This is one of the most important topics in Jyotish. Something that sets Jyotish apart from other western & middle eastern schools of astrology – the powerful tool of dasas for timing of events.
In this article, I will be discussing only nakshatra based dasas & in particular Vimshottari dasa as it the most widely utilized and researched nakshatra dasa. The article assumes a mid to high level knowledge of the basics of parasari Jyotish.
The points mentioned below are a time tested summary of various Parasari, Nadi & Jamini principles in the context of Phalit Jyotish (actual predictive astrology)
When judging how a Maha dasa (MD) will be in terms of predictive principles, follow the following rules. They are not in any particular order of preference, yet the ones mentioned on the top of the list will tend to be more important than the ones towards the end of the list. Yet this is just a relativistic importance, all factors are important and this list is not exhaustive. It is meant to be sufficient for mid to advanced user in the daily application of her horoscope analysis. There are many fine tuning factors in addition to the ones mentioned below, however, at this stage I recommend these to be sufficient for an astrologer wishing to fine tune their predictive skills-
- Bhaav the planet sits in from Lagna. This bhaav will be highlighted all through the dasa. Functional Nature of bhaav is MOST important. Generally 6,8,12 bhaavs are not good. However as an example virgo for Libra ascendant and cancer for Leo ascendant are still functionally good domains
- Find the commonality of the planets general significations and the bhaav. These will be seen repeatedly/ continuously during the dasa. Example Jupiter in 9th bhaav. Common significations are – Luck/ Fortune, higher education, wisdom, Guru, long distance travel, fame etc.
- How close the planet is from Bhaav madhya (Bhaav madhya of each house is the same degree as the lagna is in the chart). Planets within 8 degrees of a bhaav madhya are strong to give the effects of the bhaav. The closer the stronger.
Approaching the bhaav madhya is slightly stronger than retreating from the bhaav madhya. A planet within 3 degrees of bhaav madhya can give very intense results of the said bhaav. This concept is called ‘Residential strength’ - The bhaavs the planet aspects fully (7th for all planets & special full aspects for Mars, Jupiter & saturn as well as 5th/9th aspect for Rahu/ Ketu). If a planet has strong residential strength as in #3 above, by definition its aspects to the other bhaavs will be strong as well
- Rashi depositor of the planet. Its placement from Lagna as well as its relative placement from the dasa lord. Generally planets in 6/8/12 from lagna or from the dasa lord is not good. Best placements are 1,4,5,7,9,10 & 11.
Example Moon in Taurus for capricorn ascendant, with depositor Venus in 10th house in Mooltrikona. Now the depositor is a Yoga karaka (high benefic) for capricorn and sits in the 10th house in MK and hence great. However, from Moon the location of depositor Venus becomes 6/8. Thus even though both Moon and Venus in this situation are strongly placed in great bhaavs, the 6/8 nature of depositor placement will bring success after some struggles during MD lord Moon - In context of #5 above, the planet ‘s Balaadi avastha dictates the strength of connection it has with the depositor. The stronger the connection, the better it is-
a) 12 to 18 degrees in a rashi (strongest)
b) In general a planet between 5 to 25 degrees of a rashi has a good connection with its rashi depositor
c) A planet that is Virgottam (same sign in Navamsa) has a strong connection with its rashi depositor even if it is in the last or first 3 degrees of a rashi! - Look at the planets that conjunct the dasa lord within 15 degrees (NOTE that even if the said conjunct planet is in the next or previous sign, as long as it is within 15 degrees, treat it as conjunct). This conjunct planet will be activated in its FUNCTIONAL nature throughout the mahadasha of the planet
Example Capricorn ascendant, Jupiter in 9th at 15 degrees and saturn in 9th at 20 degrees. In Jupiter MD, Saturn will be activated as well. Saturn rules 1st and 2nd for Capricorn and hence a functional benefic. Jupiter will deliver these results in its MD. - Look at all the planets that have a full aspect on the MD lord. Note- in case of special aspects, it is possible that the MD lord doesnt aspect planet X but planet X aspects the MD lord. Example Cancer ascendant and Mars in 7th, Jupiter in 10th. Now in Jupiter MD, Mars effects will be seen doubly strong, one as its rashi depositor and bhaav (Aries) and secondly as Mars has a 100% aspect on Jupiter (assuming degree of aspect is below 15) even though Jupiter in this case has no aspect on Mars
- Look at all the planets trinal to the MD lord within 15 degrees, the same rule as #7 will apply. Example for Virgo ascendant if Mercury in ascendant at 10 degrees. Then any planet in Sagittarius after 25 degrees and upto 25 degrees in Capricorn are trinal to Mercury
- Like conjunction, for Trinalilty, closer the degrees to exact trinal of 120 degrees, stronger the effect. The effect becomes almost 0 beyond 15 degrees seperation in either conjunction or trinality
- Treat the MD lord point as lagna and analyze the chart from there. The overlap of good or bad yogas from Lagna will be exhibited cleanly through out the MD of the planet
- Look at the nakshatra the planet sits in from Moon. planets in 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 9th are good functionally. 3rd, 5th and 7th are bad with 7th being the worst. 2nd and 9th are the best as they represent Sampat & Param Mitra tara
- Look at the functional nature of the Nakshatra depositor lord as well as the placement and dignity of the planet – nakshatra depositor. Stronger the nakshatra depositor, the better
- Look at the navamsa depositor of the planet. Its generic and functional nature and dignity of the navamsa depositor from the lagna
- Look at the generic nature of planets aspecting as well as ahead and behind one house from the MD lord. An MD lord which has a generic benefic ahead of it and behind it will give better results as it is in a shuba kartaari yoga. reverse for malefics and mixed for mixed impact. This works both for the next and previous sign as well as within the same sign.
Example saturn MD. Saturn sits in Virgo at 20 degrees. Venus in Libra at 10 degrees and Mercury in virgo at 2 degrees. This means saturn has a benefic planet both ahead and behind it. However in the above example even if Mercury is in Leo at 20 degrees or venus is in virgo at 29 degrees, the enclosing nature on saturn remains the same. It is not altered in terms of this data point - Look at the planet in 2nd house from the MD lord. Any planet in the 2nd house from MD lord is what ‘comes out’ of the dasa or is accumulated out of the MD. The dignity and functional nature of any planet in the 2nd from MD lord will be reflected in the entire MD of the dasa lord
- Look at the Ishta Phal of the rasi, nakshatra and Navamsa depositors for the MD lord. The higher the score, the more the ease with which the results will flow out. Low ishthaphala does not deny good results, rather creates more obstacles in the path of the delivery of results of the MD
- Even though, these seem a lot, these are some basics that have to be seen. Please note, I didn’t even mention the houses ruled by the MD lord as it is always secondary to these points above.
- Repeat the above analysis from Arudha Lagna as well. As the Bhaav Madhya of every bhaav is the lagna degree, for Arudha lagna analysis, it is the degree of the lagnesh or ruler of lagna (from which Arudha Lagna is calculated). Example Aries lagna with Mars in Gemini at 25 degrees. Arudha lagna becomes Leo with the most effective point being 25 degrees
- Ideally the above analysis has to be repeated from Karakamsha lagna as well (navamsa sign of Atmakaraka). Over time, one realizes the relative weight-age of these impacts, especially if they are contradictory to each other