Question 1

What is a Vimshottari dasha?

Accepted Answer

Vimshottari is a 120-year planetary period system in Vedic astrology. It divides a life into nine mahadashas — major periods ruled by one planet each — and each mahadasha subdivides into nine antardashas. Which mahadasha you are born into, and how much of it remains, is set by the Moon’s exact position at birth.

Question 2

How is my current mahadasha calculated?

Accepted Answer

From the Moon’s sidereal longitude at the moment of birth. The nakshatra the Moon occupies sets the starting dasha lord, and how far the Moon has travelled through that nakshatra sets how much of the first period was already elapsed at birth. Every later date follows from that balance, which is why an accurate birth time and place matter.

Question 3

Do I need my exact birth time?

Accepted Answer

The Moon moves about 13 degrees a day, so an error of a few hours shifts the dasha balance by months. An approximate time still gives a usable sequence of periods, but the exact boundary dates will move.

Vimshottari Dasha Calculator

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