Vedic Astrology Lesson 34 - Directional Influences

Nothing happens by itself.  Everything happens by Cause.  The    Universal Law of  Cause & Effect, the Law of Retribution, the Law of  Nemesis, the Law of  Action & Reaction is the grand Law of Causation,   known to the philosophers as the Universal Law of Karma. Who can  transcend   the Universal Law ?

           The system in VA which corresponds to this Universal Law is called the Dasa System, which is made up of planetary periods and subperiods and which extends to 120 years. Dasa is translated as the  period of directional influence of the ruling planet. Inevitable  effects are to be judged   from Dasa ( Dasa  prabhedena Vichinthayeth Dridam).  Astrology  is   based  on this  Universal Law  of Cause and Effect .

          In his   ignorance, Man  transgresses  the  eternal  Laws of  Nature  & wonders  when   her inexorable penalties are exacted. There is a mathematical law behind this physical Universe, which is conditioned in  Space, Time &  Causality. All  events  are  connected   by   Time,  all  places  are connected by Space & all effects are connected by Cause in the  Space-Time-Causality  equation.

          Planets have got  dualistic role  and  always the  negative  aspect of the ruling planet must be taken into consideration & divine remedial measures  must  be  resorted  to  overcome  the  minus points of  the Dasa ruler.

           Philosophically Dasa represents the Prarabda Karma (the inevitable punishment imparted by Nature for a deed done with malice aforethought ) of the native  and the ineluctable  effects he/she has to undergo during the planet's reign. 

           There are many Dasa systems,  the prominent  among them  being  Vimshottari   Dasa System.   Vimshottari means  120 and this is a 120 year cycle. Every planet is given a period in sequential order of stars in the Sidereal Zodiac. For instance, South Node ( Ketu ) is assigned a period of 7 years & the South Node rules the first constellation Beta Arietis (Aswini ). The ruler of the next constellation of 41  Arietis  ( Bharani ), Venus, gets 20 years. Sun gets 6 years,  Moon 10, Mars 7, North Node ( Rahu ) 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19 & Mercury 17. This 120 year system  is the most widely used. There are other systems like the Kala Chakra Dasa System, based on the Signs of the Sidereal Zodiac, which are also used.

           There is a rule that if the Moon's  Navamsa  dispositor is strong, the Kala Chakra Dasa should be used. ( Kala Chakra Dasagneyam Chandramsheshe Balanvithe ). If not, the 120 year cycle or  Vimshotthari can be be used.

            There are many astrologers who base their predictions on other systems of predictions. There are actually 3 major systems of prediction in V  A.

1) The Vimshottari or Udu Dasa System of 120 years.

2) The Transit of Gochara System based on Planetary Transits.

3) The Ashtakavarga System.

            The Transit influences are always subordinate  to  the  Directional   influences.  This  is exemplified by the statement " Dasa Prabhedena Vichinthayeth Dridam "  ( Dasa deals with ineluctable effects ). Transit influences are caused by non-Prarabdha Karma ( Dridadridam cha Ashtakavarga Gocharai ).

             The accumulated Karma of the individual is called Sanchitha Karma.  The  Karma which is about to come is called Agami and the Karma for which inevitable punishment is necessary  is called Prarabda  Karma. It is this Prarabda Karma, which needs ineluctable punishment, which is represented by Dasa or the Planetary Period of Directional Influence.  

             In order to know whether a  Dasa is beneficial or not, one should study the strength of the Dasa ruler. If the Dasa ruler is a functional benefic ( owner of a trine or angle ) in the chart &  if he be well posited, one can surmise that the directional influences will be benefic. If on the other hand, the Dasa ruler is a functional malefic and badly positioned in the natal chart,   the directional influences can be very adverse indeed.   Aspects from other planets should also be  considered. Planets in cuspal degree are devoid of strength. So are combust planets and planets weak in the Navamsa chart. It is always better to know the strength of the planet via Shad Bala ( the  sixfold source of planetary strength ) and apply the principle " Balavan Ishtam Kuruthe,  Balaheeeno Viparya ". ( a powerful planet will do only good and weak planet will do harm ).

             The balance Dasa at the time of birth is ascertained by observing the longitude of the Moon and the distance traversed by the Moon in that particular constellation. If the Moon has traversed, say 75%, the balance 25% will be the dasa balance at birth.  A constellation is 800 minutes or 13 degrees 20 minutes of arc. For example, if the Star is Pushya ruled by Saturn and if the Moon has traversed 600 minutes of arc in the 800 minutes of Pushya, the balance Dasa can be calculated by the formula

Balance Dasa at birth = 19 years of Saturn Dasa * (800-600)/800

Vimshottari  Dasa in Natal Astrology 

Planet                                   Years 

Trisphuta Dasa in Horary Astrology 

As important as Vimshottari  is to Natal Astrology,  so is   Trisphuta   Dasa to Horary Astrology. The Ascendant rules Life, the Moon the Body &  Gulika , the satellite of Saturn, Death. The sum of these 3 longitudes is called the Triune Longitude or  Trisphuta.  Since Horary Astrology deals only the the current effects for one year, the span of Trisphuta  Dasa is one Year. In Horary Astrology, the numbers assigned to the planets in terms of years is multiplied by 3 to get days ruled by the planet. So Sun gets 18 days, Venus 60 days, Moon 30 days, Mars 21 days, Rahu 54 days, Jupiter 48 days , Saturn 57 days, Mercury 51 days, Ketu 21 days etc. Here, instead of the longitude of the Moon, the longitude of Trisphuta ( Triune Longitude ) should be taken into consideration.

Balance Dasa at Birth = 57 days of Saturn Dasa * (800-600)/800  

Planet                                      Days