What is Chara dasha?
Chara dasha is the best-known timing system of Jaimini astrology. Instead of planets, it runs through the twelve signs, each for a set number of years, and each period lights up the area of life that sign rules for you (counted as a house from your lagna).
How the periods are calculated
This calculator follows the method taught by K. N. Rao:
- The dasha starts from the lagna sign. It runs forward through the zodiac when the 9th house is an odd-footed sign (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius) and backward when it is even-footed.
- A sign's years are counted from the sign to its lord (forward for odd-footed signs, backward for even-footed), less one. When the lord sits in the sign itself, the sign gets 12 years.
- Scorpio and Aquarius have two lords (Mars and Ketu, Saturn and Rahu); the stronger one is used.
- After the first cycle, the second gives each sign 12 years minus its first period.
Reading your periods
A period tends to bring the themes of its sign's house: the 7th house sign for partnership, the 10th for career. Jaimini astrologers read it together with the karakas and Arudha padas, and confirm events with the planetary dashas.
See how it fits with the rest of Jaimini's system in our Jaimini chapter, or check your Vimshottari dasha alongside.
Questions people ask
What is Jaimini Chara dasha?
Chara dasha is the sign-based timing system of Jaimini astrology: each of the twelve signs runs for a set number of years, and each period brings out the life area that sign rules from your lagna.
How are Chara dasha years calculated?
Count from the sign to its lord, forward for odd-footed signs and backward for even-footed ones, and take one less. If the lord is in the sign itself, the period is 12 years.
Which method does this calculator use?
It follows K. N. Rao's method: starting from the lagna, in zodiac order or in reverse depending on whether the 9th house is odd- or even-footed.