Order and length
This order and these lengths are fixed by tradition and do not vary by person.
- Ketu7 yr
- Shukra20 yr
- Surya6 yr
- Chandra10 yr
- Mangala7 yr
- Rahu18 yr
- Guru16 yr
- Shani19 yr
- Budha17 yr
Total 120 years
The birth star sets the starting point
Each of the 27 birth stars has a ruling planet. The first, Ashwini, is Ketu; the second, Bharani, is Venus — the nine planets cycle three times. The ruling planet of the birth star the Moon occupied at birth becomes your first period.
Then it divides once more. If you were born halfway through that birth star's section, your first period also starts half spent. So people with the same birth star start at different ages.
Frequently asked
Why 120 years?
The periods assigned to the nine planets add up to 120. The system comes from a view of a full human lifespan as 120 years, so most people pass through only part of the cycle rather than the whole.
Why does the first period differ by person?
It is set by where the Moon was within its birth star at birth. Each birth star has a ruling planet, and life begins with whatever remains after subtracting the part of the section already passed. So people born in the same year get different first periods.
How is this different from Western transits or Saju luck pillars?
Saju cuts luck into even ten-year pillars. Dasha lengths differ by planet — Ketu is 7 years, Venus is 20. So "which pillar am I in" does not apply; instead you say which planet's period you are passing through.
Can I see my dasha without a birth time?
You can, but it will not be accurate. The starting point depends on the Moon's position, and the Moon changes section within a day. Without a time, about one in four people would start with a different planet altogether. That is why this service does not present a confirmed dasha without a birth time.
Add your birth time to see your current period.