Vedic Astrology's Many Methods of Timing

There are a nearly infinite number of ways to understand Time through the system of Vedic Astrology. The ancient appreciation for both very large (millions of years) and very small (‘pranas’: one inhale and one exhale or about 4 seconds) segments of Time has lent Vedic Astrology a dynamism that not many other systems of astrology possess.

The entire Vedic philosophy is contextualized by the yugas, which are four ages of humanity that we continually cycle through and encompass enormous portions of Time—hundreds of thousands of years each. The different qualities of each Yuga sets the stage for what takes place within it. We are (as you may have noticed) in the most degraded Yuga which is marked by an absence of morals and corrupt leadership. That is the background inside which we operate.

Then there is the minutia of time, often measured by breath. The measurement of 4 seconds is called a prana, since it is the amount of time it takes the average person to inhale and exhale once. Within that prana there are also subtle qualities which can be measured, just like the yugas. The predominance of various elements in any given moment can be known by where the breathe hits the skin upon exhale. This can actually be used as a way to answer a question during an astrology consultation. Different elements are associated with ‘yes’ and others with ‘no.’

These measurements of both the qualitative and qualitative aspects of Time form the pole-ends of what is relevant to Vedic Astrology, but the backbone of the system of timing is the Dasha system. Dashas are planetary periods which activate a planet in the chart and highlight everything about its placement in the chart. During a planet’s period (which can last up to 20 years) we basically embody the qualities of that planet, and depending on how that planet is disposed in your natal chart you will embody more positive or more negative aspects of it, and the desires that come from that planet will affect different areas of your life (depending on where it is placed by house and sign.)

For example: someone entering a dasha of the planet Mars will automatically experience themselves as more fiery, driven, active and combative. If it is the dasha of a debilitated Mars then some of these aspects of the planet Mars will come out in a more negative fashion: as passive aggressiveness, internalized anger or just a waste of energy. An exalted Mars, on the other hand, will be able to establish and maintain healthy boundaries, apply assertiveness where necessary and be able to accomplish a lot. The specific placement of the planet will further modify these results.

A moon’s dasha, on the other hand, will tend to bring more emotion and more emotional fluctuations. There are a lot of highs and lows, mirrored by the fullness and thinness of the Moon in its waxing and waning cycles. The individual may feel more sensitive, be focused on home and family. But again, the particular situation of the Moon in the natal chart (among other more nuanced factors) will determine how that dasha plays out for a specific individual.

Knowing the dasha you are currently running—as well as what is on the horizon—is key information in the blueprint of your psyche that is the natal horoscope. The dashas are actually a map of your desires as they play out over time. Understanding which planet is at the root of your current drives and dissatisfactions can do a lot to lend perspective to any given moment. And it makes sense to align with those desires rather than work against them. Someone in a Venus dasha with Venus well posited in their chart would be ill-advised to attempt a vow of celibacy during that time. Better to wait until Ketu’s dasha rolls around, when non-attachment can come more naturally.

The junctures between dashas are called dasha-sandhi and are known to be turbulent times. They mark the end of one chapter of your life and beginning of another. And because the changing of dasha is something like the changing of the guard (The guard being a planet in this case) you might experience your life and yourself in an entirely different way on the other side of any given dasha. It is recommended not to make big life changes right at the end of a dasha, as both desires and external circumstances can shift dramatically once a new dasha begins.

I have seen this dasha-sandhi in operation many times and have just recently experienced it myself: I ended an 18 year Rahu dasha in August, to begin a Jupiter dasha. Even leading up to the end of the dasha it was fascinating to note all of the Jupiter elements that were entering my life (including a cabin, the first I’ve ever lived in, made of wood which is ruled by Jupiter and a helpful sound healing system—Jupiter is connected to sound through space) as well as a fairly dramatic shift internally. Rahu’s dasha tends to bring a host of anxiety and ‘problems’ since he is essentially a head without a body and tends to get wrapped up in worry. Jupiter, on the other hand, rules the space element and a strong Jupiter can give a feeling of ‘good space’ and a sense of being embodied (a stark contrast to Rahu’s dasha).

About a week into Jupiter’s dasha I suddenly got an offer to embark on another deep study in the Vedic Sciences (Jupiter is closely associated with the Vedic Sciences and in my chart directly associated with ‘teachings of the guru’) and move to a different state (Jupiter in my chart is associated with the 12th house of moving far away!). Neither of these things were an option or even on the table before I entered Jupiter’s dasha, so you can see why it would not be wise to make any major life changes right before the end of a dasha.

There are many many many other dasha systems outside of the Vimshottari dasha in the Vedic system which I am using as an example. There are dashas to examine soul-level desires and karma, when curses in a chart will become activated, when health events will be triggered and more. The weaving together of these creates the tapestry that is your life at any given moment—essentially a beautiful entanglement of karmic pushes and pulls that creates the human experience. Using a few dasha systems simultaneously (which not all Astrologers are capable of doing!) is like triangulating your location on a topographical map. One dasha alone may not be enough to adequately locate yourself, but two of three together can get you pretty well oriented.

And it is inside the broader context of these dashas that other elements of the chart can be examined, including transits. Just as the Yugas form the broader context for the state of humanity, dashas form the context for other astrological events and combinations.