Saturn Mahadasha
19 years in the Vimshottari cycle
Saturn Mahadasha lasts 19 years. It is the eighth of nine dashas in the Vimshottari order, coming after Jupiter and before Mercury. Saturn stands for discipline, delay, labour and long-term effort. It tends to reward steady work, structure and responsibility, and progress is often slower and more earned than in other dashas.
Saturn rules Capricorn and Aquarius, so the houses it rules shift with your Moon sign: the 10th and 11th houses for Aries Moon, the 6th and 7th houses for Leo Moon. For Taurus and Libra Moon, Saturn is the yogakaraka, which tends to make this dasha more supportive. Each Mahadasha is split into nine Antardashas starting with Saturn itself, and each one blends Saturn with another planet.
Your Moon sign, the placement of Saturn 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.
Saturn Mahadasha: the nine Antardashas, in order
Frequently asked
How long is Saturn Mahadasha?
Saturn Mahadasha lasts 19 years in the Vimshottari system, which runs on a 120-year cycle. It follows Jupiter Mahadasha and is followed by Mercury Mahadasha. When it starts depends on the Moon's position at your birth.
What are the Antardashas in Saturn Mahadasha and how long is each?
There are nine, in order: Saturn 3 years 3 days, Mercury 2 years 8 months 9 days, Ketu 1 year 1 month 9 days, Venus 3 years 2 months, Sun 11 months 12 days, Moon 1 year 7 months, Mars 1 year 1 month 9 days, Rahu 2 years 10 months 6 days, Jupiter 2 years 6 months 12 days. Each length is the Mahadasha years × the sub-period planet's years ÷ 120.
Is Saturn Mahadasha good or bad?
Neither on its own. Saturn stands for discipline, delay, labour and long-term effort, and the result depends on the houses it rules for your Moon sign, its strength and placement in your chart, and transits. For Taurus and Libra Moon, Saturn is the yogakaraka, which tends to make this dasha more supportive.
Does my Moon sign change Saturn Mahadasha?
Yes. The Moon sign decides which houses Saturn rules and so which life areas the dasha works through. Astrika reads natal chart, dasha and transit together before answering.