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Vimshottari Dasha Calculator

Vimshottari Dasha is Vedic astrology's primary timing system — a 120-year cycle of nine planetary periods (Mahadashas), each further divided into Antardashas and Pratyantardashas, that classically maps WHEN different life themes activate. This calculator builds your complete three-level tree from your Moon's exact natal nakshatra, all the way down to individual Pratyantardasha windows.

Ayanamsa: Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) · System: Vimshottari (120-year cycle), starting lord from the Moon's natal nakshatra · Full tree to three levels: Mahadasha → Antardasha → Pratyantardasha

Don't know your birth time? We'll approximate your chart using 6:00 AM local time. The Lagna (Ascendant) and house positions will be approximate.

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James Whitfield

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Sarah Mitchell, M.A. in Cultural Astronomy & Astrology and Marcus Reynolds, Professional Astrologer & Astronomer

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What Is Vimshottari Dasha?

The word means "120 years" — the total length of the cycle, divided among the nine classical grahas (Sun through Ketu) in fixed proportions (Ketu 7, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19, Mercury 17 years). Which lord's Mahadasha is running FIRST at birth is determined entirely by the Moon's nakshatra — the lord of that nakshatra begins the sequence, with only its remaining balance (not the full period) falling after birth.

Three Nested Levels of Timing

Each Mahadasha (major period, years to decades long) is subdivided into nine Antardashas (sub-periods, months to a couple years), and each Antardasha is further subdivided into nine Pratyantardashas (sub-sub-periods, weeks to months) — the same nine-lord sequence repeating at every level, always starting from the period's own ruling lord.

How to Read This Tree

Click any Mahadasha row to expand its nine Antardashas, then click any Antardasha to see its nine Pratyantardashas — your currently-running period at all three levels is highlighted throughout. Because this is a single 120-year life-cycle model (not a repeating loop), the tree naturally ends at the timeline's conclusion rather than restarting.

Vimshottari Dasha Calculator FAQs

What is Vimshottari Dasha?
A 120-year planetary timing system dividing life into nine Mahadashas (major periods) ruled by each classical graha in a fixed sequence and duration, further subdivided into Antardashas and Pratyantardashas, used to time when specific life themes are likely to activate.
How is the FIRST Mahadasha at birth determined?
By the lord of the nakshatra the Moon occupied at birth — that lord's Mahadasha runs first, though only the REMAINING balance of it (based on how far the Moon had already traveled through that nakshatra) falls after the birth moment.
What happens after the 120-year cycle ends?
Vimshottari Dasha is a single life-cycle model with no built-in second cycle — for a birth old enough that today falls past the timeline's end, this calculator states that plainly rather than fabricating a "current" period from over a century earlier.
Why do Mahadashas have different lengths for different planets?
Each of the nine classical grahas has a fixed classical duration within the 120-year total (from Ketu's 7 years to Venus's 20), reflecting each planet's traditional weight in this specific timing system.
How is this different from the individual Mahadasha, Antardasha, and Pratyantardasha calculators on this site?
This calculator shows the ENTIRE tree at once, fully expandable; the individual calculators focus on just your current period at one specific level plus its immediate siblings, for a faster, more targeted lookup.

Related Dasha & Transit Calculators

Mahadasha Calculator

Finds your current and upcoming Mahadasha — the major multi-year planetary period ruling your life’s themes.

Antardasha Calculator

Calculates your current Antardasha — the planetary sub-period nested inside your active Mahadasha.

Pratyantardasha Calculator

Calculates your current Pratyantardasha — the fine-grained sub-sub-period within your active Antardasha.

Dasha Balance Calculator

Determines the balance of your first Mahadasha remaining at birth, based on the Moon’s exact nakshatra position.

Dasha Period Calculator

Looks up the start and end dates of any Maha, Antar, or Pratyantar dasha period across your lifetime.

Planetary Transit Calculator

Tracks current planetary transits (gochar) against your natal chart to show which houses are being activated now.

Transit Chart Calculator

Overlays live planetary positions on your natal chart to visualize present-day transits house by house.

Sade Sati Calculator

Checks whether you are in Sade Sati — the 7.5-year Saturn transit cycle around your natal Moon sign — and which phase.

Shani Dhaiya Calculator

Checks whether you are under Shani Dhaiya — the 2.5-year Saturn transit through the 4th or 8th house from your Moon.

Rahu Ketu Transit Calculator

Tracks the current transit of Rahu and Ketu through your natal houses across their 18-month sign changes.

Jupiter Transit Calculator

Tracks Jupiter’s current transit through the zodiac and shows which house it activates in your natal chart.

Saturn Transit Calculator

Tracks Saturn’s current transit through the zodiac and shows which house it activates in your natal chart.