. Follow the fixed cyclic order: Ketu (7 yrs), Venus (20), Sun (6), Moon (10), Mars (7), Rahu (18), Jupiter (16), Saturn (19), Mercury (17). The total cycle sums to 120 years.
Practical Insight
The Master's Insight: Do not rely solely on the Rashi chart placement of the Dasha Lord. The secret to accurate prediction lies in the 'Dasha Lagna.' Rotate the chart so that the current Mahadasha Lord becomes the Ascendant (Lagna). Read the chart from this new perspective to understand the 'climate' of the period. Furthermore, calculate the exact 'Dasha Sandhi' (junction period). The last 6 months of a major Dasha and the first 6 months of the new one are a chaotic twilight zone where the psyche is shedding one skin to grow another; knowing this allows you to advise clients to pause on major decisions during this volatile transfer of power.
Go Deeper
Calculate your current Mahadasha and Antardasha lords immediately. Locate them in your chart. Are they friends or enemies? Count the houses between them—are they in a flowing 5/9 relationship or a challenging 6/8 relationship? This distance holds the key to your current struggle or success.
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