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In short: The Mars mahadasha lasts seven years. It is often an active period: moves, property matters, new ventures, competition, sport or surgery, and situations that call for courage.
At a glance
| Length | 7 years |
| Comes after | Moon mahadasha |
| Comes before | Rahu mahadasha |
| Born into it | those with the Moon in Mrigashira, Chitra or Dhanishta |
| First antardasha | Mars–Mars (4 months 27 days) |
What the Mars period tends to bring
Mars signifies energy, courage, land, siblings and conflict. Its period commonly brings initiative, property transactions, technical or competitive work, and tests of temper and patience.
When Mars is strong, and when it is strained
Mars is strongest in Aries or Scorpio (own), Capricorn (exalted), in the 10th (directional strength), in the 3rd, 6th or 11th, and as yogakaraka for Cancer and Leo rising. It is strained when debilitated in Cancer or afflicted.
The nine antardashas
Each mahadasha is divided into nine sub-periods (antardashas or bhuktis), beginning with the mahadasha lord itself and following the Vimshottari order. Each antardasha lasts (mahadasha years × antardasha years) ÷ 120 years.
| Antardasha | Length (360-day years) | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Mars | 4 months 27 days | 0.41 |
| Rahu | 1 year 18 days | 1.05 |
| Jupiter | 11 months 6 days | 0.93 |
| Saturn | 1 year 1 month 9 days | 1.11 |
| Mercury | 11 months 27 days | 0.99 |
| Ketu | 4 months 27 days | 0.41 |
| Venus | 1 year 2 months | 1.17 |
| Sun | 4 months 6 days | 0.35 |
| Moon | 7 months | 0.58 |
How the chart changes it
A dasha brings forward whatever its planet promises in the individual chart. The main factors, in classical order of importance:
- The houses Mars rules for the ascendant — its period delivers those houses' matters. (See our ascendant pages for Mars's lordship in each.)
- The house Mars occupies — where in life the period is felt.
- Dignity — exalted, own sign, friendly, enemy or debilitated (with cancellation checked).
- Aspects and conjunctions — Jupiter's aspect protects; malefic association adds strain.
- The nakshatra lord of Mars — part of the results come through it.
- Navamsa and other divisional charts — D9 for overall strength, D10 for career.
- Transits — the period's events often coincide with Jupiter and Saturn transits over key points.
Relationships, work and wellbeing
Relationships: passion and friction; patience prevents quarrels.
Work: engineering, property, sport, the armed forces and enterprise.
Wellbeing: care with haste, heat and injuries. Not medical advice.
Traditional practices for the Mars period
Traditional practice for the Mars period includes Tuesday worship of Hanuman or Kartikeya, the Hanuman Chalisa, and charity of red lentils. These are devotional practices, not guarantees.
FAQ
How long is the Mars mahadasha? 7 years in the Vimshottari system, though people born in it experience only the balance remaining at birth.
Which antardasha comes first? The Mars–Mars antardasha, lasting 4 months 27 days.
Is the Mars mahadasha good for property? Mars signifies land, so property themes are common; its placement decides the outcome.
Sources
- Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, ch. 46–47 and the chapters on dasha effects (Santhanam)
- Phaladeepika of Mantreswara, ch. 19–20 (dashas)
Written by Sunyra Editorial. Astrology is a tradition of interpretation; read this as guidance, not a forecast. Disclaimer.
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