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effort, property and disputes
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Today’s panchangall five angas with exact timesTithithe lunar day, and when it endsNakshatrathe Moon’s position todayHorathe planetary hour, all twenty-fourRahu Kaalthe time to avoid starting new workChoghadiyaday and night, each split into eightFestivalsDiwali, Holi and 81 more, with the rule behind each dateVratEkadashi with parana, Purnima, Amavasya, Pradosh
5.8% of the cycle
Mars (Mangal) Mahadasha
7 years
Mars mahadasha runs 7 years and is read for effort, property and disputes. What it brings you depends on where Mars sits in your kundli.
Mars mahadasha in the cycle
7 of 120 years. It follows the Moon (10 years) and comes before Rahu (18 years). You are born into it if the Moon was in Mrigashira, Chitra or Dhanishta, the three nakshatras Mars rules.
Ketu7y
Venus20y
Sun6y
Moon10y
Mars7y
Rahu18y
Jupiter16y
Saturn19y
Mercury17y
The nine antardashas
Each runs for 7 × its own lord’s years ÷ 120. The longest is Mars–Venus, the shortest Mars–Sun; together they make up the 7 years.
A dasha year here is 365.25 days, the common modern convention; a panchang using a 360-day year will give slightly different dates, in the same ratio. Each length is rounded to the day.
As Parashara reads them (BPHS chapter 54)
Each line is the text’s reading when the antardasha lord is well placed, and when it is not; your kundli decides which applies.
Mangal (Mars) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives gains of wealth through the kindness of those in power, the grace of Goddess Lakshmi, the return of a lost position and of lost wealth, and the birth of a son.
Hard: BPHS warns of urinary trouble, injuries, and danger from snakes and from those in power.
Caution: When Mangal rules your 2nd or 7th house (the maraka houses, which the texts link with danger to life), BPHS warns of mental anguish and bodily pain, and asks for care with health.
Remedy: For relief, BPHS prescribes Rudra japa and giving a red bull in charity; it says Lord Shiva then restores health and brings wealth and happiness.
BPHS 54.1–8Rahu antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives recognition from government, gains of a house and land, happiness from a son, unusual profits in business, bathing in holy rivers such as the Ganga, and journeys abroad.
Hard: BPHS warns of danger from snakes, injuries, loss of livestock, danger from animals, illness from an imbalance of pitta and vata (bile and wind), and risk of imprisonment.
Caution: When Rahu sits in your 2nd house, BPHS warns of loss of wealth.
Remedy: For relief and for long life, BPHS prescribes Naga puja, offering food to Brahmins, and the Mahamrityunjaya japa.
BPHS 54.9–14Guru (Jupiter) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives a good name and renown, honours from government, more wealth and grain, happiness at home, gains of property, and happiness from spouse and children.
Hard: BPHS warns of danger from thieves and snakes, the anger of those in power, bilious (pitta) illness, trouble from spirits (preta badha), loss of servants, and loss touching brothers and sisters.
Caution: When Guru rules your 2nd house (a maraka house, one the texts link with danger to life), BPHS warns of fever or of danger of untimely death, and asks for care with health.
Remedy: For relief, BPHS prescribes reciting the Shiva Sahasranama.
BPHS 54.15–22Shani (Saturn) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives recognition from those in power, a growing reputation, gains of wealth and grain, happiness from children and grandchildren, and more cattle.
Hard: BPHS warns of trouble from foreign authorities, loss of wealth, risk of imprisonment, likely illness, and poor harvests.
Caution: BPHS counts this a grave maraka period (one the texts link with danger to life) when Shani rules your 2nd or 7th house and is joined with malefic grahas.
Remedy: For relief through the grace of Lord Shiva, BPHS prescribes the Mahamrityunjaya japa, done in the prescribed manner.
BPHS 54.23–35Budh (Mercury) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives the company of pious and holy people, the practice of Ajapa japa (the silent repetition carried on the breath), charity, religious observances, a good name, a bent for diplomacy, sweets, gains of vehicles, clothes and livestock, a post of authority close to those in power, and success in farming.
Hard: BPHS warns of heart disease, risk of imprisonment, loss of relatives, distress to spouse and children, and loss of wealth and livestock.
Caution: When Budh rules your 2nd or 7th house (the maraka houses, which the texts link with danger to life), BPHS warns of the possibility of serious illness, and asks for care with health.
Remedy: For relief, BPHS prescribes reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama and giving a horse in charity.
BPHS 54.36–47Ketu antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives the kindness of those in power, gains of wealth and of land, the birth of a son, authority given by government, and gains of livestock.
Hard: BPHS warns of quarrels, tooth trouble, distress from thieves and wild animals, fever, dysentery, a skin disease (the text names leprosy), and distress to spouse and children.
Caution: When Ketu sits in your 2nd or 7th house (the maraka houses, which the texts link with danger to life), BPHS warns of illness, disgrace, anguish and loss of wealth, and asks for care.
These verses give no remedy of their own for it; Ketu’s everyday upay are on its page.
BPHS 54.48–54Shukra (Venus) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives a rise to authority or a position of command, great enjoyment and the comfort of luxuries, and gains of vehicles and clothes.
Hard: BPHS warns of sorrow, bodily distress, loss of wealth, danger from thieves and from those in power, discord in the family, distress to spouse and children, and loss of livestock.
Caution: When Shukra rules your 2nd or 7th house (the maraka houses, which the texts link with danger to life), BPHS warns of bodily pain in this antardasha, and asks for care with health.
Remedy: To regain good health, BPHS prescribes giving a cow or a she-buffalo in charity.
BPHS 54.55–63Surya (Sun) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives gains of vehicles, a good name, the birth of a son, growing wealth, harmony in the family, sound health, vigour, recognition from those in power, unusual profits in business, and an audience with those in authority.
Hard: BPHS warns of bodily distress, anguish, failure in ventures, and possible trouble in the forehead, fever and dysentery.
Caution: When Surya rules your 2nd or 7th house (the maraka houses, which the texts link with danger to life), BPHS warns of fever, danger from snakes and poison, and distress to a son, and asks for care.
Remedy: To regain good health and wealth, BPHS prescribes the worship of Surya in the prescribed manner.
BPHS 54.64–69Chandra (Moon) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives greater authority, gains of perfumes and clothes, the building of water tanks and shelters for cows, happy occasions such as a marriage, happiness for spouse and children, good relations with parents, property through the kindness of those in power, and success in planned projects. These come in full if Chandra is waxing (gaining light towards Purnima); a waning Chandra lessens them somewhat.
Hard: BPHS warns of distress to spouse and children, loss of land, wealth and livestock, the danger of conflict, and danger to life.
Caution: BPHS counts this a maraka period (one the texts link with danger to life) when Chandra rules your 2nd or 7th house.
Remedy: For relief, BPHS prescribes reciting the mantras of Goddess Durga and Goddess Lakshmi.
BPHS 54.70–76What Mars mahadasha is read for
What the tradition reads it for, and what decides it in a chart.
Decided by your chart
The houses Mars rules in your kundli, the house it sits in and its strength there. In a kendra (the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house) or a trikona (the 1st, 5th or 9th), strong in its own rashi, it tends to give good results; in the 6th, 8th or 12th it asks for care. See Mars (Mangal) in each house and its upay.
Read for your chart
The dasha calculator finds when Mars mahadasha falls in your life and reads it, and each of its antardashas, for your chart. Find my dasha.
What Parashara says of this mahadasha (BPHS 47.27–33)
His readings come with conditions: where the dasha lord sits in your kundli, and what it joins. The old text speaks of a man; it applies to anyone.
When it goes well
- When Mangal (Mars) is exalted, in his mooltrikona (his root sign of strength) or own rashi, or is strong in a kendra (the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house), the 11th or the 2nd, is in a benefic navamsha (the ninth-part division), and is joined with a benefic, BPHS gives a rise to authority, with a high administrative or political post, wealth and land, and recognition from the government; wealth from abroad; vehicles and ornaments; and happiness and good relations with brothers and sisters.BPHS 47.27–32
- When a strong Mangal is in a kendra or in the 3rd house, BPHS gives wealth earned through courage and effort, victory over opponents, and happiness from spouse and children, and adds that some unfavourable results are possible towards the end of the dasha.BPHS 47.27–32
When it is hard
- When Mangal is in his debilitation rashi, is weak, sits in an inauspicious house, or is joined with or aspected by malefics, BPHS warns of loss of wealth, distress and similar unfavourable results in his dasha.BPHS 47.33
Upay in Mars mahadasha
Suggestions the tradition gives while Mars’s period runs; your kundli says which apply.
What helps
- Recite Hanuman Chalisa daily
- Visit a Hanuman temple on Tuesdays
- Exercise regularly
- Help siblings and younger people
- Offer sindoor to Hanuman
What to keep clear of
- Control anger and aggression
- Avoid unnecessary conflicts
- Don't be reckless with property matters
Beej mantra and daan
The beej mantra is Mangal’s seed sound, chanted with a count.
ॐ क्रां क्रीं क्रौं सः भौमाय नमः
Daan: red lentils and jaggery, on Tuesday
Mars mahadasha for each lagna
Whether Parashara counts Mars good or hard for your lagna sets the tone of this period.
| Lagna | Mars is (lord of) |
|---|---|
| Mesh (Aries) | Benefic 1st and 8th |
| Vrishabh (Taurus) | Maraka 7th and 12th |
| Mithun (Gemini) | Malefic 6th and 11th |
| Kark (Cancer) | Yogakaraka 5th and 10th |
| Singh (Leo) | Yogakaraka 4th and 9th |
| Kanya (Virgo) | Malefic 3rd and 8th |
| Tula (Libra) | Malefic · Maraka 2nd and 7th |
| Vrishchik (Scorpio) | Neutral 1st and 6th |
| Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Benefic 5th and 12th |
| Makar (Capricorn) | Malefic · Maraka— lord of the 4th and 11th, not the 2nd or 7th; the verse names it a killer all the same (34.39–40) 4th and 11th |
| Kumbh (Aquarius) | Malefic · Maraka— lord of the 3rd and 10th, not the 2nd or 7th; the verse names it a killer all the same (34.41–42) 3rd and 10th |
| Meen (Pisces) | Benefic · Yoga— gives yoga together with Guru (34.44)— also named a killer, though not one who kills on his own (34.44) 2nd and 9th |
The labels, from Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, chapter 34:
- Yogakaraka: the strongest graha a lagna can have: the one Parashara names as bringing yoga, or the one lord of both a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) and a trikona (1st, 5th, 9th) (34.13)
- Benefic, Malefic, Neutral: works for the lagna; brings its harder matters; neither
- Lagna lord: the lagna’s own graha, where the verse calls it neither good nor hard
- Maraka: a killer Parashara names for the lagna, watched for health and longevity; printed alone, or after another label. It is not always the lord of the 2nd or 7th: where it differs, the line under it gives the verse
- · Yoga: one of two grahas he says give yoga together for this lagna
All nine mahadashas
Common questions
How long is Mars mahadasha?
7 years, 5.8% of the 120-year cycle, divided into nine antardashas.
When does Mars mahadasha start?
From birth, if the Moon was in Mrigashira, Chitra or Dhanishta at birth; otherwise when Moon mahadasha ends. Whether it comes in your lifetime depends on which mahadasha was running when you were born.
Is Mars mahadasha good or bad?
Neither in general. It depends on the houses Mars rules and occupies in your chart and its strength there; the calculator reads it for yours.
Which dasha you are running is a fact about your chart.
It follows from the Moon’s nakshatra at your birth. Enter your birth details and the whole 120-year timeline comes with it, each period read for your chart.
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