Principles Governing the Mahadasha or Antaradasha of a Planet Involved in Conjunction or Yoga in Vedic Astrology

 In Jyotisha, Dasha is very crucial in determining what is actually happening in life at a given time or during a span of time. If we think about it, this is the foremost practical consideration in the life of a human being who has the Karma to bow before the Shastra for insight. 

When we consider Dasha, we must consider whether the lord of the Dasha, the Dashanatha, is alone or conjoined another Graha or Grahas. If there is a conjunction, and one proceeds to read the results only from the Dasha lord, literally, the understanding will go astray. The planet ruling the Mahadasha, and any others in the Bhava have to be arranged according to the level of beneficence or maleficence, and then the most benefic planet will give the results of the most malefic planet and vice versa; this will work in the case of multi-planet conjunctions starting from a three-planet conjunction. For example, if Mangala is joined Surya and Budha for Kanya Lagna then Budha Mahadasha,, which one might otherwise expect to be one of the finest periods in life, will be one of the most challenging because the results of Mars are likely to accrue. For one thing, Mangala is the most malefic planet in the conjunction and Budha is the most benefic. For another, Budha is the lord of Lagna and Mangala is the functional malefic ruling the 3rd and 8th Bhavas from the Lagna. 

In the case of a two-planet conjunction, the Dasha of one planet can generally be expected to give the results of the other, subject to the exceptions and particular situations mentioned in this article, amongst any others. In a four planet conjunction, the most benefic will give the results of the most malefic and vice verse with the remaining two planets also exchanging results. The disposition of a Graha to give good or bad results has to be carefully examined, and the natural status is only one important parameter.

Other subtleties will be learnt only with experience. For instance, if a malefic planet is conjoined an exalted benefic, the Mahadasha of the malefic is taken over by the exalted benefic but the benefic refuses to exchange His  own Antaradasha with the malefic planet whose Antaradasha starts the Mahadasha. Likewise, if a planet is very strong and His Dasha comes, then He may not allow another planet to give the results during His Dasha. Another higher facet to note is that Chandra rules all Antaradasha (of other planets) and if He is involved in a conjunction, He is unlikely to let another planet give results in His own Antaradasha. 

Natural significations of the Grahas have, in any case, to be kept in mind at all times. Let us assume a malefic planet such as Shani is joined a benefic such as Budha and Shani Mahadasha arrives. Let us further assume that Budha is in strength and while not as auspicious as for the Kanya Lagna example, is well-disposed to give very good results in the nativity. Now, what will actually transpire is that all kind of information-related work, money-related positivity, rationality, learning, connecting, trade and commerce, intellectual property, writing, reading, mercurial changes in life will bring delight to the individual. Where one may have expected unending troubles, obstacles, illness and all sorts of Karmic trials, the opposite will manifest. Other details can be important. For example, for someone in banking, if such a Dasha comes and Mercury is involved with the work or income, or with the Artha Trikona in general, the Dasha could completely transform life.  

However, subtleties are called that for a reason. During the first half of the Dasha, the malefic whose Dasha it actually is, will intrude by way of providing of context in terms of His natural significations and the delights and positives will manifest on a relatively lower plane than if the benefic was unconjoined and ruling the Mahadasha. If the individual has emerged from an adverse Dasha previously, he is unlikely to notice this unless it is brought to his attention. It is only during the second half of the Mahadasha of the malefic that the true gains will accrue, other factors being what they are. 

The principle remains the same but will vary in its application depending on specific facts that obtain. For example, if the individual is a professional and the planet or planets in question are unambiguously connected to the realm of work, then all this will occur in the professional context. Chandra, for example, assuming a strong planet taking over the Mahadasha of the conjoined malefic, will give arbitration in the case of a person involved with disputes, or in the chart of an advocate. In the horoscope of an academic, it could show a strong and conspicuous connect with the students or with a community. In the chart of a banker, say in private banking or investment banking, the ideas and offers of the bank could appear very attractive to a client or investor. If connected with the foreign element, there is a strong likelihood of international commercial arbitrations manifesting either in the horoscope of high-ranking personnel in a company, or of another professional connected with the array of transactions in some way. 

Similarly, for a layperson, Chandra, for example, can indicate victory in a family dispute and in the case of an advocate can indicate taking up family disputes of a scale and stature corresponding to the strength of the benefic planet. Other benefics and their role can be similarly understood. There are other possibilities for which some free play in the construing joints, so to speak, is essential to accurately determine the impact in objective reality. These can depend entirely on the configurations in question. 

It is a matter of pure destiny. If in a conjunction of the type discussed here, an individual commences the Dasha of a malefic, it is likely to be a very positive period though without this knowledge one would expect exactly the opposite. The Dasha of a benefic planet is to be feared in a conjunction because it will give the results of the malefic planet which is joined. 

Axes can also be formed unobtrusively between Grahas and only the knowledge of the relevant Yoga can give a clear picture. Sometimes an individual is moving from one Graha in the axis to another and if one of these is involved in a conjunction with either positive or negative implications, the experience in either Dasha will be something to remember and will give life some unforgettable experiences of either nature, depending. 

There are implications of this in crucial divisional charts but we can leave that facet for now. 

One should always be aware that the core Karma will be judged from the placement of the Graha from Udaya Lagna and its manifestation will be seen from the Arudha Lagna. Neither can be studied in isolation. Without the Udaya Lagna, there can be no Arudha and without the Arudha, there is no way to truly learn how Karma associated with a Dasha is manifesting. If a positive placement is equally well-reflected from the Arudha Lagna, then the impact of good Karma in the Prarabdha is there to be seen. 

Many learned people correctly observe that nobody is really bothered with the placement from the Lagna- how many people are close enough to an individual to truly know them. The placement from the Arudha Lagna yields a public image and perception and it is only in the manifest, visible world that things happen. Therefore, judging of a Mahadasha from the Arudha Lagna is vital. The Kendra Bhavas from the Arudha Lagna are most important and amongst them the 7th Bhava from the Arudha Lagna (AL) is most important. Important placements here can completely change life during the Mahadasha of the planet taking any conjunctions into account as aforesaid. 

It is easy to see the crucial importance of conjunctions or Yogas in Vedic astrology especially when the Mahadasha of a planet in the Yoga comes. These principles are necessary to decipher the results of the Mahadasha and also the Antaradasha barring exceptions, some of which have been mentioned above. Understandably, one would not at this stage involve the Atmakaraka in the mix, because He rules supreme and interpretations involving the AK have to proceed differently. 

(C) Anurag Sharma

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