Vedic Astrology Glossary
120-Year Dasha Cycle
Vimshottari is the most widely used dasha system in Vedic astrology. It allocates 120 years across nine planets in a fixed sequence. The starting point is determined by the nakshatra the moon occupies at birth, making it unique to each individual's exact birth moment.
Vimshottari (Sanskrit: '120') is one of approximately 50 dasha systems described in classical Jyotish texts, but it has become dominant because of its accuracy for timing life events.
The complete sequence: Ketu (7) → Venus (20) → Sun (6) → Moon (10) → Mars (7) → Rahu (18) → Jupiter (16) → Saturn (19) → Mercury (17) = 120 years total.
How the starting point is calculated:
For example, if born with the moon at 50% through Rohini (moon-ruled), you begin life with 5 years remaining of your Moon mahadasha (half of 10 years). Then Mars mahadasha begins.
Divisional layers:
This layered system allows timing precision down to weeks or days, especially when correlated with simultaneous planetary transits.
Concept map
5 terms
Planetary Period System
A dasha is a planetary period in Vedic astrology that governs a specific phase of your life. Each planet rules a slice of the 120-year Vimshottari cycle. During its dasha, that planet's themes, strengths, and karmic patterns become the dominant story.
Major Planetary Period
A mahadasha is the major planetary period in the Vimshottari dasha system, lasting anywhere from 6 to 20 years depending on the ruling planet. It represents the dominant karmic theme of that life phase, with the ruling planet's nature colouring all major events and opportunities.
Lunar Mansion
A nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions that divide the zodiac into equal 13°20′ segments. The moon's placement in a nakshatra at birth reveals personality nuances, emotional rhythms, and karmic themes that the broader rashi (zodiac sign) cannot capture.
Ascendant / Rising Sign
Lagna is the degree of the zodiac rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of birth. It sets the first house of the chart, determines house rulerships, and acts as the chart's structural foundation - the body, self-expression, and life path.
The Science of Light
Jyotish is the Sanskrit name for Vedic astrology - literally 'the science of light' (jyoti = light; isha = lord). It is one of the six Vedangas (limbs of the Vedas) and one of the oldest predictive sciences in continuous use. Jyotish combines astronomical observation with karmic philosophy to interpret birth charts, time life events, and understand the soul's trajectory.
You need your exact birth date, time, and location. The moon's longitude in the sidereal zodiac is calculated, its nakshatra identified, and the remaining portion of that nakshatra's lord's dasha computed. Apps like Stellr calculate this automatically.
Classical Jyotish works with the seven traditional planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn) plus the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu - totaling nine. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were not known to classical Indian astronomers and are not included in traditional systems.
The Vimshottari dasha sequence always follows the same order: Ketu (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) - totaling 120 years. The sequence cycles and repeats. Which period you begin in depends on your Moon's nakshatra at birth. The remaining portion of the Moon's nakshatra lord's dasha at birth becomes your starting period, with the full 120-year cycle continuing from there.
Birth Chart Report
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