Vimshottari Dasha Calculator
Vimshottari dasha is the most widely used timing system in Vedic astrology. It divides a 120-year cycle into planetary periods, starting from the Moon's position at birth. Enter your date, time and place of birth to see your Mahadasha and Antardasha sequence.
The next page opens the existing birth-details form. Guests can generate an unsaved inline preview of the online chart for free. Sign in to save a chart; PDF export requires a paid Full Access plan. This page does not collect your birth details.
The 120-year Vimshottari cycle
The cycle gives each planet a fixed Mahadasha length: Ketu 7 years, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19 and Mercury 17. Together they add up to 120 years. The planets always follow in that order, so once you know the first period, the whole sequence follows. The manual chapter on Vimshottari Dasha explains the Mahadasha, Antardasha and Pratyantardasha hierarchy.
Why the Moon nakshatra sets your starting dasha
Your birth dasha is decided by the nakshatra the Moon occupied at birth. Each of the 27 nakshatras is ruled by one of the nine planets, and that ruler is your first Mahadasha. Only part of it remains, depending on how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra, so the first period is usually shorter than its full length. Read the nakshatra and pada chapter, or the Vedic birth chart page for the Moon sign basics.
Mahadasha and Antardasha (bhukti)
A Mahadasha is the major period of one planet. Inside it, each planet gets a sub-period called the Antardasha or bhukti, in the same planetary order and in proportion to its length. These sub-periods can be divided again into Pratyantardasha. Reading dasha means looking at the ruling planet's sign, house and relationships in the chart, not at the planet name alone. For more detail on divisional charts, see the Navamsa D9 calculator.
Birth dasha versus current dasha
The dasha at birth shows where the cycle began, while the current dasha is the period running today, which is usually what people look for. The two can differ widely, as the manual explains in birth vs current dasha. Accurate dates depend on an accurate Moon position, so a wrong birth time or timezone can move period boundaries, especially when the Moon is near a nakshatra edge. Use the time from your birth certificate and check your daylight saving setting.
Free preview, saved charts and PDF
The online chart preview is free for guests and is not saved. Saving a chart needs sign-in. PDF reports require a paid Full Access plan, so check current plan details. A dasha is a traditional timing framework, not a promise that a particular event will happen in a particular year. You can start from the free kundli page, or read the Vedic astrology software guide.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Vimshottari dasha calculated?
The Moon's nakshatra at birth sets the starting planet. The balance of that period is worked out from the Moon's position, then the 120-year sequence follows in a fixed planetary order.
What are the Mahadasha lengths?
Ketu 7, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19 and Mercury 17 years, which add up to 120 years.
What is the difference between Mahadasha and Antardasha?
The Mahadasha is the main planetary period. The Antardasha, or bhukti, is a sub-period of another planet within it.
Why does my birth dasha differ from my current dasha?
The birth dasha is where the cycle began. The cycle keeps moving, so the period running today is a later Mahadasha and Antardasha.
Is the PDF report free?
No. The online chart preview is free, but PDF reports require a paid Full Access plan. Check the pricing page for current options.
Can a small change in birth time change my dasha dates?
It can. The Moon moves quickly, so a few minutes can shift period boundaries, mainly when the Moon is near a nakshatra edge.