Before moving on with the topic, let’s first get to know what a planetary Mahadasha according to Vedic astrology is and what is the significance of a planetary Mahadasha in the horoscope and life of a native. A planetary Mahadasha is called the running period or planetary period in English and there is mention of many types of dashas in Vedic astrology, some of which are known as Vimshottari dashas, Ashtottari dashas and Yogini dashas.
Vimshottari dasha system is the most popular system out of all these dashas. This system of Vimshottari dashas divides the planetary periods of navagraha within an overall time period of 120 years which is called a complete Vimshottari dasha cycle of navagraha in Vedic astrology. Among these 120 years, following years are assigned to Mahadashas called planetary periods of each planet in the cyclic order of their occurrence; one after the other:
Ketu Mahadasha : 7 Years
Venus Mahadasha : 20 Years
Sun Mahadasha : 6 Years
Moon Mahadasha : 10 Years
Mars Mahadasha : 7 Years
Rahu Mahadasha : 18 Years
Jupiter Mahadasha : 16 Years
Saturn Mahadasha : 19 Years
Mercury Mahadasha : 17 Years
According to this system, Venus Mahadasha follows Ketu Mahadasha and it remains active for 20 years, Sun Mahadasha follows Venus Mahadasha and it remains active for 6 years, Moon Mahadasha follows Sun Mahadasha for 10 years, Mars Mahadasha follows Moon Mahadasha for 7 years, Rahu Mahadasha follows Mars Mahadasha for 18 years, Jupiter Mahadasha follows Rahu Mahadasha for 16 years, Saturn Mahadasha follows Jupiter Mahadasha for 19 years, Mercury Mahadasha follows Saturn Mahadasha for 17 years, Ketu Mahadasha follows Mercury Mahadasha for 7 years and the cycle repeats itself again and again.
Sub periods of different planets called Antar dasha or Bhukti in Vedic astrology come within a mahadasha one after the other in the same cyclic pattern as mentioned above for mahadasha; with the sub period or antardasha of the lord of mahadasha starting first. It means that if Saturn mahadasha has started, the first antardasha or bhukti will be that of Saturn followed by the antardasha of Mercury and so on. Similarly there are three more dashas in this system, which are called Pratayntar dasha, Sookshma dasha and Pran dasha respectively in Vedic astrology.
The word Dasha simply means Period in English, where this period represents the period of time for which a dasha remains active. Vimshottari mahadasha has a five level structure where all the levels of this structure have been mentioned above, which are Mahadasha, Antardasha, Pratyantar dasha, Sookshma dasha and Pran Dasha in descending order. The smaller ones of these dashas come under the prior dashas which means that pratyantar dasha comes under antar dasha, sookshma dasha comes under pratyantar dasha and pran dasha comes under sookshma dasha.
All dashas follow the same pattern of starting first with the dasha of the planet which is in effect in the upper dasha and then moving on with dashas of the following planets in a sequence given in the already mentioned details. The initial period of mahadasha, antardasha and other dashas influencing a person at the time of his birth is calculated according to the presence of Moon in various nakshatras. This way, the dashas at the time of birth of a native are decided and then they follow the pattern mentioned above.
For example, at the start of Saturn Mahadasha, a native will be under the impact of Saturn Mahadasha, Saturn Antardasha, Saturn Pratyantar dasha, Saturn Sookshma dasha and Saturn Pran dasha. Since Pran dasha remains effective for the least duration of time, it changes first. For instance, in this example, Pran dasha remains active for about 7 days. Hence Pran dasha changes in 7 days and Mercury being the planet which comes after Saturn in this system, replaces the Pran dasha of Saturn whereas Saturn continues to remain active in the other 4 dashas.
Different planets among navagraha keep following one another in Pran dasha as per the given order and once all 9 planets have appeared in Pran dasha, the dasha superior to it, which means Sookshma dasha changes. Now Saturn is replaced by Mercury in Sookshma dasha whereas it remains active in the other three dashas which are superior to Sookshma dasha. The process repeats again and once all nine planets cast their influences in Sookshma dasha also, according to their predefined order of appearance, Saturn is replaced by Mercury in dasha superior to Sookshma dasha, which is Pratyantar dasha.
Once again the process repeats and once all nine planets have cast their influences in Pratyantar dasha also, according to their predefined order of appearance, Saturn is replaced by Mercury in dasha superior to Pratyantar dasha, which is Antardasha. This process works on the highest level also and once all nine planets have cast their influences in Antardasha according to their predefined order of appearance, Saturn is replaced by Mercury in dasha superior to Antardasha, which is Mahadasha.
This way, a 19 year period of Saturn Mahadasha is completed with all other planets taking their turns within the remaining four levels of this system, which are from Antardasha to Pran dasha. The Mahadasha of Mercury then follows and the process continues like this. At the time of birth of a native, the placement of Moon decides which Mahadasha as well as other dashas are in effect and the planetary periods follow from there on, in the pattern already explained.
For example, if a native is born with Moon in the first nakshatra called Ashwini and Moon is placed at the beginning of this nakshatra, the native is born under the Mahadasha of Ketu, and this Mahadasha has just started. It means the native will remain under the effect of Ketu mahadasha for about 7 years and he will then remain under the influence of Venus mahadasha for a period of 20 years, followed by Sun Mahadasha for 6 years and so on.
Moving on with the topic, some astrologers practicing in Vedic astrology believe that wearing gemstones corresponding to the planetary lords of running mahadashas are always suitable for all the natives.
For example, if a native is running under Saturn Mahadasha and Rahu Antardasha according to his horoscope, such astrologers may recommend a gemstone for Saturn and a gemstone for Rahu to such native as they believe that wearing gemstones for mahadasha lord and antardasha lord are always suitable for all natives.
However in actual practice, this theory is nothing but a misconception and the suitability of some particular gemstones for a native has got nothing to do with mahadasha or antardasha of various planets affecting that native. According to Vedic astrology, planetary mahadasha for each planet among navagraha is a time period during which the planetary lord of such mahadasha will be more active and stronger compared to when it is not in its mahadasha or antardasha. Hence the native is supposed to witness good or bad results related to the general and specific significances of that planet depending on the strength, working nature, level of activity and interaction of that planet with other planets in his horoscope.
It should be noted that mahadasha of a planet doesn’t change the working nature of that planet and it only increases the strength and level of activity of that planet. It means that a planet which is benefic for a native and which is running in its mahadasha is likely to bring many more benefic results to the native compared to the periods when it is not running under any dasha. Similarly, a planet which is malefic for a native and which is running in its mahadasha is likely to trouble the native with problems which may increase in number as well as in quantum. Hence mahadasha or antardasha can only change the strength and level of activity of a planet among navagraha and they can’t change benefic or malefic nature of a planet in the birth horoscope of a native.
Looking at this theory from the angle of karmic astrology, the planetary periods of benefic planets are the ones when the good karmas done by you in past lives as well as this life are allowed to fructify. Since they are good karmas, their fruits are naturally going to be good ones. Hence you may witness many types of good results related to many spheres of your life, depending on your overall horoscope and on the characteristics of such benefic planet which rules this planetary period. It should be noted that only a part of those good karmas may fructify during such a period, which have not fructified so far.
It means if you’ve engaged in a good karma related to the domain of Jupiter and you have also received the reward for that good karma whenever Jupiter appeared next in a planetary period, the account for this good karma is settled and you won’t be rewarded for this good karma again in this life or in the coming life. However, if you’ve engaged in a good karma related to the domain of Jupiter and you have not received the reward for that good karma in this life due to various reasons like due to the fact that Jupiter period may not have appeared in your life after committing such good karma, the fruit of this good karma is reserved for next life. This is why you may witness this fruit in the next life. Jupiter may be positive for you in the next life and you may run under its planetary period of 16 years, which may reward you with the fruits of good karmas done by you, related to the domain of Jupiter.
Similarly, the planetary periods of negative planets in your horoscopes are the ones which are supposed to give you the fruits of your bad karmas committed during this life or during your past lives. Hence you may witness many types of bad results related to many spheres of your life, depending on your overall horoscope and on the characteristics of such negative planet which rules this planetary period. It should be noted that only a part of those bad karmas may fructify during such a period, which have not fructified so far.
Looking at the role of gemstones in this scenario, the gemstones work like motors or boosters which may increase the speed of materialization of such karmas whether they are good or bad. It means that if the planetary period of a good planet is meant to bless you with the fruits of 50% of your good karmas related to this planet, wearing a gemstone for this planet may increase this percentage to 60, 70 or even to 80 percent. As a result, you’re likely to witness good results which may be more in number as well as higher in quantum.
On the other hand, if the planetary period of a negative planet is in effect and it is meant to give you the fruits of 50% of your bad karmas related to this planet, wearing a gemstone for this planet may increase this percentage to 60, 70 or even to 80 percent. As a result, you’re likely to witness bad results which may be more in number as well as higher in quantum. This is why you should not wear gemstones for your negative planets when their periods are in effect as doing so may provide more strength to the already strengthened negative planet.
This is the time to understand that gemstones don’t create new good or bad karmas for you and they only bring the fruits of pending good or bad karmas to you at an increased speed. According to the theory of karma, only a good or bad karma can bring a good or bad result. Since wearing a gemstone is not a good or a bad karma, it is not supposed to contribute to the account of good or bad karmas. A gemstone for a planet is actually like a booster which may bring the pending fruits of the karmas related to that planet whether such karmas as well as their results are good or bad, at an increased speed and quantum.
Hence you don’t create new good karmas merely by wearing the gemstone for a good planet; you simply get the fruits for the undecided good karmas for this planet at a faster pace. Similarly, you don’t create new bad karmas merely by wearing the gemstone for a bad planet; you simply get the fruits for the undecided bad karmas for this planet at a faster pace. This is why gemstones for good planets are recommended and gemstones for negative planets should be avoided.
A thought may cross your mind as to why should the gemstones belonging to positive planets be worn even, as they may empty the account of your good karmas at a faster pace. Such gemstones should be worn because more success and prosperity rendered by such gemstones give you better chances to engage in good karmas of increased quantum and hence you may benefit in the long run. Let me explain this fact with the help of an example and let’s assume a gemstone suggested for you increases your professional success and incomes.
Suppose you’re earning Rs. 50,000 before wearing this gemstone and accordingly, you’re making various donations of about Rs. 5000 per month. Wearing the gemstone for this planet increases your success and in a matter of a couple of years, you start earning more, let’s say Rs. 100,000. Though you’ve consumed your good karmas at a faster pace, you now have the chance to engage in fresh good karmas which may be even higher in quantum. I mean instead of donating Rs. 5000 per month, you may now donate Rs. 10,000 or even more, as you have more money and resources now.
Hence you’re not only consuming your good karmas at a faster pace, you also have a chance to create new good karmas at an even faster pace. It means you may actually end up creating more good karmas than the ones which are being fructified due to wearing this gemstone. On the other hand, with relatively fewer resources, you have the opportunity to create less good karmas through donations. For instance, with an income of Rs. 50,000 you may have family expenditure of Rs. 45,000 and you may only be able to spare Rs. 5000 for donations or charity work, if you wish to do so.
However, when your income rises to Rs. 100,000 per month by wearing a gemstone, you now have Rs. 55,000 left after family expenditures. Some of this extra income may be used to promote your living standard, some of it may be used for savings and some of it may be used to increase the amount of donations or charity work you engage in. This way, you’re actually able to live a better life, have more savings and the tally of your good karmas is actually increasing in quantum and it is not decreasing. Hence you have a chance to win on all of these fronts after wearing this gemstone.
It is the time to learn this valuable lesson that if you choose to wear a gemstone or more than one gemstone for positive planets in your horoscope, it comes with a responsibility. Though you’re very likely to witness better results in many spheres of your life, such results are only becoming better due to the expenditure of your good karmas at a faster pace. Since you’re now spending your savings at a faster pace, it becomes your duty to increase your earnings, which means you should engage in increased quantum of good karmas now.
This is why Vedic astrology features many other remedies like Poojas and donations through which fresh good karmas are created. A wise astrologer will not only recommend suitable gemstones for you, he will also ask to you to do other remedies in a way that you keep earning more good karmas compared to the ones which are fructifying. This way, you enjoy more by spending more good karmas and you’re still able to have even more good karmas as you’re earning them at an even faster rate. Hence be cautioned that the use of gemstones should always be accompanied with other remedies of Vedic astrology, which can help you create new good karmas so that you may start having better and better karmic equation with the passage of time.
Looking at the same example from the opposite angle, there is no doubt that even when you’re wearing a gemstone for a negative planet; it is only giving you the fruits of your bad karmas at a faster pace. It means that though you may suffer more, the number and quantum of your bad karmas is decreasing through such sufferings. However there is more to this equation and it is not this simple. Suppose your income drops to Rs. 25,000 per month after wearing the gemstone for a negative planet. In this situation, you may not be able to spare any amount for donation or charity work as you don’t have anything left after taking care of family expenditures.
Hence you’re suffering more, living a less resourceful life and at the same time, you don’t have sufficient resources to create fresh good karmas through charity work or through other means. Therefore, you’re actually at a loss in this situation as your net karmic account is not growing towards positivity. It is a simple fact that more resources give you more freedom of engaging in more good karmas, if you wish to do so. As a result, a very rich person may donate even 50% of his monthly income without facing financial difficulties as his income may be in millions per month.
On the other hand, a poor person may not be able to donate even 5% of his monthly income as he may not earn enough, even to meet his day to day needs. This is why money and resources lie at the top of this pyramid of fruits of good or bad karmas. Kindly understand this fact that when you have more money and resources, you have much better chances of creating more and more good karmas, if you have the desire to do so. Hence you may not only enjoy more, you may also secure a better and better future for you. On the other hand, you may not be able to create much good if you’re poor, despite having a strong will to do so. Hence resourceful people may not only enjoy more, they may even create more good karmas. This is why you should work towards becoming more resourceful and you should use any remedy possible, which can help you achieve this goal.
As you may have understood by now, how the gemstones belonging to the lords of the planetary periods may bring good as well as bad results for you, you may already know the conclusion of this discussion as well. Recommending gemstones based on the planetary mahadasha or antardasha of various planets is not a good idea and the astrologers doing so should stop this practice as doing so can harm some natives in very serious ways.
For example, if Saturn is malefic for a native according to his birth horoscope and Saturn mahadasha is in effect for the native, it simply means that such negative Saturn gains more strength and it becomes more active during such mahadasha. It means that such Saturn may start troubling the native with much more intensity and wearing the gemstone for Saturn in this situation is the last thing this native needs. This is because wearing a Blue Sapphire which is the gemstone for Saturn according to Vedic astrology will increase the strength of such already negative, stronger and more active Saturn. As a result, such malefic Saturn may start causing even more problems for the native.
Hence the practice of recommending and wearing gemstones on the basis of planetary mahadasha and antardasha should be avoided as some natives may have to go through serious problems after wearing the gemstones suggested this way. Gemstones should only be worn for benefic planets and gemstones for malefic planets should not be worn by any native as doing so may increase the strength of such malefic planets and they may start causing more damages and problems through their gemstones.
A planetary period is only an indicator of increased strength and increased level of activity of a planet among navagraha and it is by no means a measure of the working nature of such planet. Therefore, the mahadasha or antardasha of a planet among navagraha should not be made a criterion for recommending gemstones as doing so can bring disastrous results if the planets ruling such gemstones are malefic in the birth horoscopes of the natives wearing such gemstones.
Himanshu Shangari