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In short: The Moon mahadasha lasts ten years. It often brings home, family, the mother, emotional life and public connection to the foreground: moving house, starting a family, finding a community.
At a glance
| Length | 10 years |
| Comes after | Sun mahadasha |
| Comes before | Mars mahadasha |
| Born into it | those with the Moon in Rohini, Hasta or Shravana |
| First antardasha | Moon–Moon (10 months) |
What the Moon period tends to bring
The Moon signifies the mind, emotions, the mother, home and the public. Its period commonly brings changes of residence, emotional growth, family events, travel and popularity, with moods that reflect the Moon's brightness and placement.
When the Moon is strong, and when it is strained
The Moon is strongest when bright, in Taurus (exalted) or Cancer (own), in the 4th (directional strength), or with Jupiter. It is strained when dark, debilitated in Scorpio, or with Saturn, Rahu or Ketu.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Moon | 10 months | 0.83 |
| Mars | 7 months | 0.58 |
| Rahu | 1 year 6 months | 1.50 |
| Jupiter | 1 year 4 months | 1.33 |
| Saturn | 1 year 7 months | 1.58 |
| Mercury | 1 year 5 months | 1.42 |
| Ketu | 7 months | 0.58 |
| Venus | 1 year 8 months | 1.67 |
| Sun | 6 months | 0.50 |
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 the Moon rules for the ascendant — its period delivers those houses' matters. (See our ascendant pages for the Moon's lordship in each.)
- The house the Moon 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 the Moon — 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: emotional closeness and family; nurturing themes.
Work: public-facing, care, hospitality and food-related work often comes forward.
Wellbeing: rest, routine and emotional support. Not medical advice.
Traditional practices for the Moon period
Traditional practice for the Moon period includes Monday observances, worship of Shiva or the Goddess, charity of rice and milk, and care for one's mother. These are devotional practices, not guarantees.
FAQ
How long is the Moon mahadasha? 10 years in the Vimshottari system, though people born in it experience only the balance remaining at birth.
Which antardasha comes first? The Moon–Moon antardasha, lasting 10 months.
Is the Moon mahadasha emotional? Emotional and domestic themes are common; the Moon's strength sets the tone.
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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