Antardasha is the sub-period inside a Mahadasha in Vimshottari Dasha. The Mahadasha is the major chapter. The Antardasha is the shorter chapter running inside it. Daanyam calculates both from the Moon's nakshatra at birth, using the Lahiri ayanamsa. A planet's Mahadasha page explains the major chapter. It does not tell you which sub-period you are in.
Definition
Vimshottari divides life into nine Mahadashas whose lengths add to 120 years. Each Mahadasha is itself divided into Antardashas, also called bhuktis, ruled in the same planetary order. The first Antardasha of a Mahadasha is ruled by the Mahadasha lord. The calculator prints the pair that is running. This page does not publish all 81 combinations as separate articles.
How it works
The birth Moon's nakshatra chooses the opening Mahadasha and how much of it remains. That balance is not the same fact as the Antardasha running today.
Inside the running Mahadasha, the nine lords take turns as Antardasha lords. Their lengths are proportional to the Mahadasha years. The Dasha calculator returns the dates. This page does not.
The published golden records the Mahadasha lord at birth. It does not store the Antardasha lord, so this page does not invent one.
Reference
Mahadasha and Antardasha answer different questions. Neither one is a transit.
| Question | Where it is answered |
|---|---|
| What is a Mahadasha? | The major Vimshottari period. The Vimshottari guide and the nine period pages. |
| What is an Antardasha? | The sub-period inside that Mahadasha. This page, then the Dasha calculator for dates. |
| What is my current Antardasha? | Not this page. The Dasha calculator, from your date, time, and place. |
| Mahadasha versus transit | A different clock. See Dasha and transits. Sade Sati is not an Antardasha. |
Worked example
The birth Mahadasha lord below is the only period fact on the golden fixture. It is the major lord at birth for that one person. It is not their Antardasha, and it is not yours.
| Birth | Male, born 12 Aug 1995, 14:30 IST, Delhi |
|---|---|
| Date | 1995-08-12 |
| Time | 14:30 |
| Timezone | Asia/Kolkata |
| Lagna | Vrishchika (sidereal Scorpio) |
| Moon sign | Kumbha (sidereal Aquarius) |
| Moon nakshatra | Shatabhisha |
| Birth Mahadasha lord | Rahu |
| Lahiri ayanamsa | 23.798597° |
A common confusion
Searching a planet's Mahadasha page does not mean that planet's Antardasha is running. The page explains the chapter. Your pair of lords comes from the calculator.
Calculate it
The Dasha calculator returns the Mahadasha and the Antardasha together. Current Mahadasha opens that same calculation. This guide does not embed a form.
How the numbers are computed
The year lengths and the nakshatra start are the same engine facts as the Vimshottari guide. The method page records Lahiri.
Questions
What is Antardasha?
It is the sub-period inside a Vimshottari Mahadasha. Daanyam calculates it from the birth Moon's nakshatra with the Lahiri ayanamsa. The Dasha calculator prints the dates.
What is the difference between Mahadasha and Antardasha?
Mahadasha is the major period. Antardasha is the shorter period inside it. You are always in one of each. The calculator shows the pair. A planet page explains only the major chapter.
How many Antardashas are there?
Each of the nine Mahadashas contains nine Antardashas. Daanyam does not publish 81 separate pages for those pairs. One calculator covers them.