Major Periods (Mahadasha) and Sub-Periods (Antardasha)

The different major periods and sub-periods help to determine when certain things will happen in a person’s life. A major period is known as a Mahadasha (maha means “great” and dasha means “period”); a sub-period is known as an Antardasha.

Different planets rule different major periods in a person’s life.The timing of events can be ascertained through these periods. These periods show transitions in a person’s life and how we experience periodic changes in life. When a major or even minor period changes, our lives may take new directions.During a period influenced by a negative planet, a person is more likely to go through an adverse situation. Conversely, if a positive planet is influencing a period, a person is more likely to be going through something good.

The influence of different periods may only have a relative effect. For example, if the possession of wealth is strong in the overall chart, it is unlikely that when they are in a weaker period in relation to wealth that they will suffer abject poverty. Rather, there may be some suffering in relation to finances.
Because there are nine planets, there are nine Mahadashas.

Each major period is divided into sub-periods called Antardasha, and there are also nine of them in each Mahadasha. Each sub-period lasts a proportionate amount of time according to how long that planet would rule a major period. Sub-periods are further divided into minor periods (Pratyantardasha).

How to Calculate the Periods
All the Mahadashas added together make up 120 years. Few people, however, live that long, so almost no one experiences all twelve major periods.

The location of the Moon at the time of birth is taken into account when calculating the first Mahadasha. Each constellation has a lord, one of the planets. The first dasha (period) is determined by the constellation that the Moon is tenanting at the time of birth. For example, if the Moon is in the constellation Chitra, the order of the Mahadashas are Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, the Sun, and the Moon. The calculation begins with Mars, because Mars rules Chitra. How long the first major period lasts is determined by how far the Moon has moved through the particular constellation it is tenanting at the time of birth.

Each sub-period begins with the planet that is lord of the Mahadasha period. The rest of the planets in a sub-period follow in the same order as the Mahadasha periods. For example, in the Mahadasha of the Sun, the first sub-period begins with the Sun. The Sun is followed by the Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, and Venus.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides