New Dimensions In Vimshottary Dasha System by Shakti Mohan Singh

Article by Shakti Mohan Singh

About the Auther

Since his retirement from the post of Director, Forestry Training Institute, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India on 31 January 1995 Shri Shakti Mohan Singh has provided services to several National and international organizations as a free-lance Environmental Conservation and Land Resource Development consutant.

Natal astrology has been his passion since 1951 and he taught astrology at the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences (Regtd. Chennai), Jaipur Chapter for 10 years. He also occupied the position of the Vice-President of the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences, Jaipur Chapter for several terms. Now he runs “Skill up-gradation programme in natal astrology” for serious students of astrology at Jaipur.

He has written more than 100 articles covering various aspects of natal astrology. He also wrote a book titled “Jaini Sutram – Ek Abhinava Drishti ”, (Hindi) published in the year 2000. His second book, Kaala Chakra Dasha System (English) was published in 2009 by Sager Publications, New Delhi.

Hindi version of the present article was published recently in this Jounal. It is a curtain raiser for his next book (English) bearing the same name as this article and is expected soon. The methodology explained herein is revolutionary in the sense that the idea of breaking up the span of various dashas into sub-divisions, known in vedic astrology as the shodas vargas, is exclusive in the sense that it was not mentioned so far in any classical or contemporary work on the subject.

Those who tried this method found that it is infallible.

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The Vimshottary dasha system is by far the most commonly used directional system in Vedic astrology. Although, some variants are also mentioned in some of the classical texts, in the system in vogue:

• We have nine dashas bearing the names of the nine planets, namely Ketu – Venus – Sun – Moon – Mars – Rahu – Jupiter – Saturn – Mercury, running in a fixed sequence.
• The duration of each dasha is also fixed, viz – 07-20-06-10-07-18-16-19-17 respectively, the total span being 120 years.
• Starting from the constellation Ashwini, Magha or Moola the nine dashas correspond to nine constellations covering an arc of 120º which is one third of the zodiacal circle and therefore the package of nine dashas repeats thrice in one complete round of the twelve zodiacl signs or 27 constellations.
• The dasha running at the time of the birth is determined on the basis of the constellation through which the Moon passes at that time.
• The out standing balance of such dasha is proportionate to such part of that constellation as the Moon has yet to cover; the remaining eight dashas in the regular sequence follow thereafter.
• Each of the nine dashas is further sub-divided into nine bhuktis, their durations being proportionate to the dasha years of the respective planets.
• The bhuktis also bear the names of the nine planets and starting from the bhukti of the dasha itself the bhuktis follow the same order as the dashas

In this paper, first an alternate method of subdividing the dashas is being proposed. Thereafter, following this system of subdivision and using the divisional charts, a method of determining the time of the occurrence of various events in different sectors in the life of a native, such as conjugal life, progeny, career etc., will also be explained.

THE ALTERNATE METHOD

The idea of alternate method of subdividing the dashas is not entirely new and although radically different from the currently used method of sub-dividing the dashas into nine bhuktis, it does not clash / interfere with it.

• Although I did not come across any such proposition in the classical text-books on predictive astrology, several years ago Dr. B. V. Raman, in his book on Ashtakavarga, explained how to sub-divide a dasha into eight equal kakshas, as zodiacal signs are divided into eight kakshas (03º 45΄ each), pertaining to seven planets and the ascendant; and demonstrated how to predict the time of the occurrence of various events of life on the basis of such sub-division.
• It is my experience that the dashas can also be sub-divided in the same manner in which the zodiacal signs have been sub-divided into D-2, D-3, D-4 etc., and the occurrence of the events of life can be predicted by using such sub-divisions of the a dasha.
• It is also my experience that for predicting events pertaining to different sectors of life the dasha should be sub-divided according to the relevant sub-division, for example D-9 for carnal pleasures (dy= lq[k), D-10 for major achievements (egRQy, miyfC/k) and so on and so forth.
• The direct advantage of this method is that for each sub-division of a dasha an exclusive divisional chart becomes available which on being analyzed as in case of any other sign based dasha system, such as Chara dasha, Kaala Chakra dasha etc., etc. yields clearer picture of the event without much effort.

CONCEPT

When the zodiacal circle of 360º is divided into three arcs or segments of 120º each, we have four zodiacal signs overlapping nine constellations in each one of these. Also, each segment of nine constellations corresponds to a package of nine dashas having a span of 120 years. Thus, we have three apparently similar packages of nine dashas each covering nine constellations (120º) and equal to 120 years of human life; but a dasha going under the name of one and the same planet can correspond to any one of the three constellations depending upon in which of the three segments of the zodiac the Moon was moving at the time of the birth; for example, the dasha going under the name of Rahu may relate to either of the three constellations, viz Ardra, if the Moon was in the first segment, Swati, if in the second segment or Shatbhisha if in the third.

Figure I

The three segments

LOGIC

• The 13º 20΄ arc of a constellation may either fully lie within one zodiacal sign only covering only a part of it, as Bharani covers the arc from 13º 20΄ to 26º 40΄ of the sign Aries; or it may lie divided between two adjacent signs covering parts of both, as Mrigshira covers 26º 40΄ to 30º 00΄ of the sign Taurus and 00º 00΄ to 06º 40΄ of the sign Gemini.
• Therefore the constellations also cover those sub-divisions of the zodiacal sign or signs which fall within the arc covered by them, as Bharani covers Leo, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio navamamshas of the sign Aries and Mrigshira covers Leo and Virgo navamamshas in the sign Taurus and Libra and Scorpio navamamshas in the sign Gemini.
• Since constellation can be divided into smaller arcs corresponding to the sub-divisions of the zodiacal sign covered by that constellation, the dasha corresponding to that constellation can also be proportionately sub- divided.
• In some cases the sub-divisions are the same in all the three constellations related to the dasha of the same planet, as in case of navamamsha but in others the sub-divisions are different in all the three constellations related to one and the same planet as in case of dashamamsha; and therefore the three dashas, although going under the name of one and the same planet may have three different sets of sub-divisions.

EXAMPLE

In each of the signs Gemini, Libra or Aquarius, we have nine navamamshas, starting from Libra and ending with Gemini.

Out of these nine navamamshas each of the three constellations Ardra, Swati or Shatabhisha covers four navamamshas in the respective sign viz – the third – which is Sagittarius, the fourth – which is Capricorn, the fifth – which is  Aquarius and the sixth – which is Pisces.

All the three constellations are linked to Rahu dasha of 18 years’ duration and dividing 18 (the number of years of Rahu dasha) by 04 (the number of navamamshas covered by the constellation) we will have four sub-divisions of Rahu dasha viz Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquiarius and Pisces,  the duration of each sub-division being 4 years and 6 months.

Figure 2

Sub-dividing dashas according to the navamamsha sub-divisions

covered under the sign Libra

All the signs have ten dashamamshas of 3º 00΄ each but the package of dashamamshas in the three signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, are not the same as was the case for navamamshas. Therefore, the dashamamshas covered by the three constellations, Ardra, Swati and Shatabhisha are also different.

The dashamamshas covered under the constellation Ardra are part of Leo (last 02º 20΄ only), Virgo, Libra and Scorpio (full 03º 00΄ each) and part of Sagittarius (initial 02º 00΄), the total being 13º 20΄.

The dashamamshas covered under the constellation Swati (See figure 3 below) are part of Sagittarius (last 02º 20΄ only), Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces (full 03º 00΄ each) and part of Aries (initial 02º 00΄) the total being 13º 20΄.

Similarily, the dashamamshas covered under the constellation Swati are part of Sagittarius (last 02º 20΄ only), Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces (full 03º 00΄ each) and part of Aries (initial 02º 00΄) the total being 13º 20΄.

The Rahu dasha of 18 years can be sub-divided in proportion to the dashamamshas covered by any one of the three constellations as shown below:

Figure 3 below shows the durations corresponding to the ten dashamamshas of the sign Libra  as covered in the dashas of Mars (half), Rahu (full) and Jupiter (three fourth).

Figure 3

Sub-dividing dashas according to the dashamamsha sub-divisions

covered under the sign Libra

The sub-divisions of a dasha obtained in this manner are generally of long durations; e.g. even the D-12 sub-divisions in the Venus dasha run for 03 years and 09 months each. D-10, D-09 and D-07 subdivisions are even longer. These present a somewhat loose time-frame for making useful predictions regarding the time of the occurance of events. Therefore, in order to obtain smaller sub-divisions of the dasha it can be divided in proportion to the D-60 sub-divisions. The longest D-60 sub-division is of 09 months duration in Venus dasha.

Analysing the shashtiyamahas falling only within the Navamamsha or the dashamamsha, or for that matter any other sub-division under consideration will suffice and one need not sub-divide the whole of the dasha into shatiyamahas.

RULES OF INTERPRETATION

• Sub-divide the dasha according to the requirements of the question, e.g. in case the question pertains to conjugal matters, sub-divided the dasha according to the navamamshas covered under the constellation to which the dasha belongs, if to matters related to the career – according to the dashamamshas and so on and so forth,.
• The rules of interpretation applicable in case of any other sign based dasha system apply here, the only difference being that in place of the D-1 we use here various divisional charts and also that we do not consider the rashi-drushti and the chara-karakas as we do in case of chara, sthir or mandooka dashas Using ordinary graha drushti and sthir-karakas serves the purpose well.
• Treat each of the sub-divisions covered in the dasha, one by one, as the ascendant, and look for good or evil planetary configurations forming in each of such charts just as you would look into the foundation chart.
• The native experiences good results in that sector of life which is denoted by the sub-divisional chart used for dividing the dasha, e.g. navamamsha for conjugal happiness, dashamamsha for career, saptamamsha for happiness related to progeny etc. etc., provided the sub-division under consideration, i.e. which is being treated as the ascendant or the sign in the relevant house (5^th in case of D-7, 7^th in case of D-9, 10^th in case of D-10 and so on and so forth) reconed from it is in dignity on account of
• being occupied by an exalted planet or
• being occupied or aspected by its lord or benefics only or
• because either the sign or its lord has only benefics in both, the 2^nd and the 12^th, the 5^th and the 9^th, or the 8^th and the 12^th, from it or
• because the lord of the sign is aspected by benefics only or
• because its lord occupies its alternate sign or its exaltation sign or
• because its lord occupies the pushkar amsha, the pushkar navamamsha or the arc corresponding to the amrita-ghatis * or
• because the sign occupied by the lord is the same in the divisional chart as well as in the D-1,

The converse is also true in case of (i) to (vi) above.

• The sector of life relevant to the sub-division becomes also activated if the sub-division under consideration forms some kind of relationship (conjunction, aspect or exchange of lords or even a unilateral occupation or aspect) with the relevant place also, e.g. 7th place in case of D-9, 10th in case of D-10, 5th in case of D-7 etc. or the two lords occupy signs ruled by the same planet, that is to say if the two lords have the same dispositor, or the two lords are just strong. The resulting events in that sector of life are auspicious or adverse according to whether the signs and / or their lords are under benefic influences or malefic influences.
• Formation of raja-yogas, dhana-yogas and any other benefic yogas with reference to the sub-division under consideration also promotes the matters relevant to the sub-division.
• Formation of relationship between the sub-division under consideration and such yogas enhances the impact of the results. The converse is also true.

*        Table of the arcs corresponding to amrit gatis and visha ghatis is available in the book of the auther on Kaala Chakra Dasha System where it was published for the first time.

ILLUSTRATION

In order to illustrate my theory I am giving some examples from the life of our late prime minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi. I am using a somewhat different time of birth than is generally used by other astrologers and I have explained the reason for this difference in her time of birth in details in my book on Kaala Chakra Dasha System.

Shrimati Indira Gandhi

D-1

In order to determine the time of marriage of a native the dasha running at an age which is appropriate for marriage is to be sub-divided according to the navamamshas covered under the constellation related to that dasha. In this case Rahu maha-dasha (18 years) started on 4^th November 1936. She was about to complete her 19^th year after a few days and therefore we can say that it was the appropriate age for marriage. Since at the time of her birth the Moon was in uttara-ashada constellation it naturally follows that the dasha of Rahu was of the constellation Shatabhisha. As explained above, this constellation covers the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and the 6^th navamamshas of the sign Aquarius which are Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, each running for four and a half years.

The above table shows that the Capricorn sub-division in the Rahu maha-dasha ran from 04 05 1941 to 04 11 1945. If we treat Capricorn as the ascendant in the D-9 chart given below we can see that Capricorn

• is dignified because it is occupied by its own lord Saturn,
• is, along with its lord, aspected by a benefic only – the Jupiter,
• a raja-yoga is forming in the 10th from Capricorn due to the conjunction of the 10th lord Venus with the 9th lord Mercury,
• the above raja-yoga is aspected by the lord of the navamamsha –Saturn itself and
• lord of Capricorn – the Saturn aspects Venus, the natural and the permanent determinant of conjugal matters.

D-09

Besides, the 7^th from the Capricorn, i.e. Cancer is

• occupied by none,
• aspected by none, but
• the lords of Capricorn and Cancer, the seventh from it occupy signs ruled by one and the same planet, the Saturn, or in other words have a common dispositor,
• Sun – the lord of the seventh from Chandra-lagna in this chart is occupying its own sign and is aspected by the Moon which is the lord of seventh from Capricorn,
• Mars, the lord of the seventh from the natural and the permanent determinant of conjugal matters, i.e. Venus – is aspectd by the Moon which is the lord of the seventh from Capricorn.

During the tenure of the Sagittarius sub-division, which ran just before Capricorn, we find that the Jupiter – lord of Sagittarius and the Mercury – lord of Gemini – the seventh from it, both have a common dispositor, the Venus, which is strong also being in its own navamamsha and therefore we can say that the seventh house matters were activated during that period also. It is a matter of record that she was having an affair with Shri Firoz Shah during this period. That affair could not culminate into a mariage during the tenure of Sagittarius because it has only malefics in both, the 5^th and the 9^th from it. There was no such hurdle during the tenure of Capricorn and on the contrary, Capricorn was dignified and strong due to the occupancy of its own lord Saturn; that is why the affair could culminate into a marriage in accordance with the wishes of the native.

Since the D-9 sub-divisions of the Rahu maha-dasha are somewhat long (4 years and 6 months each) and offer a very loose time frame we can narrow it down by looking into the D-60 sub-divisions of Rahu maha-dasha which have a tenure of 8 months and 3 days each. We know that Capricorn navamamsha starts from 10º 00΄ and runs upto 13º 20΄ of the sign Aquarius, covering six full and 2/3^rd of the seventh shahtiyamsha and therefore starting from the 21^st shashtiyamsha of the sign Aquarius, which is Libra, we can look into the succeeding seven shashtiyamshas covered within this navamamsha .

The table above shows the tenure of the seven shashtiyamshas covered within the Capricorn navamamsha in the sign Aquaruius. Analysing these one by one we find that out of the seven, although, Libra enjoys the benefit of a raja-yoga (yoga-karaka Saturn in the fifth in Aquarius) and at the same time it has very strong seventh from it, it is the Scorpio shashtiyamsha which is the strongest and has the potential to cause the marriage of the native.

D-60

• Scorpio is aspected by its own lord, the Mars
• The lord Mars is dignified being in its own / alternate sign – Aries
• The Jupiter, which is the lord of the seventh from Venus, the natural and permanent determinant for conjugal matters, is a top ranking benefic for Scorpio (being 2^nd and 5^th lord) and in the instant case, being retrograde is cheshta-bali also, occupies the Scorpio shashtiyamsha and is aspected by its lord, the Mars.

Thus after analyzing the navamamsha and shashtiyamsha sub-divisions of the Rahu maha-dasha the marriage of the native could  be safely  predicted during the tenure of Scorpio shashtiyamsha in Capricorn navamamsha which ran from 07 01 1942 to 19 09 1942.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the native was actually married on 26 03 1942.

The table below shows the D-10 sub-divisions of Rahu maha-dasha (Shatabhisha constellation). Tenure of Aries dashamamsha came first and ran upto 28 12 1939. The native was 19 to 22 years of age at this time. Treating Aries as the ascendant in the D-10 chart we find that its lord, the Mars, is exalted in the 10^th from it, is aspecting Aries and is aspected by a benefic Venus. The 10^th lord Saturn is also exalted, is conjunct the 4^th lord Moon and is aspecting Aries. So it could be predicted that the native would be initiated into her career or that would start playing some active role in that field. She, in association with her aunts, Shrimati Vijaylaxmi Pandit and Shrimati Krishna Hathisingh and under the guidance of her father Pt. Jawaher Lal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, started participating in the freedom struggle and her name appeared in connection with picketing at the shops selling imported goods.

Taurus dashamamsha, which followed Aries and ran for about four years, has only malefics in both, the 5^th and the 9^th from it, its lord Venus is aspected by malefics only and exchange between the 3^rd and the 6^th from it constitutes a dainya yoga. The progress of her career suffered a setback, firstly due to sickness and secondly due to tension in the family because of her affair with Shri Firoz Shah.

After this, Gemini dashamamsha ruled for about four years. Mercury, the lord of Gemini is in vargottama dashamamsha and Gemini itself is occupied by its tenth lord, the Jupiter. Only benefics occupy the 5^th and the 9^th from the tenth. So, it could be safely predicted that during this period she will get the opportunity to make progress in her career. It is a matter of common knowledge that it was during this period that India won freedom and her father became the Prime-Minister.

After this the Cancer dashamamsha ruled from 04 02 1948 to 22 02 1952. Moon, the lord of Cancer is aspected by Jupiter, the lord of the 9th from Cancer. There is exchange between the lords of the 1^st and the 4^th constituting a maha-yoga. An exalted Saturn occupies the 4^th. Mars, the yoga-karaka for Cancer, is exalted in the seventh and aspects Cancer. Considering all these configurations it could be safely predicted that this period must promote her position in life and give her some authority. It is a matter of record that it was during this period that the first general elections in the country took place and she was elected a Member of the Parliament.

D-10

The tenure of Cancer ended on 22 02 1952 and Leo dashamamsha ruled upto 16 01 1956, its first 2 years 8 months and 12 days in the Rahu mahadasha and the remaining 1 year 2 months and 12 days in the Jupiter maha-dasha. Sun, the lord of Leo, occupies Leo itself and Mars, the yoga-karaka for Leo occupies its exaltation sign and aspects Leo and its lord both. Within the tenure of Leo dashamamsha, Aquarius shashtiyamsha rules from February 1952 to October 1952. In the D-60, Saturn, the lord of Aquarius occupies Aquarius itself and Mars, the lord of the 10^th from Aquarius occupies its own sign, Aries and aspects the tenth from there. It is a matter of history that it was in the month of April 1952 that Shrimati Indira Gandi took part in the first general assembly of the parliament of the Republic of India as an elected Member of the Parliament.

Scorpio dashamamsha in Jupiter mahadasha ruled from 28 03 1963 to 04 11 1966. Its lord Mars is dignified being in its exaltation sign Capricorn. It also aspects the 10^th, which is also strong because the 10^th lord Sun occupies the 10^th itself. It is a matter of common knowledge that during this period the native, first became a minister in Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri’s government in June 1964 and later on became the Prime Minister on 19 01 1966.

The Scorpio dashamamsha which covers the last 03º 00΄ in the sign Aquarius and rules for a period of 03 years 07 months and 06 days, stands divided into 6 shashtiyamshas, Leo to Capricorn,  each covering 00 30΄ and ruling for 07 months and 06 days.  Out of these 6 shashtiyamshas, Libra ruled from 10 06 1964 to 16 01 1965. Saturn, the yoga-karaka for Libra is dignified being in Aquarius and therefore forms a raja-yoga. Venus, the lord of Libra and the Moon, lord of the 10^th, aspect each other and are associated with exalted planets, Rahu and Ketu. Seventh from Libra is strong because it is occupied by its lord, the Mars and the 10^th is strong because it is occupied by the Sun. This was the period when she became a minister.

Sagittarius ruled from 22 08 1965 to 28 03 1966. The best thing about Sagittarius is that it is flanked by benefics only – the Jupiter and the Mercury. Besides, it is associated with two benefics, the Moon and the Venus; the association of the Rahu and the Ketu is also helpful because these are in their exaltation signs. Mutual aspect between the 9^th and the 10^th lords, the Sun and the Mercury, is one raja-yoga while the 1^st lord (and the 4^th lord also) Jpuiter and the 5^th lord Mars form another raja-yoga, because they have a common dispositor – the Mars, in which yoga the Mars is dignified in the 5^th. The native occupied the chair of the Prime Minister during this period.

The prospects of procreation can be seen from the D-7 sub-divisions. The table below gives the D-7 sub-divisions of the Rahu maha-dasha.

During Rahu maha-dasha, the Aries saptamamsha ruled from 27 05 1939 to 10 03 1945. Mars, the lord of Aries is dignified being in its alternate sign Scorpio and being in mutual aspect with the fifth lord Sun, forms a 1-5 relationship which is promotive of santana-sukha, i.e. pleasure through off-spring. The fifth lord from the Chandra-lagna, Jupiter is also aspected by Mars, the lord of Aries.

D-07

Within the tenure of this saptamamsha, the Aquarius shashtiyamsha ruled from 16 01 1944 to 19 09 1944. Its lord Saturn is dignified being in the Aquarius itself and forms a 1-5 relationship because Mercury, the lord of fifth from Aquarius occupies the alternate sign of the Saturn. It was during this period that the native gave birth to Shri Rajeeva Lochan Gandhi on 20 08 1944.

I hope the above illustrations amply demonstrates the dependability and efficacy of my theory and method.

In the end of this article I will like to draw the attention of my readers that events in various sectors of life are not exclusive to each other and they are inter-linked. It very often happens that the event in one sector of life materializes in the back-ground of some other sector of life. Under such circumstances it has been observed that the planetary configuratios showing a particular event may not appear in the concerned divisional chart but appear in the divisional chart related to some other sector; for example in the example horoscope we see that during the tenure of Taurus dashamamsha in Rahu maha-dasha, which was the period when her marriage took place, the D-10 chart also shows a clear relationship between the lords of Taurus and its seventh, Scorpio. In other words we can say that it was not only the D-9 which was giving us the indication of native’s marriage but the D-10 was also giving the same information. Can we not say, therefore, that the circumstances of her marriage were an integral part of her career

Thus the readers have seen that in place of making predictions on the basis of the orthodox method of sub-dividing a maha-dasha into bhuktis we can sub-divide the maha-dasha into such sub-divisions, like D-7, D-9, D-10 etc. of the signs, as are covered by the constellation related to the dasha under consideration and very conviniently make quite accurate predictions by analyzing the the relevant divisional charts. This method is not available either in the ancient or the contemporary literature. Since I discovered it only a few years ago and I, along with some of my students, such as Rakesh Soni, N. B. Gupta, Rahul Anand and many others started using it for last few years only it is not proper to claim that the method has reached its stage of perfection. However, I hope that the method can be improved greatly if many readers will start using it and enrich it from their experience. I therefore appeal to my readers to give me as much feed-back as possible on the constraints and opportunities they discover in this system.