Dasha Bhukthi

Dasha Bhukthi : It is a system that indicates how all the nine planets ,one by one, will control or rule a person throughout his life. It is also known as Planetary Periods. Each planet will rule for certain period. It is known as Dasha (दशा) or Planetary Periods. It is also called as Udu Dasha or Mahadasha or Udu Mahadasha. Dasha is the Major period of a Planet. Each Major period is divided into sub planetary periods known as Sub periods or Bhukthi (भुक्ति) which run their course in the same order as Mahadasha.

Why Dasha Bhukthi? : All the events that happened / happening / going to happen in one's life, will be according to Dasha Bhukthi. All the Planets, depending up on its dignity, will produce the effects only during its Dasha Bhukthi period only. Hence, while analyzing the horoscope, we can predict better only if we know the current Dasha Bhukti.

1. Alpayu
   Sathyorishta - Lifespan up to 1 year
   Balarishta - Lifespan up to 8 years
   Yogarishta - Lifespan between 9 and 32 Years
2. Madhya ayu
   Lifespan between 32 and 75 Years
3. Purna ayu
   Deerghayu - Lifespan between 75 and 120 Years
   Paramayu - Lifespan > 120 years

Dasha System : Sage Parasara Rishi in his Horasastra mentions that there are 32 Dasha systems such as Kala Dasha, Chakra Dasha, Kalachakra Dasha, Chara Dasha, Sthira Dasha, Kendra Dasha, Trikona Dasha, Karaka Dasha, Brahma Dasha, Manduka Dasha, Shula Dasha, Vimshottari, Ashtottari, Dwathashottari, Panchottari, Shatabthika

दशाबहुविधास्तासु मुख्या विंशोत्तरी मता ! (Ch. 46.3)
विंशोत्तरशतं पूर्णमायु: पूर्वमुदाह्रतम् !
कलि विंशोत्तरी तस्माद् दशा मुख्या द्विजोत्तम् ! (Ch. 46.14)

He also mentions that though there many Dasha, Vimshottari is important. In Kaliyuga, the lifespan of a person will be Purnayu (120 years). Hence, Vimshottari will be more suitable.

How to find out the current Planetary period (Dasha) of a person?

First Dasha : We know, the Star that the Moon was passing through at the time of birth is known as Birth Star. The commencing Dasha at the time of birth of a person will be that of Birth Star or Janma Natchatra. The subsequent Dasha and its duration will follow the same order shown in the table above.

For instance, if a person was born on Krithika Star, then the first Dasha will be Sun. Then, Moon Dasha for 10 years, Mars for 7 years, Rahu for 18 years, Jupiter for 16 years, Saturn for 19 years, Mercury for 17 years, Ketu for 7 years and Venus for 20 will follow one by one continuously.

The duration of the first planetary period (Dasha) will vary. It will be based on the time left for the moon to cross the star. If a person was born at the start of the Krithika star, then the Dasha will be Sun and the duration will be 6 years. If the moon was halfway through the Star, then the period will be 6 x 1/2 (left over time) = 3 years. If the Moon has crossed 3/4 of the Star, then the period will be 6 x 1/4 (left over time) = 1 1/2 years only. This is known as Dasha Balance at the time of Birth.

For example, let us consider a person born on Sep-14-1996 at 1.10 pm. The Star on that date and its duration are given below. This detail can be obtained from 1996 Panchang or e-Panchang.

Now, let us calculate the Dasha balance at the time of birth.

Total Duration of Star = (Sep 15 08.27 Hrs - Sep 14 06.46 Hrs) = 1541 min
Elapsed duration = (Sep 14 13.10 Hrs - Sep 14 06.46 Hrs) = 384 min
Remaining duration = 1541 - 384 = 1157 min

As the Star is Hastham, the First Dasha will be Moon. The total period for Moon Dasha is 10 years. At the time of birth, since 384 min has already elapsed, the remaining Dasha Period should be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

For a Total duration of 1541 min, the Dasha Period is 10 years.
ஃ Dasha Period for the balance of 1157 min = 1157 / 1541 * 10 = 7.508 Years
If 0.508 is converted to days, it will be 0.508 x 365.25 = 185.5 days
Assuming a month contains 30.43 on average,
185.5 days will be 6 months + 3 days
Dasha balance at the time of birth = 7 yr, 6 m, 3 d in Moon Mahadasha

Now, using the aforesaid method, find out your Dasha balance at the time of birth and the current Dasha.

For instance, during Ketu Mahadasha, the first bhukthi will be Ketu itself followed by Venus, Sun, Moon and so on and the last Bhukthi will be Mercury. Similarly, during Moon Mahadasha, the first Bhukthi will be Moon itself, followed by Mars, Rahu, Jupiter and so on and the last Bhukthi will be Sun.

The Bhukthi period of each Planet will be a sub-period of Mahadasha period, proportionate to its Dasha period. Therefore, the aggregate duration of all sub periods will be same as the Mahadasha period.

Calculating Bhukthi Period : First, find out the Bhukthi period for 1 year, by dividing the Planetary period with Total Dasha period of 120. Then, multiply it with the Mahadasha period to find out the Bhukthi period of a Mahadasha. By multiplying this number with 12 we will get Bhukthi month, and by multiplying the decimal with 3, we will get the Bhukthi days.

As we are dividing by 120 and multiplying by 12, essentially we are just dividing by 10. So, the calculation can be simplified as Multiply the MahaDasha period and Planetary period and divide it by 10. The Quotient will be Bhukthi month, the remainder multiplied with 3 will be the Bhukthi days

As an example, consider Jupiter Dasha and Rahu Bhukthi.

The Jupiter Mahadasha period is 16 years and Rahu period is 18 years
ஃ Rahu Bhukthi period of Jupiter Dasha = 16 x 18 / 10 = 288 / 10 = 28.8
Bhukthi Month = Quotient of the result = 28 months
Bhukthi Days = Remainder x 3 = 8 x 3 = 24 days
Rahu Bhukthi period of Jupiter Dasha = 28 months and 24 days

Another Example. Consider Saturn Mahadasha (19 years) and Mercury Bhukthi (17 years).

Mercury Bhukthi period of Saturn Mahadasha = 19 x 17 / 10 = 32.3
Mercury Bhukthi period = 32 months and 3 x 3 = 9 days.

The influence of Dasha Bhukthi depends on the dignity of both the Dasha Lord and Bhukthi Lord involved and also the Houses ruled by them. Generally, the result pronounced by the Dasha Lord will be good, if it is posited in Ascendant or in friendly house or exalted. The result pronounced will not be favorable, if it is posited in 6th, 8th or 12th house or inimical house or debilitated.

The Dasha Lord can be considered as Car and the Bhukthi Lord as Driver. So, for a better result of a particular Dasha period, both the Car and Driver should be in good condition. If either of them is not good, the result will be moderate. And, if both of them are bad, the result will be very horrible.

As both Dasha Lord and Bhukthi Lord are responsible in producing the result, the entire Dasha period not necessarily be either good or bad. Even in case of highly Malefic Dasha Lord, still there can be some favorable result if the Bhukthi Lord is Benefic and its dignity is good. Thus, the net result of Dasha period depends on both Dasha and Bhukthi Lord.

The Planetary periods also play a major role in Marriage. It can affect the Marriage Yoga which will cause late marriage, if it is not favorable. Also, unfavorable planetary periods together with unfavorable Transit Saturn will pronounce much worst result up on a person.

The last two Bhukthi periods will be the preparatory periods for the next Dasha. One can feel the difference during this period. Either life becomes smooth or miserable slowly.