Mars Mahadasha
7 years in the Vimshottari cycle
Mars Mahadasha lasts 7 years. It is the fifth of nine dashas in the Vimshottari order, coming after Moon and before Rahu. Mars stands for energy, property, siblings and drive. It tends to reward action, competition and technical or physical work, and how patiently that energy is used matters as much as the energy itself.
Mars rules Aries and Scorpio, so the houses it rules shift with your Moon sign: the 1st and 8th houses for Aries Moon, the 4th and 9th houses for Leo Moon. For Cancer and Leo Moon, Mars is the yogakaraka, which tends to make this dasha more supportive. Each Mahadasha is split into nine Antardashas starting with Mars itself, and each one blends Mars with another planet.
Your Moon sign, the placement of Mars in your birth chart and current transits decide how this dasha plays out. Use the nine sub-period pages below, then pick your Moon sign for a version tailored to it.
Mars Mahadasha: the nine Antardashas, in order
Frequently asked
How long is Mars Mahadasha?
Mars Mahadasha lasts 7 years in the Vimshottari system, which runs on a 120-year cycle. It follows Moon Mahadasha and is followed by Rahu Mahadasha. When it starts depends on the Moon's position at your birth.
What are the Antardashas in Mars Mahadasha and how long is each?
There are nine, in order: Mars 4 months 27 days, Rahu 1 year 18 days, Jupiter 11 months 6 days, Saturn 1 year 1 month 9 days, Mercury 11 months 27 days, Ketu 4 months 27 days, Venus 1 year 2 months, Sun 4 months 6 days, Moon 7 months. Each length is the Mahadasha years × the sub-period planet's years ÷ 120.
Is Mars Mahadasha good or bad?
Neither on its own. Mars stands for energy, property, siblings and drive, and the result depends on the houses it rules for your Moon sign, its strength and placement in your chart, and transits. For Cancer and Leo Moon, Mars is the yogakaraka, which tends to make this dasha more supportive.
Does my Moon sign change Mars Mahadasha?
Yes. The Moon sign decides which houses Mars rules and so which life areas the dasha works through. Astrika reads natal chart, dasha and transit together before answering.