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In short: The Sun mahadasha lasts six years, the shortest of the nine. It often brings questions of authority, visibility, responsibility and the father to the fore: promotions, leadership, standing on one's own.
At a glance
| Length | 6 years |
| Comes after | Venus mahadasha |
| Comes before | Moon mahadasha |
| Born into it | those with the Moon in Krittika, Uttara Phalguni or Uttara Ashadha |
| First antardasha | Sun–Sun (3 months 18 days) |
What the Sun period tends to bring
The Sun signifies the self, authority, government, the father and vitality. Its period commonly brings recognition or tests of authority, dealings with government or superiors, focus on health and vitality, and matters concerning the father.
When the Sun is strong, and when it is strained
The Sun is strongest in Aries (exalted), Leo (own), in the 10th (directional strength), and as a trine lord. It is strained when debilitated in Libra, with Saturn or Rahu, or ruling difficult houses.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3 months 18 days | 0.30 |
| Moon | 6 months | 0.50 |
| Mars | 4 months 6 days | 0.35 |
| Rahu | 10 months 24 days | 0.90 |
| Jupiter | 9 months 18 days | 0.80 |
| Saturn | 11 months 12 days | 0.95 |
| Mercury | 10 months 6 days | 0.85 |
| Ketu | 4 months 6 days | 0.35 |
| Venus | 1 year | 1.00 |
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 Sun rules for the ascendant — its period delivers those houses' matters. (See our ascendant pages for the Sun's lordship in each.)
- The house the Sun 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 Sun — 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: pride and authority are themes; sharing the stage helps.
Work: leadership, government, administration and visibility.
Wellbeing: vitality, the heart and eyes are traditional associations. Not medical advice.
Traditional practices for the Sun period
Traditional practice for the Sun period includes offering water to the rising Sun, the Gayatri mantra or Aditya Hridayam, and respect toward one's father. These are devotional practices, not guarantees.
FAQ
How long is the Sun mahadasha? 6 years in the Vimshottari system, though people born in it experience only the balance remaining at birth.
Which antardasha comes first? The Sun–Sun antardasha, lasting 3 months 18 days.
Is the Sun mahadasha good for career? Often it brings career and authority themes forward; the Sun's placement decides how.
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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