Vimshottari Dasha Calculator: Find Your Current Mahadasha

Vimshottari Dasha is the main timing system of Vedic astrology. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra gives it first place among the dasha systems. It divides life into Mahadashas ruled by the 9 planets, and each Mahadasha divides into Antardashas.

How to Calculate Vimshottari Dasha

Vimshottari Dasha starts from the nakshatra the Moon occupies at birth. The calculation takes 3 steps:

1. Find the Moon's nakshatra. Its lord rules your first Mahadasha.
2. Measure how far the Moon has moved through that nakshatra, which spans 13°20′.
3. The part still ahead of the Moon gives the balance of the first Mahadasha: degrees left ÷ 13°20′ × the planet's years. The later periods follow the fixed order in full.

A Worked Example

Say the Moon is at 15° Taurus. This falls in Rohini, which runs from 10° to 23°20′ Taurus and is ruled by the Moon. The first Mahadasha is the Moon's, which lasts 10 years.

The Moon has covered 5° of Rohini's 13°20′, which is 37.5%. The remaining 62.5% of 10 years gives 6 years and 3 months of Moon Mahadasha at birth. Mars Mahadasha follows, then Rahu.

The 9 Mahadashas: Order, Years and Nakshatras

Order	Planet	Years	Nakshatras it rules
1	Ketu	7	Ashwini, Magha, Mula
2	Venus	20	Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha
3	Sun	6	Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha
4	Moon	10	Rohini, Hasta, Shravana
5	Mars	7	Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta
6	Rahu	18	Ardra, Swati, Shatabhisha
7	Jupiter	16	Punarvasu, Vishakha, Purva Bhadrapada
8	Saturn	19	Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada
9	Mercury	17	Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati

Each planet rules 3 of the 27 nakshatras, and the 9 periods add up to 120 years. After Mercury the order returns to Ketu.

Antardasha, Pratyantar and Sookshma Dasha

Each Mahadasha divides into 9 Antardashas. The first Antardasha belongs to the Mahadasha lord, and the rest follow the same order as the table.

The length of an Antardasha is the Mahadasha years multiplied by the Antardasha years, divided by 120. For Moon in Moon, 10 times 10 divided by 120 gives 10 months.

Each Antardasha divides again in the same proportion into 9 Pratyantar dashas. A Pratyantar lasts Mahadasha years × Antardasha years × Pratyantar years ÷ 14,400, since 120 × 120 is 14,400.

The Pratyantar divides into Sookshma dashas (also spelled Sukshma), and the Sookshma into Prana dashas. Each level times events more finely, from years down to hours.

Understanding Your Vimshottari Dasha Result

Your result shows:

• Current Mahadasha: the major period running now
• Current Antardasha: the sub-period inside it
• Start and end dates: the dates of each period
• Full sequence: the Mahadashas and Antardashas ahead
• Ruling planet: the planet of each period

A dasha gives the results of its planet as placed in your birth chart. The sign, house, lordship and aspects of the dasha lord decide how the period unfolds. For the results of each planet's period, read the Vimshottari Mahadasha guide.

Learn More About Dasha Timing

Your full birth chart also lists your Vimshottari periods. Many astrologers check Vimshottari against a second system. The Yogini Dasha calculator gives the 36-year Yogini periods from the same birth details. For transits inside a dasha, the Ashtakavarga calculator shows which signs give support.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know my current Mahadasha?

Enter your date, time and place of birth in the calculator above. It finds the Moon's nakshatra at birth and shows the Mahadasha and Antardasha running today, with their dates. It works for every planet's period, such as Rahu, Saturn or Ketu Mahadasha.

Why is my first Mahadasha shorter than the rest?

You were born part way through the Moon's nakshatra. The first Mahadasha runs only for the balance left at birth, and every Mahadasha after it runs its full length.

How is Antardasha calculated?

Multiply the Mahadasha years by the Antardasha years and divide by 120. The first Antardasha is always the Mahadasha lord's own, and the rest follow the fixed order.

What are Pratyantar, Sookshma and Prana dasha?

They are the 3rd, 4th and 5th levels of Vimshottari. Each divides the level above it in the same proportion. Pratyantar periods run from a few days to several months, and Prana periods run from minutes to a few days.

Do I need an exact birth time for Vimshottari Dasha?

Yes. The balance of the first Mahadasha comes from the Moon's exact degree. The Moon moves about 1° in 2 hours, so a few minutes of error shift the period boundaries by days.

Which matters more, the Mahadasha or the Antardasha?

Read them together. The Mahadasha sets the theme of the years, and the Antardasha shows which part of it comes forward in the months. The relationship between the 2 lords in your chart shapes the result.

How many years is Vimshottari Dasha?

The full cycle is 120 years. Venus has the longest Mahadasha at 20 years, and the Sun has the shortest at 6 years.