What is Vimshottari Dasha and what can we know from this?

Vimshottari Dasha is a famous system of planetary cycles used in Vedic astrology to understand the timing of events in a person’s life. The term ‘Vimshottari’ has to do with the cycle of 120 years, which is divided into different planetary periods or ‘dashas’ that are controlled by the nine planets in Vedic astrology.
This whole system is based on the placement of the moon at the time of a person’s birth and it evaluates the length of each dasha period based on the placement of the moon in the nakshatra or lunar mansion that it involves.
All planets rule a particular number of years in the cycle, beginning with the Moon, which rules for two and a half years.
List of the planets and the duration of their respective dashas in the Vimshottari Dasha system:
- Moon: 2 years and 6 months
- Sun: 6 years
- Jupiter: 16 years
- Mars: 7 years
- Mercury: 17 years
- Venus: 20 years
- Saturn: 19 years
- Rahu: 18 years
- Ketu: 7 years
The effect of dashas is determined by the placement of the moon in the birth chart. For example, if the moon is in Aries in a person’s birth chart, the first dasha will be led by Mars, followed by Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, and finally the Moon.
Every dasha is further divided into sub-periods or ‘bhuktis’ that are managed by the planets that are positioned in the dasha lord’s house.
By evaluating a person’s birth chart and the current planetary placements, an astrologer can calculate which planetary period a person is presently in and what to expect during that period.
Every dasha has its own special characteristics and can have a meaningful influence on a person’s life episodes and experiences.
For example, throughout the Sun dasha, which goes on for six years, a person may experience a period of high spirit energy, self-confidence, and success in their career or personal life.
During the Venus dasha, which remains for 20 years, a person may go through a period of happiness, material success, and enjoyment of the smaller things in life.
Overall, Vimshottari Dasha is an effective tool used in Vedic astrology to determine and understand the timing of major incidents in a person’s life.
It provides insight into the numerous cycles of life and helps individuals to get ready for the difficulties and opportunities that lie ahead.