The Esoteric Teaching - Planetary Periods (Daśās)

Planetary Periods (Daśās)

The Jyotish course continues with Chapter 46 of Bṛhad Parāśara Horā Śāstra, describing different types of planetary periods (Daśās), their calculation and effects.

Vimśottari Daśā

BPHS Chapter 46 Slokas 1-16

1. Maitreya said: “O Venerable Mahārṣi Parāśara! You are omniscient. There is no subject with which you are not conversant. Therefore now please favor me with guidance about the different kinds of Daśās (periods) of the various Graha.”

2-5. Mahārṣi Parāśara replied: “O Brāhmaṇa! Daśās are of many kinds. Amongst them Vimśottari is the most appropriate for the general populace. But the other Daśās, followed in special cases, are Astottari, Shodshottari, Dwadashottari, Panchottari, Shatabdik, Chaturashiti-sama, Dwisaptati-sama, Shastihayani, Shat-trimshat-sama. Our ancients have described these different kinds of Daśās based on Nakṣatras.

Aṣṭottari and Shodasottari Daśā

BPHS Chapter 46 Slokas 17-26

17-20. Mahārṣi Parāśara said: O Brāhmaṇa, the sages have recommended the adoption of Aṣṭottari when Rahu is not in Lagna, in any other Kendra or Trikona to the Lord of the Lagna. From 4 Nakṣatras from Ārdrā commences the Daśā of Sūrya, from 3 after that begins the Daśā of Candra, 4 after that will bring the Daśā of Maṅgal, 3 after that the Lord of Daśā will be Budha, 4 therefrom will have Śani, as the Daśā Lord, 3 thereafter the Lord will be Guru, Rahu will be the Lord of the Daśā 4 Nakṣatras after that, and then Śukra will take over the lordship of the Daśā 3 Nakṣatras from the last one mentioned above. The Lord of the Daśā at birth will be determined by counting in this order up to the Janma Nakṣatra. The duration of Aṣṭottari Daśā for Sūrya, Candra, Maṅgal, Budha, Śani, Guru, Rahu and Śukra are 6, 15, 8, 17, 10, 19, 12 and 21 in that order. Thus in this Daśā system only 8 Graha play the role of Daśā Lords, Ketu having been denied this privilege.

Other Daśās

BPHS Chapter 46 Slokas 27-43

Dwadasottari

27-28. This Daśā system will be appropriate for one whose Lagna is in the Navāṁśa of Śukra. Count from Janma Nakṣatra to Revatī. Divide this number by 8. The remainder will indicate the Daśā of the Graha concerned. The Daśā order is Sūrya, Guru, Ketu, Budha, Rahu, Maṅgal, Śani, Candra. The Daśās will be of 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 years of the Graha.

Kala Cakra Daśā

BPHS Chapter 46 Slokas 44-82

Kāla

44-49. 5 Ghaṭikās before the sight of the semi-disk of the setting Sūrya and 5 Ghaṭikās after that, and 5 Ghaṭikās before and after the rising of Sūrya, that is 10 Ghaṭikās in the evening and 10 Ghaṭikās in the morning, respectively. The total period of both these Sandhyās (twilight) is said to be 20 Ghaṭikās. The 20 Ghaṭikās of the night have been given the name Pūrṇa and the 20 Ghaṭikās of the day have been given the name Mugdha. The Sandhyā at the time of sunrise is called Khaṇḍa and the Sandhyā at the time of sunset is said to be Sudhā. Both of these Sandhyās are of 10 Ghaṭikās each.

Calculations on Kala Cakra

BPHS Chapter 46 Slokas 83-95

83. Maitreya said: “O Venerable Mahārṣi Parāśara! Now please guide me about the Daśā spans of the Daśā Lords, described by you. Please also demonstrate, how the commencement of the Daśā, its expired and the remaining periods at the birth are to be calculated.”

84. Mahārṣi Parāśara said: “5, 21, 7, 9, 10, 16 and 4 years are the Daśā spans of Sūrya, Candra, Maṅgal, Budha, Guru, Śukra and Śani.

Gati of Rāśis and Effects

BPHS Chapter 46 Slokas 96-130

Gati of Rāśis in the Kāla Cakra

96-98. There are three kinds of movements (Gati) of the Rāśis in the Kāla Cakra, namely Manduki, Markati and Simhavlokan. The movement of one Rāśi by jumping over one Rāśi is known, as Manduki Gati. Backward movement to the previous Rāśi is called Markati Gati. The movement of a Rāśi to the 5th and 9th Rāśi is said to be Simhavlokan.

Effects of the Rāśis in Various Bhavas

BPHS Chapter 46 Slokas 131-154

Effects of Kāla Cakra Daśā of the Rāśis in Lagna and other Bhavas:

131-132. In the Kāla Cakra Daśā of the Rāśi in Lagna the body remains healthy and the native spends a life with many kinds of comforts. If the Lagna Rāśi is a benefic one, the good effects are realized fully. If the Lagna Rāśi is a malefic Rāśi, there is likelihood of ill health. If a Graha in exaltation, or in its own Rāśi occupies Lagna, the native is respected by the king or government and acquires wealth.

Chara and Sthir Daśās

BPHS Chapter 46 Slokas 155-173

Chara Dasa

155 -156. Now I shall describe to you the Chara Dasa of the signs (Rasis) of the twelve houses. In this Dasa system the number of years of Dasa is reckoned from the Rasi up to the house in which its lord is posited. The peculiar feature of this system is that every three signs from Aries etc. have four padas. For the odd (1,3) padas, the counting is done from Rasi onwards up to the Rasi in which its lord is housed. For the even padas (2,4) this counting is done in the reverse order.

Other Various Daśās

Yogardha

174. The spans of Daśās of the Rāśis in the Yogardha Daśā system are half of the total of the spans of Chara and Sthira Daśās. The Daśā will commence from the Rāśi of Lagna, or Yuvati, whichever is stronger. The order of the Daśās of the 12 Rāśis will be counted onwards, if the opening Daśā Rāśi is an odd one. If it be an even Rāśi, the Daśās will be in reverse order.