Vimshottari dasha
Ketu Mahadasha
7 years
Ketu mahadasha runs 7 years in the Vimshottari cycle — seven years, like Mars's — the shortest after the Sun's. It follows Mercury mahadasha and is followed by Venus; anyone born with the Moon in Ashwini, Magha or Mula begins life in it.
Ask an AI astrologer — about your own lagna, dasha and transits
- Length
- 7 years
- Place in the cycle
- Mercury → Ketu → Venus
- Nakshatras it rules
- Ashwini, Magha, Mula
- Antardashas
- 9
Ketu mahadasha is the period of detachment and inner work: sudden changes, losses that clear the way, spiritual interests, research and healing. Like Rahu it gives the results of its sign lord and of the house it occupies: supported, the texts read insight and freedom from what no longer serves; afflicted, they link it to confusion, separations and complaints that are hard to diagnose.
Each antardasha lasts mahadasha years × its lord's years ÷ 120, in the order of the cycle starting with Ketu itself. Lengths are shown as the traditional tables print them (12 months of 30 days); the dasha calculator dates every one exactly for a birth.
| Antardasha | Length | Years | Ends after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketu – Ketu | 4m 27d | 0.41 | 4m 27d |
| Ketu – Venus | 1y 2m | 1.17 | 1y 6m 27d |
| Ketu – Sun | 4m 6d | 0.35 | 1y 11m 3d |
| Ketu – Moon | 7m | 0.58 | 2y 6m 3d |
| Ketu – Mars | 4m 27d | 0.41 | 2y 11m |
| Ketu – Rahu | 1y 18d | 1.05 | 3y 11m 18d |
| Ketu – Jupiter | 11m 6d | 0.93 | 4y 10m 24d |
| Ketu – Saturn | 1y 1m 9d | 1.11 | 6y 3d |
| Ketu – Mercury | 11m 27d | 0.99 | 7y |
Ketu rules no sign, so its mahadasha brings the matters of the house it occupies and the results of its sign lord. Read the house it sits in for your chart:
- Ketu in the 1st houseKetu on the lagna gives a detached, introspective, sometimes mysterious personality: the classical texts read restlessness, uncertainty about identity and minor health complaints, and later texts add intuition and spiritual depth.
- Ketu in the 2nd houseKetu in the 2nd strips the house of display: speech is blunt or sparing, money is handled with detachment and family traditions feel distant, and the texts mention irregular wealth and complaints of the mouth, teeth or eyes.
- Ketu in the 3rd houseKetu in the 3rd turns courage inward: the classical texts count the house among Ketu's good ones — fearlessness, renown and success in whatever is attempted alone — but the effort is quiet and self-taught, and younger siblings can feel distant.
- Ketu in the 4th houseIn the 4th house of home and mother Ketu brings detachment: the classical texts read separation from the birthplace, an unusual relationship with the mother, unsettled property matters and inner restlessness.
- Ketu in the 5th houseIn the house of children, intellect and past merit Ketu is read cautiously about children — delays or worries — and about digestion, but it gives a sharp intuitive intellect and an aptitude for mantra, astrology and spiritual study.
- Ketu in the 6th houseKetu in the 6th cuts problems off at the root: the classical texts describe victory over enemies, freedom from debt, renown and a generous nature.
- Ketu in the 7th houseIn the house of marriage Ketu brings detachment into partnership: the classical texts read misunderstandings, distance or separations in marriage, a spouse who is spiritual, unusual or emotionally unavailable, and some difficulty with business partners.
- Ketu in the 8th houseKetu in the 8th is the seeker's placement: research, the occult, astrology and healing come naturally, and the texts credit it with insight into what others hide.
- Ketu in the 9th houseIn the house of dharma and the father Ketu questions belief: the classical texts read distance or difficulty with the father or teachers and a faith that departs from tradition, while also giving a philosophical, spiritual mind and an interest in pilgrimage.
- Ketu in the 10th houseIn the 10th house of career Ketu gives detached, specialised work: the classical texts read obstacles, changes of direction and indifference to status, while later practice sees success in technical, research, spiritual or healing work.
- Ketu in the 11th houseKetu in the 11th fulfils desires by loosening them: the classical texts give gains, wealth and ambitions met, while noting few close friends, distance from elder siblings and income from unusual sources.
- Ketu in the 12th houseIn the 12th house of release Ketu is the classic placement for spiritual inclination: later texts associate it with moksha, meditation and pilgrimage, while the older texts note expenditure and wandering.
- Chant the Ketu mantra: Om Sraam Sreem Sraum Sah Ketave Namah. Sit facing east after sunrise — Tuesday is the strongest day for it. Chant 4 malas a day (432 repetitions), keeping count on a 108-bead mala. Keep it up for 40 days without a break — that completes the traditional 17,000.
- Give a Ketu donation. Give horse gram, multicoloured cloth, blanket on Tuesday, before noon. Offer it to a sadhu, or feed a stray dog, or to anyone in genuine need. Give quietly, in person, without expecting thanks.
- Daily practice for Ketu. Care for dogs; keep faith in what you cannot yet see. Keep it up every day for 40 days — consistency is the remedy.
Which mahadasha you are in, and when Ketu mahadasha begins or ends for you, depends on the Moon's nakshatra at birth. The dasha calculator gives every period with dates.
Common questions
How long is Ketu mahadasha?
7 years, in the 120-year Vimshottari cycle.
What is the order of antardashas in Ketu mahadasha?
Ketu → Venus → Sun → Moon → Mars → Rahu → Jupiter → Saturn → Mercury. The first is Ketu's own (4m 27d).
Is Ketu mahadasha good or bad?
It depends on Ketu in your chart — the house it occupies, its sign, and which houses it rules for your lagna. The tables above show each of these.
How do I know if I am in Ketu mahadasha?
Enter your birth date, time and place in the dasha calculator; it lists every mahadasha and antardasha with dates.