Dasha

Dasha is the Vedic astrology term for a planetary time period — the system that turns a fixed birth chart into a timeline of periods ruled by different grahas. The Vimshottari Dasha, calculated from the Moon's Nakshatra at birth, is the one in most widespread use.

Related terms

• Mahadasha

  Mahadasha is the 'major period' of the Vimshottari Dasha system — a stretch of 6 to 20 years ruled by one of the nine grahas. The nine Mahadashas run in a fixed order and total 120 years, and the one running now is the most consulted operative timing marker in Vedic astrology.

• Antardasha

  Antardasha (also called Bhukti) is a 'sub-period' inside a Mahadasha — nine of them, one per graha, in the same fixed order. Its length is the Mahadasha's years multiplied by the sub-period lord's years and divided by 120, which adds finer timing inside the Mahadasha.

• Vimshottari Dasha

  Vimshottari Dasha is the 120-year planetary period system described in the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, calculated from the Moon's Nakshatra at birth. It runs nine Mahadashas in a fixed order and is the default Dasha system in modern Vedic practice.

• Gochara

  Gochara (Gochar) is transit in Vedic astrology — the present movement of the planets through the zodiac, read against the natal chart and most often counted from the natal Moon sign. Sade Sati is the best-known gochara pattern.