About Vimshottari

[Guest guest]

Dear Nitin

 

Thank you very much for your nice email. And yes i do have still some energy

left this morning to answer to this email. My peak time of energies are

between 7 am to 12 noon and after that i just "drift" into reading, listening

music, watch the news or interesting programmes on TV, all activities that do

not require much concentration or energies.

 

you

<<It is always insightful to read your posts. I had a question, and was

wondering whether you would have the energy or time to answer? It is more to do

with Jyotish principles & I am intrigued with the Vimshottari Dashas. I was

wondering how extensively you have used this system, and furthermore, to what

level? There are six levels:Mahadasha -- Antardasha --Pratyantardasha

--Sookshma -- Prana -- Deha --I am wondering whether you know the meaning of

these words? I have a feeling that this can help in the application of this

system. I have gathered so far:Mahadasha -- Great Antardasha --

WithinPratyantardasha -- "Within" the within!Sookshma -- ?Prana -- LifeDeha --

?

 

me

Many thanks for your nice introduction. Since 1982 i had the opportunity to use

a computer programme done by my friend Phil, which has the functions of getting

5 levels in the Vimshottari system. However, i have to say that i have never

heard before about the 6th level called deha.

 

For the benefit of the newcomers to Vedic astrology i will try to explain the basics.

 

In Vedic astrology there are many systems to calculate the planetary periods ruling one's life.

 

Among them, the Vimshottari system is well known among Vedic astrologers.

 

The Vimshottari system gives some tables or mathematical equations to calculate those periods.

 

According to the Vimshottari rules, the 9 planets, Ketu, Venus, the Sun, the

Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury rule respectively the naksatras

or constellations 1 to 9. Then this pattern of rulership is again repeated in

the next two sets of constellations.

 

This means that constellations 1, 10 (1+ 0 = 1) and 28 (2+ 8 = 10 =1) are ruled

by Ketu, and constellations 9, 18 (1+ 8 = 9) and 27 (2 + 7 = 9) are ruled by

Mercury.

 

That sequence, that order is always followed by the Vismshottari system. All

those 9 planets ruled for 120 years altogether, although as you can see from my

article about the Antaras (which will appear as well in my Web site), those

planetary periods rule 7, 20, 6, 10, 7, 18, 19, and 17 years respectively.

 

Each one of those 9 main periods of planets are divided into 9 planetary sub

periods giving one sub period to each one of the 9 planets but in proportion to

how many years they rule in their main periods.

 

Then again, those sub periods are again divided into 9 sub sub divisions to give

one of those sub sub periods to each one of the 9 planets in proportion as well.

 

We can see that the main periods are like the first level, and we have 2, 3 4 and 5 levels.

 

The names for those levels can be different according to Vedic astrologers and

areas in India.

 

I call those periods as Dasas, buktis, antaras, sukmas and pranas.

 

Although I have studied the 5 levels, for practical purposes I only read up to

the 3rd level in most of the Vedic horoscopes seen by me.

 

In my tables of antaras (which you can unload for free from my Web site), you

can have your antaras calculated within a second of time and without the

mistakes of trying to do it by hand with the help of tables.

 

I have to clarify that those Antara tables are based on 365.25 days in a year,

rather than the 360 days followed by some Vedic astrologers. Although there is

a debate of about which path is the right one, I have to say that both paths are

right, it is just a question of preference.

 

 

You

<< If you could help in explaining the use of these with an example, it would be

great. Perhaps I am asking too much, and for a Jyotish lesson! With my Ketu /

Jupiter Dashas learning, I am drawn to this field even more (Ketu with Mercury

in 5th in Pisces & Jupiter in 8th House).

 

I will try to explain. It my be different to follow in the beginning, but as

everything else, the practice is the best teacher.

 

To study the 3 levels in the Vimshottari system follow this simple rules.

 

To study the dasas. Study the OWNERSHIP of dasa lord. This can be studied in

both the Vedic horoscope and in the Naksatras or constellations.

 

In the Vedic horoscope, each planet rules 1 or 2 signs. In fact only the sun

rules Leo, the moon rules Cancer, Rahu rules Aquarius and Ketu rules Scorpio.

The other 5 planets rule 2 signs each.

 

According to the rising sign, each sign of the zodiac will rule a different

house of the horoscope. And each sign rules one house. Therefore we have 12

signs in the zodiac and 12 houses in the horoscope.

 

Regarding the naksatras or constellations, each naksatra is ruled by a planet.

According to the position of the moon in a Vedic horoscope, that position gives

us a sign, a house and a naksatra.

The naksatra in which we find the moon is called janma naksatra or the birth

(janma) constellation. And it is called Tara bala 1, or the first star. Tara

means star (like the hill of Tara in Ireland) and Bala means strength,

therefore tara bala can be the strength of the star.

 

Because we have 27 constellations, we can divide them in 3 sets of 9

constellations (3 x 9 = 27) and we will have from Tara bala 1 to tara bala 9.

 

The rule says that the planets that rule or own tara balas 3, 5, 7 and 1 have a

tendency to give bad results in increasing proportion. Tara bala 3 is the

worst and tara bala 1 is the mildest.

 

This rule can be followed monthly in my Moon calendar appearing in my Web site.

According to the Moon calendar, each time that the Moon is in transit in those

tara balas is likely to give bad trends.

 

In comparison, tara balas 2,4,6, 8 and 9 are good in proportion. Tara bala 2 is

good and tara bala 9 is Very Good.

 

Planets ruling those positive tara balas will give you better results during

their dasas and antaras.

 

Also in transits, the moon or other planets in transit across positive tara

balas will give better results than when in transit across bad tara balas.

This is one reason why we follow the Moon calendar, to see the Moon’s daily

transit.

 

A last word in Dasas, I have read in one of the many books of B.V. Raman, that

for dasas we should divide a dasa into 2 sections. During the first section we

are likely to see a more prominent role of the first house-sign ruled by the

dasa lord, as seen from the rising sign.

 

See an example below at the end of this article.

 

Regarding buktis. Study the LOCATION of the bukti lord. This can be seen in

both the Vedic chart and in the constellations.

 

The primary location is more important, but as secondary indications, take the

dristhi (aspect) of the bukti lord).

 

Regarding the antaras. Study both, the rulership or ownership and the location

of the antara lord.

 

You have to cultivate your intuition and balance the knowledge before you give a

prediction based on the study of the chart.

 

And do not forget to consider other important factors of the planets like yogas

(planetary combinations), aspects, karakahood (natural indications etc), to get

a better picture from the chart.

 

You

<< With my Ketu / Jupiter Dashas learning, I am drawn to this field even more

(Ketu with Mercury in 5th in Pisces & Jupiter in 8th House).>>

 

You gave some clues about your chart. According to this your rising sign is

Scorpio. You are in the Ketu dasa (or main period of Ketu) and in the Jupiter

bukti (sub period of Jupiter)

 

For dasa, study the ownership or rulership of Ketu. In your case, Ketu rules

your rising sign, which is Scorpio. Therefore during this Ketu dasa, the main

indications of the rising sign are likely to be more prominent to you. Those

indications are external personality, character, skin, yourself, the beginning.

 

In regard to aspects, see that Ketu is associated with Mercury, indicating some

sharping of your intellect, but because Ketu cause eclipses, Mercury may suffer

some “eclipse” if it is too close (within 12° of Ketu) to Ketu.

 

Regarding the Karakahood or natural indication of Ketu, because Ketu is

moksakaraka, or indicator of moksha (liberation), the trends towards liberation

will be there in your life, and much more prominent in this Ketu dasa.

 

For buktis, study the location of Jupiter (bukti lord). Jupiter in the 8th

house may give unexpected positive results, gifts, inheritances, attraction to

study “occult” sciences like astrology, palmistry, tarot, numerology, mystical

studies, etc. But take as well the “bad” trends indicated by Jupiter in the

8th house, because every planet has both tendencies of indicating good and bad

results.

 

Do not forget the dristhi or aspect of Jupiter as a secondary indication in

buktis. Because your Jupiter is aspecting the 12th, 2nd and 4th house, the

indication of those 3 houses are likely to appear prominent as well but as a

secondary level, and many times not at all. Prominence should be given to

location rather than the aspected places.

 

The karakahood of Jupiter is teaching, expansion, religious knowledge, etc.

 

Let your intuition assess the predictions.

 

In my view, you are in a very important planetary period, because Jupiter is the

ruler of the 5th house, and Ketu is in the 5th house.

 

The 5th house indicates children, diplomacy, love, intention, and previous

lives, among other many things.

 

A malefic planet like Ketu in the 5th house, generally indicates that you

committed some aparadha (offences) in your previous life, and therefore you are

destined to solve or pay for that karma in this life.

 

Regarding the example in dividing a dasa into 2 sections.

 

After you have finished being in the Ketu dasa, which last for 7 years, you will

be under the Venus dasa, which last for 20 years.

Because your rising sign is Scorpio, Venus rules your 7th house (Taurus) and

your 12th house (Libra).

 

Therefore, divide the Venus dasa into 2 sections, and you will see that the

first section of 10 years will be ruled mainly by your 7th house, while the 2nd

section of 10 years will be ruled mainly by your 12th house.

 

I hope that I have been clear enough in this explanation. Otherwise,

suggestions, criticism or questions are welcome.

 

Thank you for listening,

 

Best wishes

Natabara Das