Narayana Dasha
Narayana Dasha is a very important rasi dasha in Vedic astrology. It is a phalita dasha, meaning it shows general results in a person's life. What makes Narayana Dasha particularly versatile is that it can be computed differently for different divisional charts, allowing astrologers to predict matters related to specific areas of life represented by those divisional charts.
Unlike planet-based dashas like Vimshothari or Ashtottari, Narayana Dasha is based on the progression of lagna (ascendant) in one's life. As one dasha ends and another starts, one rasi stops being the progressed lagna and another rasi becomes one's progressed lagna. Using the progressed lagna as the reference, we can determine the events that happen in that dasha.
This system essentially creates twelve charts for each person, with each chart applicable in one dasha period. Due to its complexity and versatility, Narayana Dasha requires careful attention to the details of calculation.
Dasha Seed and Progression
The calculation of Narayana Dasha begins with determining the "dasha seed" - the starting point for the dasha sequence:
- Determine the Dasha Seed: Dashas start from lagna or the 7th house, whichever is stronger. The stronger of these two is called the "dasha seed."
- Determine the Progression Type: The type of progression depends on the nature of the dasha
seed:
- Movable signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) are governed by Brahma and use regular progression (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.)
- Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are governed by Shiva and use 6th progression (count every 6th house)
- Dual signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) are governed by Vishnu and use trinal progression (1st, 5th, 9th, then 10th, 2nd, 6th, etc.)
- Determine the Direction: The direction of counting houses is based on the 9th house from
dasha seed:
- If the 9th house from dasha seed is an odd-footed sign (Ar, Ta, Ge, Li, Sc, Sg), the direction is forward
- If the 9th house from dasha seed is an even-footed sign (Cn, Le, Vi, Cp, Aq, Pi), the direction is backward
- Saturn Exception: If Saturn occupies the dasha seed, dasha progression becomes regular and zodiacal (forward direction using Brahma's progression)
- Ketu Exception: If Ketu occupies the dasha seed, the basic direction of dasha progression becomes reversed (from forward to backward or from backward to forward)
Examples of Dasha Progression
Example 1: Lagna in Taurus, Scorpio stronger
- Dasha seed is Scorpio (fixed sign, uses Shiva's 6th progression)
- 9th house from Scorpio is Cancer (even-footed sign, so direction is backward)
- Counting every 6th house backward: Scorpio, Gemini, Capricorn, Leo, Pisces, Libra, Taurus, Sagittarius, Cancer, Aquarius, Virgo, Aries
Example 2: Lagna in Pisces, Pisces stronger than Virgo
- Dasha seed is Pisces (dual sign, uses Vishnu's trinal progression)
- 9th house from Pisces is Scorpio (odd-footed sign, so direction is forward)
- Counting trines forward: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Aries, Leo, Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus, Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Example 3: Lagna in Cancer, Capricorn stronger
- Dasha seed is Capricorn (movable sign, uses Brahma's regular progression)
- 9th house from Capricorn is Virgo (even-footed sign, so direction is backward)
- Counting houses backward: Capricorn, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Libra, Virgo, Leo, Cancer, Gemini, Taurus, Aries, Pisces, Aquarius
Dasha Length Calculation
The length of each dasha is determined by the position of the lord of dasha rasi with respect to the dasha rasi itself:
- Determine Counting Direction:
- Counting is forward if dasha rasi is odd-footed (Ar, Ta, Ge, Li, Sc, Sg)
- Counting is backward if dasha rasi is even-footed (Cn, Le, Vi, Cp, Aq, Pi)
- Count Houses: Count houses from dasha rasi to its lord
- Calculate Length: Subtract one from the count. That gives dasha length in years
- If the dasha rasi contains its lord (count = 1), dasha length becomes 12 years
- If the lord of dasha rasi is exalted, add one year to dasha length
- If the lord of dasha rasi is debilitated, subtract one year from dasha length
Special Notes:
- If dasha rasi is Aquarius or Scorpio (which have two lords), take the stronger lord when computing Narayana Dasha
- After dashas of all the rasis are over, the second cycle starts. In the second cycle, dasha lengths are obtained by subtracting the dasha length in the first cycle from 12 years
Antardashas (Sub-Periods)
Each dasha is divided into 12 antardashas (sub-periods), with each antardasha having an equal length:
- Duration: If a dasha is of n years, then each antardasha in that dasha is for n months
- Starting Point: Antardashas start from the rasi containing the lord of dasha rasi or the rasi containing the lord of the 7th house from dasha rasi, whichever is stronger (called the "antardasa seed")
- Progression: From the antardasa seed, we take the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. houses
- Direction: The direction of counting houses is forward if the antardasa seed is an odd sign, and backward if it is an even sign
- If Saturn occupies antardasa seed rasi, antardashas go in the forward direction
- If Ketu occupies antardasa seed rasi, antardasa direction is reversed (from forward to backward or from backward to forward)
Interpretation of Narayana Dasha
Narayana Dasha gives the progression of lagna in life. During the dasha of a rasi, that rasi acts as lagna:
Key Principles
- Treat the dasha rasi or the 7th from it (based on whether dashas start from lagna or the 7th house) as lagna and analyze the chart
- The strength of the lord of dasha lagna is the key to interpreting a dasha
- Natural malefics in the 3rd and 6th from dasha lagna give success
- Natural benefics in trines and 8th from dasha lagna give happiness
- Planets in the 11th house from dasha lagna ensure gains
Additional Considerations
- Dasha of raajya pada (A10) gives success in career
- Dasha of upapada may bring marriage
- Dasha of GL may bring power
- Antardasas aspected by GL may bring promotions
- Antardasas aspecting upapada may bring marriage
Three-Part Division
Another approach is to divide each dasha into three equal parts:
- The rasi dominates in the first part
- Its lord dominates in the second part and gives his results
- Occupants of the rasi and those who aspect it dominate in the third part
Narayana Dasha of Divisional Charts
One of the most powerful features of Narayana Dasha is that it can be calculated for divisional charts to time events related to specific areas of life:
| Divisional Chart | Seed House | Prediction Areas |
|---|---|---|
| D-4 (Chaturthamsa) | 4th house | Residence, happiness from home, foreign stay |
| D-7 (Saptamsa) | 7th house | Children, progeny |
| D-9 (Navamsa) | 9th house | Marriage, marital life |
| D-10 (Dasamsa) | 10th house | Career, profession |
| D-12 (Dwadasamsa) | 12th house | Parents, lineage |
| D-24 (Chaturvimshamsa) | 12th house | Learning, education, knowledge |
Procedure for Divisional Charts:
- Find the seed house of the divisional chart (for D-n, it's the nth house; if n > 12, subtract multiples of 12)
- Take that house in the rasi chart
- Find its lord (take the stronger lord for Aquarius and Scorpio)
- Take the rasi occupied by this lord in the divisional chart as lagna
- Calculate Narayana Dasha using this as the reference point
Narayana Dasha is one of the most versatile dasha systems in Vedic astrology. Its unique approach of using the progression of lagna provides a different perspective compared to planet-based dasha systems like Vimshothari or Ashtottari. While the calculations may seem complex, the insights gained from this system can be invaluable for predicting major life events and understanding the changing influences throughout one's life.
For accurate predictions, it's recommended to use Narayana Dasha in conjunction with other dasha systems and predictive techniques. The system is particularly useful for analyzing divisional charts, as it can be applied to any divisional chart to predict matters related to that specific area of life.