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standing, authority and the father
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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% of the cycle
Sun (Surya) Mahadasha
6 years
Sun mahadasha runs 6 years and is read for standing, authority and the father. What it brings you depends on where the Sun sits in your kundli.
Sun mahadasha in the cycle
6 of 120 years. It follows Venus (20 years) and comes before the Moon (10 years). You are born into it if the Moon was in Krittika, Uttara Phalguni or Uttara Ashadha, the three nakshatras the Sun rules.
Ketu7y
Venus20y
Sun6y
Moon10y
Mars7y
Rahu18y
Jupiter16y
Saturn19y
Mercury17y
The nine antardashas
Each runs for 6 × its own lord’s years ÷ 120. The longest is Sun–Venus, the shortest Sun–Sun; together they make up the 6 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 52)
Each line is the text’s reading when the antardasha lord is well placed, and when it is not; your kundli decides which applies.
Surya (Sun) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives gains of wealth and of grain: a fuller income and a well-stocked home.
Hard: BPHS gives adverse results for this period and does not list them one by one.
Caution: BPHS counts this a maraka period (one the texts link with danger to life) when Surya rules your 2nd or 7th house.
Remedy: To ease these troubles and protect health, BPHS prescribes the Mahamrityunjaya japa, or the worship of Surya through his mantras and through charity.
BPHS 52.1–3Chandra (Moon) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives happy family occasions such as a marriage, gains of wealth and property, and the purchase of a house, land, livestock and vehicles.
Hard: BPHS warns of distress to spouse and children, failure in ventures, disputes with others, loss of servants or staff, friction with those in power, and loss of wealth and grain.
Caution: BPHS counts this a maraka period (one the texts link with danger to life) when Chandra rules a maraka house, your 2nd or 7th.
Remedy: For peace and comfort, BPHS prescribes giving a white cow and a she-buffalo in charity.
BPHS 52.4–14Mangal (Mars) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives gains of land, wealth and grain, and the purchase of a house.
Hard: BPHS warns of harshness in conduct, mental illness, risk of imprisonment, loss of relatives, disputes with brothers, and failure in ventures.
Caution: When Mangal rules your 2nd or 7th house (the maraka houses, which the texts link with danger to life), BPHS warns of illness of mind and body, and asks for care with health.
Remedy: For recovery of health, longer life and success in one's efforts, BPHS prescribes recitation of the Vedas, japa, and the Vrishotsarga rite (dedicating a bull), done in the prescribed manner.
BPHS 52.15–22Rahu antardasha
Goes well: BPHS says the troubles lift once the first two months are over, and gives enjoyment and comfort, good health, contentment, and favour from government and those in power.
Hard: BPHS warns of risk of imprisonment, loss of position, danger from thieves and snakes, injuries, loss of livestock, house and farmland, illness, gulma (a lump or swelling in the abdomen), and dysentery.
Caution: BPHS counts this a maraka period (one the texts link with danger to life) when Rahu sits in your 2nd or 7th house, or is joined with the lords of those houses.
Remedy: To ease these troubles, or to be spared them altogether, BPHS prescribes worship of Goddess Durga, japa, and giving a black cow or a she-buffalo in charity.
BPHS 52.23–31Guru (Jupiter) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives marriage, favour from government or those in power, gains of wealth and grain, the birth of a son, hopes fulfilled through the kindness of those in authority, and gains of clothes.
Hard: BPHS warns of distress to spouse and children, bodily pain, the displeasure of those in power, aims left unmet, loss of wealth through wrong deeds, and mental worry.
Caution: The verses name no danger to life (maraka) for this antardasha.
Remedy: To ease these troubles and to gain health and happiness, BPHS prescribes giving gold and a tawny (kapila) cow in charity, and the worship of one's Ishta Devata (chosen deity).
BPHS 52.32–39Shani (Saturn) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives victory over opponents, full enjoyment, some gain of grain, and happy occasions such as a marriage at home.
Hard: BPHS warns of rheumatism and aches, fever, a dysentery-like illness, risk of imprisonment, losses in ventures, loss of wealth, quarrels, and disputes with relatives who share the property and with other claimants.
Caution: BPHS counts this a maraka period (one the texts link with danger to life) when Shani rules your 2nd or 7th house.
Remedy: For relief, and for happiness and gains of wealth and property, BPHS prescribes giving a black cow, a buffalo and a goat in charity, and the Mahamrityunjaya japa.
BPHS 52.40–47Budh (Mercury) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives a rise to authority or a position of command, zeal and liveliness, happiness from spouse and children, a vehicle through the kindness of those in power, gains of clothes and ornaments, pilgrimage to holy places, and the gift of a cow.
Hard: BPHS warns of bodily distress, a troubled mind, and distress to spouse and children.
Caution: When Budh rules your 2nd or 7th house (the maraka houses, which the texts link with danger to life), BPHS warns of bodily pain and bouts of fever, and asks for care with health.
Remedy: For relief and to regain health and happiness, BPHS prescribes reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama and giving grain and a silver idol in charity.
BPHS 52.48–57Ketu antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives happiness from spouse and children, contentment, more friends, gains of clothes, and renown.
Hard: BPHS warns of bodily pain, mental anguish, loss of wealth, danger from those in power, and quarrels with relatives.
Caution: BPHS counts this a maraka period (one the texts link with danger to life) when Ketu sits in your 2nd or 7th house or is joined with the lords of those houses.
Remedy: For relief, BPHS prescribes reciting the mantras of Goddess Durga (the Shat Chandi path) and giving a goat in charity.
BPHS 52.58–64Shukra (Venus) antardasha
Goes well: BPHS gives marriage and the happiness hoped for from one's wife, gains of property, travel, meetings with learned Brahmins and with those in power, a rise to authority, riches, generosity and dignity, happy occasions at home, sweets on the table, pearls and other jewels, clothes, livestock, wealth, grain and vehicles, enthusiasm, and a good name.
Hard: BPHS warns of the displeasure of those in power, mental anguish, and distress to spouse and children.
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 and illness.
Remedy: For relief, BPHS prescribes the Mahamrityunjaya japa and Rudra japa, and giving a tawny cow or a she-buffalo in charity.
BPHS 52.65–73What Sun mahadasha is read for
What the tradition reads it for, and what decides it in a chart.
Decided by your chart
The houses the Sun 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 Sun (Surya) in each house and its upay.
Read for your chart
The dasha calculator finds when Sun 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 47.7–15)
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 Surya (Sun) at birth is in his own rashi or exaltation, in a kendra (the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house) or the 11th, or is joined with the lord of the 9th or the 10th, and is strong in his vargas (divisional charts), BPHS gives gain of wealth, great happiness and honours from the government in his dasha.BPHS 47.7–11
- When Surya is joined with the lord of the 5th house, BPHS gives the blessing of children.BPHS 47.7–11
- When Surya is joined with the lord of the 2nd house, BPHS gives wealth and valuable possessions of many kinds.BPHS 47.7–11
- When Surya is joined with the lord of the 4th house, BPHS gives the comfort of vehicles.BPHS 47.7–11
- When Surya is strong and well placed, BPHS gives a high post of command through the favour of those in power, happiness of every kind, and gains of clothes, farm produce, wealth, honour and vehicles.BPHS 47.7–11
When it is hard
- When Surya is in his debilitation rashi, is weak in the 6th, 8th or 12th house, or is joined with malefics or with the lord of the 6th, 8th or 12th, BPHS warns of anxiety, loss of wealth, punishment from the government, loss of good name, opposition from relatives, inauspicious events at home and ill-will with others for no reason, and asks for care for the father and for paternal and maternal uncles, who it says may face distress.BPHS 47.12–15
- When Surya is placed as above but receives the drishti (aspect) of benefic grahas, BPHS gives some favourable results at times.BPHS 47.12–15
- When malefic grahas cast their drishti (aspect) on Surya, BPHS says the results stay unfavourable throughout.BPHS 47.12–15
Upay in Sun mahadasha
Suggestions the tradition gives while the Sun’s period runs; your kundli says which apply.
What helps
- Wake up early and offer water to the rising Sun
- Recite Aditya Hridayam daily
- Respect and serve your father and father figures
- Practise Surya Namaskar (12 rounds) every morning
- Light a ghee lamp facing east on Sundays
What to keep clear of
- Avoid conflicts with authority figures
- Don't work against the government
- Avoid ego-driven decisions
Beej mantra and daan
The beej mantra is Surya’s seed sound, chanted with a count.
ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रौं सः सूर्याय नमः
Daan: wheat and jaggery, on Sunday
Sun mahadasha for each lagna
Whether Parashara counts the Sun good or hard for your lagna sets the tone of this period.
| Lagna | The Sun is (lord of) |
|---|---|
| Mesh (Aries) | Benefic 5th |
| Vrishabh (Taurus) | Benefic 4th |
| Mithun (Gemini) | Malefic 3rd |
| Kark (Cancer) | Maraka 2nd |
| Singh (Leo) | Benefic 1st |
| Kanya (Virgo) | Neutral— gives results by association (34.32) 12th |
| Tula (Libra) | Malefic 11th |
| Vrishchik (Scorpio) | Yogakaraka— as the verse names it, together with Chandra, the 9th lord (34.35–36) 10th |
| Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Benefic · Yoga— gives yoga together with Budh (34.38) 9th |
| Makar (Capricorn) | Neutral 8th |
| Kumbh (Aquarius) | Maraka 7th |
| Meen (Pisces) | Malefic 6th |
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 Sun mahadasha?
6 years, 5% of the 120-year cycle, divided into nine antardashas.
When does Sun mahadasha start?
From birth, if the Moon was in Krittika, Uttara Phalguni or Uttara Ashadha at birth; otherwise when Venus mahadasha ends. Whether it comes in your lifetime depends on which mahadasha was running when you were born.
Is Sun mahadasha good or bad?
Neither in general. It depends on the houses the Sun 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.
Find my dashaAsk Acharya Parashara
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