How the Vimshottari dasha is worked out
The cycle starts from the nakshatra the Moon was in when you were born. Each nakshatra has a lord, and that lord's mahadasha is running at birth. How far the Moon had already moved through the nakshatra tells us how much of that first period was used up, so the first mahadasha is only the balance that was left. The other periods then follow in a fixed order.
| Period lord | Years | Nakshatras that start it |
|---|---|---|
| Ketu | 7 | Ashwini, Magha, Mula |
| Venus | 20 | Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha |
| Sun | 6 | Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha |
| Moon | 10 | Rohini, Hasta, Shravana |
| Mars | 7 | Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta |
| Rahu | 18 | Ardra, Swati, Shatabhisha |
| Jupiter | 16 | Punarvasu, Vishakha, Purva Bhadrapada |
| Saturn | 19 | Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada |
| Mercury | 17 | Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati |
Antardasha and pratyantardasha lengths
A mahadasha is divided into nine antardashas, starting with its own lord. Each antardasha lasts the mahadasha years times the antardasha lord's years, divided by 120. For example, the Moon antardasha inside a Venus mahadasha lasts 20 times 10 divided by 120, which is 1 year and 8 months. Pratyantardashas split each antardasha again in the same proportions.
What the calculator shows
- All nine mahadashas from birth, with start and end dates.
- Every antardasha and pratyantardasha, in an expandable tree.
- The periods running today, marked in gold.
- Your full birth chart as well: Western wheel, Vedic kundli, divisional charts and a KP table.
Dasha years here are 365.2425 days long, and the Moon is placed with our own astronomy code and the Lahiri ayanamsa. Read more about the 27 nakshatras that start each period.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vimshottari dasha?
Vimshottari dasha is the main planetary period system of Vedic astrology. It splits a 120-year cycle into nine periods ruled by Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. Where you start in the cycle depends on the Moon's nakshatra at birth.
How do I find my current mahadasha?
Enter your date, time and place of birth above. The calculator finds the Moon's nakshatra, works out how much of the first period was left at birth, and marks the mahadasha, antardasha and pratyantardasha running today.
What are antardasha and pratyantardasha?
Each mahadasha is split into nine antardashas (sub periods), and each antardasha into nine pratyantardashas. Their lengths follow the same proportions as the mahadashas, starting with the lord of the period being divided.
Why do dasha dates differ between calculators?
Small differences in the Moon's position, the ayanamsa, the birth time or the length of a dasha year all move the dates. We use the Lahiri ayanamsa and 365.2425-day years; some software uses 365.25 or 360-day years, which shifts dates by days or months over a long period.
Is this dasha calculator free and private?
Yes. There is no sign-up, and the whole calculation runs in your browser. Your birth details are not sent to us or stored.
For reflection and fun, not fate. Dasha periods are a traditional way to reflect on life's chapters, not a forecast.