Prediction Using the Vimshottari Dasha System

by Joni Patry
for “The Blast” Astrology Conference


The dasha system used most commonly is called the Vimshottari Dasha System. The dashas are the planetary cycles of a life based on the placement of the Moon at birth. 

9 Cycles of 9 Planets equal 120 years
There are nine cycles which include the seven planets, plus the north and south nodes of the Moon (Rahu, Ketu). The outer planets are not used. Each cycle has a designated allotment of years that combine to equal a grand total of 120 years. The ruler of the ruling planet of each dasha is determined by the 27 nakshatras. Each nakshatra is ruled by one of the nine planets and follows in the same sequential order. So where the natal Moon is placed this nakshatra, and the ruling planet of that nakshatra, initiates the beginning of the order of the cycles of life. The planet that rules the main cycle of the dasha is called the maha dasha (major dasha). Within this cycle there are sub cycles called the bhukti. The ruling planets of the maha dasha and the bhukti are then further referred to in the chart by their house rulerships, dispositors, and the houses they are in. Using transits together with current dashas will prove their predictive value.

Nakshatras
The first nakshatra (Ashwini) is ruled by Ketu, followed by Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury. The same sequential order is then twice repeated to complete all 27 nakshatras. Each dasha or planetary cycle has a different length of years: Ketu is 7 years, Venus 20 years, Sun 6 years, Moon 10 years, Mars 7 years, Rahu 18 years, Jupiter 16 years, Saturn 19 years, Mercury 17 years.

Maha Dasha and Bhukti Rulers
We use the nakshatras like a western astrologer uses the signs in terms of rulership. The nakshatras are all ruled by a planet and this ruling planet is used in prediction for both the results of the dasha periods and the transiting planets. The maha dasha and bhukti ruling planet will be analyzed in terms of its house placement, house rulership but the true result this dasha will produce will be based on the planet that rules the nakshatra the dasha ruling planet is in. The nakshatra ruling planet of the dasha will be assessed by the house it is in and rules.

Transits of the Dasha Rulers
The most important transiting planets to focus on here are the dasha rulers. When you are in maha dasha Jupiter and Mars bhukti then the most important planets in transit will be Jupiter and Mars. Additionally the natal placements of these two planets will be magnified when triggered by the transiting planets in a chart.

Signs	Sanskrit	Ruler	Nakshatras	Degrees	Nakshatra Lord	Dasha Length In Years
Aries	Mesha		Aswini Bharani Krittika	00.00  to 13.20  13.20  to 26.40  26.40  to 10.00	Ketu Venus Sun	7 20 6
Taurus	Vrishabha		Krittika Rohini Mrigashire	26.40  to 10.00  10.00  to 23.20  23.20  to 06.40	Sun Moon Mars	6 10 7
Gemini	Mithuna		Mrigashire Ardra Purnavasu	23.20  to 06.40  06.40  to 20.00  20.00  to 03.20	Mars Rahu Jupiter	7 18 16
Cancer	Kataka		Purnavasu Pushya Ashlesha	20.00  to 03.20  03.20  to 16.40  16.40  to 30.00	Jupiter Saturn Mercury	16 19 17
Leo	Simha		Magha Purva Phalguni Uttara Phalguni	00.00  to 13.20  13.20  to 26.40  26.40  to 10.00	Ketu Venus Sun	7 20 6
Virgo	Kanya		Uttara Phalguni Hasta Chitra	26.40  to 10.00  10.00  to 23.20  23.20  to 06.40	Sun Moon Mars	6 10 7
Libra	Tula		Chitra Swati Vishakha	23.20  to 06.40  06.40  to 20.00  20.00  to 03.20	Mars Rahu Jupiter	7 18 16
Scorpio	Virshika		Vishakha Anuradha Jyeshta	20.00  to 03.20  03.20  to 16.40  16.40  to 00.00	Jupiter Saturn Mercury	16 19 17
Sagittarius	Dhanus		Mula Purva Ashada Uttara Ashada	00.00  to 13.20  13.20  to 26.40  26.40  to 10.00	Ketu Venus Sun	7 20 6
Capricorn	Makara		Uttara Ashada Shravana Dhanishta	26.40  to 10.00  10.00  to 23.20  23.20  to 06.40	Sun Moon Mars	6 10 7
Aquarius	Kumbha		Dhanishta Shatabishak P. Bhadrapada	23.20  to 06.40  06.40  to 20.00  20.00  to 03.20	Mars Rahu Jupiter	7 18 16
Pisces	Meena		P. Bhadrapada U. Bhadrapada Revati	20.00  to 03.20  03.20  to 16.40  16.40  to 30.00	Jupiter Saturn Mercury	16 19 17

Sub Cycles

Bhuktis and Antara Dashas
Within a maha dasha there are sub cycles called the bhuktis or antara dashas. Each maha dasha is divided into nine sub cycles that are also ruled by planets. Again these bhuktis have sub divisions within them called antara dashas. There are further divisions that go down to at least seven levels. I use only the first three levels as beyond that they seem to get more and more subtle (and too complicated) for me. The maha dasha will always be the overall emphasis, the bhukti will be the more immediate and the antara dasha will be more personal. I find the bhukti will reveal the current events in a life.

Vimshottari Dasha and Bhuktis Sequence
Planet	Ketu	Planet	Venus	Planet	Sun	Planet	Moon	Planet	Mars
Y/M/D	Bhuktis	Y/M/D	Bhuktis	Y/M/D	Bhuktis	Y/M/D	Bhuktis	Y/M/D	Bhuktis
0/4/27		3/4/0		0/3/18		0/10/0		0/4/27
36527		1/0/0		0/6/0		0/7/0		1/0/18
0/4/6		1/8/0		0/4/6		1/6/0		0/11/6
0/7/0		1/2/0		0/10/24		1/4/0		1/1/0
0/4/27		3/0/0		0/9/18		1/7/0		0/11/27
1/0/18		2/8/0		0/11/12		1/5/0		0/4/27
0/11/6		3/2/0		0/10/16		0/7/0		1/2/0
1/1/0		2/10/0		0/4/6		1/8/0		0/4/6
0/11/278		1/2/0		1/0/6		0/6/0		0/7/0
7	Yr Total	20	Yr Total	6	Yr Total	10	Yr Total	7	Yr Total
Planet	Rahu	Planet	Jupiter	Planet	Saturn	Planet	Mercury
Y/M/D	Bhuktis	Y/M/D	Bhuktis	Y/M/D	Bhuktis	Y/M/D	Bhuktis	Y/M/D = Time in
2/8/12		2/1/18		3/0/3		2/4/27		Years/Months/Days
2/4/24		2/6/12		2/8/9		0/11/27
2/10/6		2/3/6		1/1/9		2/10/0
2/6/18		0/11/6		3/2/0		0/10/6
1/0/18		2/8/0		0/11/12		1/5/0
3/0/0		0/9/18		1/7/0		0/11/27
0/10/24		1/4/0		1/1/9		2/6/18
1/6/0		0/11/6		2/10/6		2/3/6
1/0/18		2/4/24		2/6/12		2/8/9
18	Yr Total	16	Yr Total	19	Yr Total	17	Yr Total

Priorities in assessing the results of a Maha dasha and Bhukti

1. Look to the houses the maha dasha and the bhukti ruling planets are located.
2. Look to the houses the maha dasha and bhukti rulers rule.
3. Look to the sign and nakshatra dispositors of both the maha dasha ruler and bhukti, what houses are these dispositors in. The results of the dasha will be seen through both of these dispositors but especially the nakshatra dispositor.
4. Look at the maha dasha as the new ascendant (lagna). The entire results of this dasha can be seen through the house placements of the other planets in relation to this new ascendant. As an entire maha dasha is experienced an individual will go through the experience of each planetary bhukti within that maha dasha period.

*Assess the planets placements from the maha dasha ruler. If there are more than 2 planets in the opposite house of the maha dasha ruler then you know relationships will be the pressing issue of that dasha period. Planets placed 7th from one another will deal with relationships, marriage or divorce. If there are many planets that are 8 houses from the maha dasha ruler then that dasha will have enormous change and experiences involving death of loved ones. 

The bhukti ruler’s placement and relationship to the dasha ruler tells what the experience will be.

Count from the Maha dasha ruling planet to the bhukti ruling planet in forward direction (clockwise). Count the house the Maha dasha ruling planet as house #1, then count from the bhukti ruling planet forward back to the maha dasha ruling planet. Always begin counting the house the planet is in as #1. 

Spacial Relationships of the Bhukti Ruling Planet counted from the Maha Dasha Ruler
1/1: concentrates on the matters signified by the house the planets are in 
7/7: about relationships/connection with other people, marriages and divorce
2/12: gains/losses, money matters
3/11: friendly, competitive, learning, travel and achievement of desires
4/10: action, power, purpose, changes in career or work and changes in residence
5/9: benefic, auspicious, luck, travel, spiritual development
6/8: difficult, losses, enemies, death of loved ones, health problems 

Charts to be Analyzed

Conor Clapton
Death from Fall 03/20/1991





Brad Pitt
12/20/1996 Engaged Gweneth Palthrow; 06/16/1997 Relationship ended
1997 Met Jennifer Aniston; 07/29/2000 Marriage; 01/07/2005 split
Daughter born 05/28/2006





Ted Kennedy
On May 17, 2008, Mr. Kennedy suffered a seizure and was airlifted to a Boston hospital, where doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his brain.