The Vimshottari Dasha System in Vedic Astrology

Episode 193 contains an interview with astrologer Freedom Cole about the Vimshottari Dasha system, a timing technique used in Vedic astrology.

In the final episode of the podcast, we introduced a recently restored ancient Time Lord technique called the Zodiacal Release and noted how a number of similar techniques called “Dasha” systems are used in Indian astrology to this day will.

For this episode, I decided to interview an expert in Vedic astrology in order to provide western astrologers with a comprehensive introduction to one of the most popular dasha techniques in use today.

Freedom is the author of two books on Indian astrology: Science of Light: An Introduction to Vedic Astrology and Science of Light, Volume 2: Basics of Vedic Astrology.

He also teaches a course on Vedic Astrology and the next course starts on March 28, 2019. For more information, please visit his website:

ScienceOfLight.net

This episode is intended to provide a general introduction to the computation, conceptualization, and interpretation of the Vimshottari-Dasha system. The outline is largely based on the chapter on Dashas in Volume 1 of Freedom’s book, although the book is covered in more detail.

The following is a long series of show notes detailing some of the key points that were raised over the course of the episode.

This episode is available in both audio and video versions. Links to both can be found at the bottom of this page.

Vimshottari Dasha Podcast Outline

Here is an overview of some of the key points raised in this episode:

introduction

Imagine freedom and talk about its background.
- Author of Science of light (2 vols.)
- Primarily follows the Parashara tradition.
- Translated Sanskrit excerpts from Parashara into his book.
Introduction to the concept of Dashas and Timing (Kalana).
- Understand the past, perceive the present correctly, and predict the future.
- The natal chart shows different things.
- Dashas indicate when the ad will appear in life.
- Not all diagram placements are activated at all times.
Many different dasha systems in Indian astrology.
- Three broad categories of Dasha systems.
- Different dashas are used for different purposes.
The most common or popular is the Vimshottari Dasha system.
- Appears for the first time in Parashara (approx. 8th century?).

calculation

How to Calculate Vimshottari Dasha Periods in General.
There is a new free online Vimshottari Dasha calculator on Astro-Seek.
- Just launched today to coincide with this episode.
- Still under development. Report any bugs to the developer.
Most Windows programs like Solar Fire will calculate this. Not good ones for Mac.
Astrodienst has a helpful guide on how to calculate the Vimshottari Dasha periods, but does not seem to offer any map calculation services for this technique on its website.
The technique is roughly calculated as follows:
Determine the nakshatra in which the moon is at birth.
- The Nakshatras are 27 lunar villas, each with 13 ° 20 ‘degrees.
- Note that these positions are sidereal.
Each nakshatra is assigned to a particular planet.
Each planet rules a certain number of years:
- Ketu (South Node) is 7 years old
- Venus is 20 years old
- Sun is 6 years
- Moon is 10 years
- Mars is 7 years
- Rahu (North Node) is 18 years old
- Jupiter is 16 years old
- Saturn is 19 years old
- Mercury is 17 years old
Whichever nakshatra the moon is in, the ruling planet forms the first chapter of life.
When this chapter is finished, it moves in zodiac order to the ruler of the next nakshatra.
Note that you need to subtract a number of years proportional to how far the moon is from the first period by the first nakshatra.
This sets the general time periods, but there are also sub-periods.
- General periods called Dashas, sub-periods called Bhuktis.
- Or sometimes called Mahadashas and Antra-Dashas.
Here is a sample display from Solar Fire with George Lucas’ Dashas on the right.

Interpreting Dashas and Bhuktis

How do we interpret the planetary rulers once they are activated?
- Suppose we have a display of our dashas and bhuktis. What do they mean?
The state of the planet in the natal chart is key.
- Quoting from Parashara in Freedom’s book: “Dasha gives two particular kinds of results; based on the inner nature of the planet and based on where you live. Know the results of Dasha that manifest according to the strength of the planet. “
Intrinsic nature
- What is the nature of the planet?
- What kind of things does this planet usually mean?
- The natural properties of the planet will be more pronounced during its dasha
- Beware: people sometimes get stuck and focus too much on their inner nature.
House placement
- How is the planet located on the map?
- Which house is it in?
- The meanings of the planet are guided by the house in which it is located.
Strength or planetary state
- The strength or condition of the Lord indicates favorable or unfavorable results.
- Is the planet placed favorably on the map or placed unfavorably?
- Some basic criteria for determining the planet state in Vedic astrology:
  - To be in one’s own sign or in the sign of an enemy.
  - Be sublime against the fall.
  - By benefactors versus evildoers.
  - Burn instead of being free from the sun’s rays.
  - Being in a cheap house (especially 1, 5 and 9) compared to the 6th, 8th or 12th.
Yogas
- Special rules for malefactor interaction with benefactor.
Domination
- The houses that the Dasha Lord rules bring these issues into play.
Relationship between general and sub-period lord placement
- General Period Lord and Subperiod Lord are treated as in conjunction
- The interaction of these two planets will affect the results
Transits
- Dasha will either support a transit or the opposite