Vimshottari dasha
Mars (Mangal) Mahadasha
7 years
Mars mahadasha runs 7 years in the Vimshottari cycle — seven years, like Ketu's — the shortest after the Sun's. It follows Moon mahadasha and is followed by Rahu; anyone born with the Moon in Mrigashira, Chitra or Dhanishta begins life in it.
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- Length
- 7 years
- Place in the cycle
- Moon → Mars → Rahu
- Nakshatras it rules
- Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta
- Antardashas
- 9
Mars mahadasha is the period of action: property, land, siblings, technical work and courage. Well placed, the texts read achievement, property and victory over rivals; afflicted, they link it to conflict, disputes over land, quarrels with siblings and a greater risk of injury.
Each antardasha lasts mahadasha years × its lord's years ÷ 120, in the order of the cycle starting with Mars 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars – Mars | 4m 27d | 0.41 | 4m 27d |
| Mars – Rahu | 1y 18d | 1.05 | 1y 5m 15d |
| Mars – Jupiter | 11m 6d | 0.93 | 2y 4m 21d |
| Mars – Saturn | 1y 1m 9d | 1.11 | 3y 6m |
| Mars – Mercury | 11m 27d | 0.99 | 4y 5m 27d |
| Mars – Ketu | 4m 27d | 0.41 | 4y 10m 24d |
| Mars – Venus | 1y 2m | 1.17 | 6y 24d |
| Mars – Sun | 4m 6d | 0.35 | 6y 5m |
| Mars – Moon | 7m | 0.58 | 7y |
A mahadasha brings the matters of the houses its lord rules. Which houses those are depends on the lagna:
| Lagna | Houses it rules | Classical role | Brings into focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries (Mesha) | 1st, 8th | Lagna lord — favourable wherever it sits | Personality & Health; Longevity & Sudden Change |
| Taurus (Vrishabha) | 7th, 12th | Dusthana lord — results come through effort | Marriage & Partner; Expenses & Foreign Lands |
| Gemini (Mithuna) | 6th, 11th | Dusthana lord — results come through effort | Enemies, Debt & Health; Income & Gains |
| Cancer (Karka) | 5th, 10th | Yogakaraka — rules a kendra and a trikona | Children & Intellect; Career & Status |
| Leo (Simha) | 4th, 9th | Yogakaraka — rules a kendra and a trikona | Home, Mother & Property; Fortune & Father |
| Virgo (Kanya) | 3rd, 8th | Dusthana lord — results come through effort | Courage & Siblings; Longevity & Sudden Change |
| Libra (Tula) | 2nd, 7th | Kendra lord — follows its placement | Wealth, Speech & Family; Marriage & Partner |
| Scorpio (Vrishchika) | 1st, 6th | Lagna lord — favourable wherever it sits | Personality & Health; Enemies, Debt & Health |
| Sagittarius (Dhanu) | 5th, 12th | Trikona lord — favourable | Children & Intellect; Expenses & Foreign Lands |
| Capricorn (Makara) | 4th, 11th | Lord of the 3rd or 11th — mixed | Home, Mother & Property; Income & Gains |
| Aquarius (Kumbha) | 3rd, 10th | Lord of the 3rd or 11th — mixed | Courage & Siblings; Career & Status |
| Pisces (Meena) | 2nd, 9th | Trikona lord — favourable | Wealth, Speech & Family; Fortune & Father |
- Mars in the 1st houseMars on the lagna puts drive, courage and a fighter's energy into the body and the temperament.
- Mars in the 2nd houseMars in the 2nd sharpens the tongue and speeds up spending: the texts warn of harsh words, family quarrels and money spent as fast as it is earned, with complaints of the teeth or face.
- Mars in the 3rd houseThe 3rd is an upachaya house where a malefic thrives, so the texts rate Mars highly here: courage, initiative, physical strength and victory over rivals.
- Mars in the 4th houseIn the house of home, mother and inner peace Mars is restless: the classical texts read disputes over land or property, friction at home, strain on the mother and an unsettled mind, and the 4th is one of the Mangal dosha houses.
- Mars in the 5th houseIn the house of children and intellect Mars gives a sharp, competitive mind and a taste for risk — and the classical texts are cautious about both: worries around children or childbirth, rash speculation and digestive heat.
- Mars in the 6th houseMars in the 6th fights and wins: in this upachaya house of enemies, disease and competition the texts give victory in disputes, a robust appetite and constitution, command over subordinates, and wealth and position gained by effort.
- Mars in the 7th houseThe 7th is the house most associated with Mangal (Kuja) dosha: the classical texts warn of heat in marriage — quarrels, a strong-willed or combative spouse, separations — and friction with business partners.
- Mars in the 8th houseIn the 8th house of sudden events and longevity Mars asks for care: the texts name injuries, operations and heat-related illness as its areas of strain, with friction over inheritance or joint money, and the 8th counts for Mangal dosha.
- Mars in the 9th houseIn the house of dharma and the father Mars brings a fighting faith: strong convictions, readiness to defend principles and a taste for adventure and long journeys.
- Mars in the 10th houseMars in the 10th is the commander's placement: it has full directional strength (dig bala) here, and the texts give authority, achievement through action and recognition for courage.
- Mars in the 11th houseMars in the 11th wins income by initiative: the texts describe gains through enterprise, land and property, courage, influential friends and ambitions fulfilled, with friction with elder siblings.
- Mars in the 12th houseIn the 12th house of expense and loss Mars spends energy and money quickly: the texts warn of hidden opponents, hospital visits or minor surgery, restless sleep and heat in married life — the 12th is counted for Mangal dosha.
- Chant the Mars mantra: Om Kraam Kreem Kraum Sah Bhaumaya Namah. Sit facing east after sunrise — Tuesday is the strongest day for it. Chant 3 malas a day (324 repetitions), keeping count on a 108-bead mala. Keep it up for 40 days without a break — that completes the traditional 10,000.
- Give a Mars donation. Give red lentils, jaggery, copper on Tuesday, before noon. Offer it to a soldier, sportsperson or younger brother, or to anyone in genuine need. Give quietly, in person, without expecting thanks.
- Daily practice for Mars. Plant a neem tree; be of service to your siblings. Keep it up every day for 40 days — consistency is the remedy.
Which mahadasha you are in, and when Mars 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 Mars mahadasha?
7 years, in the 120-year Vimshottari cycle.
What is the order of antardashas in Mars mahadasha?
Mars → Rahu → Jupiter → Saturn → Mercury → Ketu → Venus → Sun → Moon. The first is Mars's own (4m 27d).
Is Mars mahadasha good or bad?
It depends on Mars 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 Mars mahadasha?
Enter your birth date, time and place in the dasha calculator; it lists every mahadasha and antardasha with dates.