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Dashaa means period. So when a birth chart is drawn, Dashaa is also known for the child. There are many Dashaa systems are in vogue. Most important Dashaa Systems are --

Ashtottaree Dashaa
Chakra Dashaa
Chara Dashaa
Conditional Dashaa
Kaal Dashaa
Kaal Chakra Dashaa
Mool Dashaa,
Naaraayan Dashaa,
Sudarshan Chakra Dashaa
Vinshottaree Dashaa

Mostly astrologers use Vinshottaree Dashaa, because Vinshottaree Dashaa System is used for rough calculations and then the specialized people use Kaal Chakra Dashaa System for the fine-tuning birth time rectification. Under Vinshottaree Dashaa system, a human being's age is 120 years and it covers all the 9 Graha (Planets) Mahaa Dashaa periods. See the Table below under two headings - "Graha Mahaa Dashaa" and their "Period of Dashaa".

How to Know Which Mahaa Dashaa is Running?
Graha Mahaa Dashaa is decided by the Nakshatra in which the Moon resides at the time of birth. All Dashaa goes in the same sequence as they are given here. Why? Because the Vinshottaree Dashaa system depends on Nakshatra, and Nakshatra go in a sequence. This can be explained by the following table --

If one is born in, for example, in Bharanee, P-Phaalgunee or P-Aashaadhaa Nakshatra, he will be considered born in Shukra's Mahaa Dashaa. One should know the Jaatak's Mahaa Dashaa like this for all the Janm Nakshatra. Each Mahaa Dashaa has its own time period. See below "How to calculate Native's remnant Dashaa period.

Actually in their Mahaa Dashaa and Antar-Dashaa periods, generally planets give effects as per their strength and their lordship mixed.
BPHS Dashaadhyaaya - Antar-Dashaa of a functional Malefic in his own Mahaa Dashaa gives good results; whereas that of a functional benefic in his own Mahaa Dashaa gives ill results. This is the principle of contraindications.

Mahaa Dashaa, Antar-Dashaa, Pratyantar Dashaa, Sookshm Dashaa
In practice, it is sufficient to these three basic levels: Mahaa Dashaa - Antar-Dashaa - Pratyantar Dashaa. If you have exact birth time and within long Pratyantar Dashaa (eg in Saturn, Raahu, Mercury, Jupiter periods) you can include the 4th level, Sookshm Dashaa (Sookshm Antar-Dashaa ) as well.

For Very Beginners:
Mahaa Dashaa (MD) are the main planetary periods,
divided by sub-periods called Antar-dashaa (AD). Sub-periods are divided by
sub-sub-periods called Pratyandar-dashaa (PD), which are subdivided by
sub-sub-sub-periods called Sookshm-dashaa (SD), which can be further subdivided into Praan-dasas (PrD).

Therefore, looking at Antar-Dashaa and Pratyantar Dashaa are most important for timing events and predictions

Types of Dashaa
See also  Conditional Dashaa

[BPHS, Ch. 46]
2-5. Maharshi Paraashar replied. O Braahman! Dashaa are of many kinds. Amongst them Vinshottaree is the most appropriate for the general populace. But the other Dashaa, followed in special cases, are Ashtottaree, Shodashottaree, Dwaadashottaree, Panchottaree, Shataabdik, Chaturshiti-Sama, Dwisaptati-Sama, Shashtihayani, Shat-Trinshat-Sama. Our ancients have described these different kinds of Dashaa, based on Nakshatra.

6-11. O Braahman! Some Maharshi have made a mention of Kaal and Chakra Dashaa, but they have recognized the Kaal Chakra Dashaa, as supreme. The other kinds of Dashaa, propagated by the sages, are Char, Sthir, Kendra, Kaarak, Brahm Graha, Mandook, Shool, Yogaardh, Drig, Trikon, Raashi, Panch-swar, Yoginee, Pind, Naisargik, Asht Varg, Sandhyaa, Paachak, Taaraa etc, but in our view all these Dashaa are not appropriate.

Why Different Dashaa Systems?
Every Dashaa system looks at our life from a very different perspective. Life - particularly a human being's life - is a very complicated issue; the ancient sages have been knowing this very well and
therefore they developed more than one Dashaa system.

P.V.R. Rao absolutely correctly states in his textbook 'Vedic Astrology: An integrated approach' (parts of this book available in JHora help):
'When we learn a new Dashaa, the first question we should ask is "when should it be applied and what results should be seen in it". It is illogical to use 10 different Dashaas interchangeably. Mixing up various Dashaa without knowing the subtle differences between them results in vague explanations. An intelligent astrologer will realize that different Dashaa are good at showing different kinds of events. Even when different Dashaa show the same event, they show it from different angles and focus on different aspects of the same event. Without appreciating this, one cannot understand why Maharshi described tens, if not hundreds, of Dashaa systems.'

Use of Multiple Dashaa Systems
1. At first look at which level the native is in Naisargik stage (Naisargik Dashaa MD level primarily).

2. Then look at Kaal Dashaa and define in which time background the native is currently living.

3. Then look at Mool Dashaa - based on strongest planet in a Kendra, from Lagna, Moon or Sun - and look for the roots, the fundament of the current experiences of your client. Mool Dashaa is the ground, the basement, the root of your life.

4. Look then at Vinshottaree Dashaa which is based on Moon's Nakshatra at birth, your 'birth star'. Moon shows your mind, attitudes, habitudes and how your mind is manifesting events - or simply the color of your different life periods. According to Phal Deepika, Vinshottaree Dashaa starts from Krittikaa (Sun's Nakshatra), Krittikaa is the true birth of the zodiac (Ashwinee is the conception, Bharanee is the pregnancy).  Vinshottaree Dashaa is the head and the brain of your life, your mind and mentality (conscious and, moreover, unconscious).

5. Then look at very important Kaal Chakra Dashaa, based on Moon's Navaansh placement at birth. Kaal Chakra shows the evolution of your hidden Navaansh (D-9) potential in your life - it is based on Nakshatra Pad/ Navaansh (3°20' segments). Kaal Chakra Dashaa is what you see with your eyes in distance - what you want to reach in your life, the destination. It is a very reliable Dashaa indeed.

Note:
Correct calculation method is 'Ranchacharya Method' - change this option in your software (although 'Nakshatra Pad Iteration Method' seems to work as well. Santhanam or Raman method is a wrong calculation method - taking Antar-Dashaa sequences stated in BPHS seriously).

6. Then look at applicable Conditional Dashaa (Shat Trinsh Sama Dashaa or Shodashottaree - one of both is always applicable). Look if the correct AD sequences are given in Ashtottaree and Shodashottaree, according to BPHS it must begin with the MD Lord. Conditional Dashaa show the development of Sun, Moon or relevant Graha in your life, including all influences we know (particular Nakshatra, Tithi, strong planets). They can become dominant in your life. They show your feet - how you are running towards reaching your life goals.

7. For material manifestations look at Chara / Naaraayan Dashaa, particularly regarding Arudhaa (placements from Arudhaa Lagna, Arudhaa Bhaav and Arudhaa Graha).

8. Next look should go at Sudarshana Chakra Dashaa (if applicable), the annual progression of Lagna, Moon and the Sun. And you can track Tithi Pravesh Annual Chart with Vinshottaree / Conditional Dashaa for short-term predictions.

9. Last glance at annual solar chart (Taajak Chart), which is based on the annual solar return in a native's life.

You see, each Dashaa lightens human life from a very different perspective. All perspectives seen together enable good and correct predictions.

I (Revati) won't work with Char or Narayana Dashaa any more and I cannot recommend it, but everyone has the liberty to draw one's own and perhaps different conclusions. I will stick to and work with Varnad and Chakra Dashaa; Mool Dashaa as mixed Dashaa ('Graha in Raashi Dashaa') of course as well as Nakshatra Dashaa.

Char / Naaraayan Dashaa
- Raashi Dashaa based on a fixed sequence of Raashi (unlike as in Mool Dashaa) - described in Jaimini Sutras and therefore part of Jaimini astrology - Naaraayan Dashaa shows Maayaa (illusions) and manifestation, how you are perceived in the world and the results/effects thereof
- Jaimini astrology is based on Arudhas (of Bhaav and Graha) and Chara Kaarak (Jaimini almost did not use natural karakas as Parashara) - therefore use Arudhaa and Chara Kaarak for determination of results is necessary (and argala placements thereof!)
- Naaraayan is highly reliable (if you use Arudhas and Chara Karakas)

Kaal Dashaa
- Dashaa based on the natural progress of time based on birth time
- described in BPHS
- As it is based on the normal sequence of planet we know from the weekdays sequence, only natural significations of planets is important (not their placements in chart)
- Kaal Dashaa provides the background of our life, the frame; it supports or limits other Dashaa' effects

Kaal Chakra Dashaa
- Dashaa based on Navaansh (Nakshatra Pad)
- described in BPHS and Phaala Deepika (attention: only *Nakshatra Pada Iteration Method* is correct looking at the ancient masters!)
- Kaal Chakra Dashaa shows evolution of your hidden potential and experiences enabling it, the development of your personality - it shows opportunities and fortunes (but dangers and problems as well) - you have to look at first in your D-9 chart, then in your D-1 to make correct predictions. Kaal Chakra Dashaa in fact indicates nothing but the evolution of your Dharm in this incarnation! - KCD is highly reliable

Note:
Navaansh is hinting at your future, showing in a way the end effect, the final result of your horoscope - the aim, the goal. Navaansh shows hidden strengths inside you and the need to develop them in your life! Nava-Navaansh (D-81) then would be the next step after reaching your Navaansh, it hints into your further future. So Kaal Chakra Dashaa 'the most respectable of all' indicates important events in your life as well - it is from my point of view the real 'Dharm' Dashaa - the Dashaa of D-9, Navaansh!

Mool Dashaa
- Dashaa based on Raashi, on the sequence of the most powerful Graha in Raashi more exactly. The most reliable Dashaa - the first look should go to Mool Dashaa.
- Mool Dashaa is described in Phal Deepikaa by Mantreshwar.
- It shows the roots, basics, fundaments of your life, the true reality behind it. It indicates the main experiences for your true self.
- It is started from Lagna, Moon or Sun, whichever is stronger, and you should count houses from the basic reference (La, Mo, Su) and - as usual - take MD Lord as Lagna for Antar-Dashaa periods (and then AD Lord as Lagna for PD periods)

Vinshottaree Dashaa, Conditional Dashaa
See also    Vinshottaree Dashaa;          Vinshottaree Dashaa-Example
- Dashaa based on Nakshatra and their sequence (which is normal in Vinshottaree Dashaa and special in Conditional Dashaa)
- Vinshottaree Dashaa is described in BPHS and Phaal Deepika. - It shows your mind and his evolution, development, how your mind, mentality and consciousness creates your world and manifests particular experiences.
- Conditional Dashaa throw light on particular constellations in your natal chart.
- Dashaa interpretation should be started by the nakshatra placement of the MD, AD, PD Dashaa Lord, then regarding the three Nakshatra lordships of the MD, AD, PD Dashaa Lord (and the planets posited in Nakshatra of the Dashaa Lord). Of course Raashi / Bhaav in which these Nakshatra are placed are very important as well.
- Vinshottaree is highly reliable (but be aware of correct birth time and correct Ayanaansh use - correct Ayanaansh is slightly different from standard value, between 0 deg 1 min and 0 deg 2 min - which can results up to three weeks difference in timing)

12-14. Beginning from Krittikaa, the Lords of Dashaa are Soorya, Chandra, Mangal, Raahu, Guru, Shani, Budh, Ketu and Shukra in that order. Thus, if the Nakshatra from Krittikaa to the Janma Nakshatra are divided by nine, the remainder will signify the Lord of the commencing Dashaa. The remaining Dashas will be of the Graha in the order, given above. In Kali Yug the natural life-span of a human being is generally taken, as 120 years. Therefore Vinshottaree Dashaa is considered to be the most appropriate and the best of all Dashaa.

15. The periods of Dashaa of Soorya, Chandra, Mangal, Raahu, Guru, Shani, Budh, Ketu and Shukra are 6, 10, 7, 18, 16, 19, 17, 7 and 20 in that order.

16. To find out the remainder of the Dashaa, operating at the time of birth, first find out the expired portion of the Dashaa of the concerned Graha. This is done, as follows --
Multiply the Dashaa period of the Graha concerned by the period of the stay of Chandra in Janma Nakshatra, that has expired and divide that amount by the total period of the stay of Chandra in that Nakshatra. The figure in years, months etc so arrived at will be the expired period of the Dashaa. If this figure is deducted from the total period of the Dashaa, we will get the balance of Dashaa at the time of birth.

[Phal Deepikaa, Ch. 19]
2. Count the stars from Krittikaa in groups of nine. The planets presiding over the Dashaas belonging to the nine Nakshatras composing each group are respectively the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Raahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu and Venus and the span of their Dashaa periods are respectively 6, 10, 7, 18, 16, 19, 17, 7 and 20 years.

See the Table above to clarify what has been mentioned above:

3. Now is described the method of finding the remainder of the Dashaa of planet at the time of birth. Find out the Nakshatra in which the Moon is posited at birth and for how many Ghatikaa it will remain after birth in that Nakshatra. Multiply those Ghatikaa by the total period of the Dashaa and divide it by 60. The quotient will represent the period in years still to elapse. Any remainder remaining may be converted into months by multiplying by 30 and dividing by 60 and so on.

[Horasara of Prithuyasas, Ch. 31]
The Dashaa periods, in the scheme of Nakshatra Dashaa, otherwise known, as Udu Dasha, or Vimshottaree Dashaa, are: 6, 10, 7, 18, 16, 19, 17, 7 and 20 years, respectively, for Soorya, Chandra, Mangal, Raahu, Guru, Shani, Budha, Ketu and Shukra. These Dashaas are Lorded by the Graha in the above order, counted from the Nakshatra Krittikaa. The order of the Dashaas counts from one's birth Nakshatra (ie the one occupied by Chandra), or the Nakshatra, in which Lagna is rising at birth.

The ending periods of all the Graha will be normally evil. During the conclusion of the Dashaa of Soorya, Mangal, Shani and Raahu, there will be diseases, destruction of wealth, disputes and evil incidents. The native's death can occur during the Dashaa of a Grah Yuti with a malefic, or with Randhra's Lord.

The Dashaa of the particular Nakshatra, which is occupied by a malefic Graha, will bring about sorrow. The extent traversed in the said Nakshatra by the said cruel Graha will indicate the possible time.

In the three groups of Nakshatra, if there is a weak malefic without Drishti from a benefic, such Dashaa will cause death in its end.

In the Dashaa of a Graha occupying Raashi Sandhi (ie the area, where one Raashi ends and the other one starts), there will be diseases. In the end of the Dashaa of the Graha, that heads towards the 30th degree of the Rashi concerned, death will take place.

The portion still to elapse in the Janma Nakshatra should be multiplied by the Dashaa years (as mentioned in Shlok 1 of this Ch) and divided by 60. The quotient will indicate the years to lapse, as yet in the Dashaa concerned. Similar calculations should be made through the remainder to ascertain the months etc.

The Dashaa effects should be predicted in the same order (from the balance of Janma Dashaa obtained, as per Shlok 17). To obtain the Bhukti period of one Graha in the Dashaa of another Planet, multiply the figure of years mutually and divide by 120. The Bhukti period in years is revealed. The effects of Antar-Dashaa stated earlier, should be applied.

The results of Ketu will be, like that of Mangal, while Raahu's effects will be, like Shani's. The other Graha produce even effects due to their nature. Thus, the good and bad of the Dashaa should be understood.

The effects of the Nakshatra (ie Vinshottaree Dashaa system) is acceptable to all, as stated. After very minutely examining these, the Dashaa results should be predicted.

Should Soorya in transit reach the Raashi occupied by the Bhukti Lord at birth, the effects will be marked to the particular Dashaa.

The effects should be calculated from the stronger of the two, ie Chandra and Lagna at birth.

[Jaimini Sutras, Adhyaaya 2, Pad 4]
[Nakshatra Dashaa to be taken over from Paraashar and others]
SU. 18. Dashaa counted from the constellations at birth have to be learned and taken from Paraashar, Gargi, Vyasa and other well-known writers.
[Note by Revati: Vinshottaree Dashaa is not mentioned in Kalyana Varmas Saravali - the only Dashaa it mentions is Mool Dashaa.]

How Jupiter can be treated as benefic if it happens to be in 6th House from Lagna?
1. BPHS-Ch 49 -Results of Dashaa - Shlok 2 and 3 means:
"Dashaa emanates two types of results, one of the general nature based on the Swabhaav of the planes (Planet's Swabhaav is decided by the Lordship of houses as per rules given in chapter 34 -Yog Kaarak of BPHS and Laghu Paraasari) and the second one of special category based on the placement of planets (many rules for this are given in BPHS, Phaldeepika chapter 6, Jaatak Paarijaat chapter 11, Madhya Paraasari etc) .The results of the planet will also depend on the strength of the planets.

Now come to the Lordship of Jupiter of 6th House, which is possible in two cases:
1. For Cancer Lagna :
Jupiter is prime Benefic.
Lord of Trisadaya are Paapee, which means they generate lot of desire, anger, ego and greed , otherwise they are good for material prosperity being Lord of Upachaya houses also.
For Cancer Lagna , Jupiter is the lord of 6H as well as 9H. The Lord of 9H becomes powerful benefic that too when Jupiter is the Lord.
In Shlok 7 of ch 34 of BPHS , Paraashar teaches us: When a planet is Lord of two houses, its ownership of more predominant house will stall the effects due to another owning comparatively less prominent house and will give its results accordingly.
Jupiter is also friendly to Lagna Lord Moon.
Thus BPHS has termed Jupiter as benefic for Cancer Lagna. This does not mean that the effects of 6H Lordship will extinguish. It will and generate Astra or Harsa Yogas as per Phal Deepikaa Ch 6.

2. For Libra Lagna
Jupiter becomes the Lord of 3rd and 6th Houses. A prime benefic, when becomes the Lord of two Upachaya places gives lot of material benefits. Bhaavaarth Ratnaakar says that Jupiter gives Yog results for Libra Lagna.

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