Shodashottari Dasha Construction
To understand this Dasha system, we must study and root our understanding in the depictions of Devi Shodashi. This will help us with the context behind the couple of shlokas that rishi Parashara shares. He probably assumes that we already know this before reading these shlokas and is merely documenting the values and order.
framework of Devi Shodashi
In this depiction, Devi (placed on Maha-Bhairava) is held up by the 4 Murtis or Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Ishana. In the Shaiva and Shakta traditions, these Murtis are symbolic of the emanation of the Gunas from Devi that when interacting with the Shiva Tattva (Consciousness, Purusha) form the basis of the manifested creation. These 4 Gunas as the Sattva, Rajas, Tamas and NirGuna (without Gunas).
In the Vaishnava or the Pancharatra tradition, these are the Avyakta Vāsudēva, or NirGuna, and the Vyakta Vāsudēva, that has the Gunas of Sattva [Vishnu], Rajas [Brahma] and Tamas [Maheshvara] and who’s interaction with Vāsudēva, is manifesting as Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha respectively.
This interaction of the Gunas with undifferentiated consciousness is due to and is encapsulated by Time. This quality of Time and its shakti is personified and symbolized as Kali Devi. The graha in our solar system that is associated with Kali Devi is Saturn. And thus, it is Saturn that is the Karaka of this Dasha system.
In our solar system, the outer planets are the source of the manifestation of the Gunas and their relationship are given as
Vishnu: Sattva: Jupiter
Brahma: Rajas: Mars
Maheshwara: Tamas: Saturn
These Gunas have to be experienced by the Jiva-atmas on our planet though the inner planets [see article for derivation of Inner and Outer Planets]
Vishnu: Sattva: Moon
Brahma: Rajas: Mercury
Maheshwara: Tamas: Ketu
The Nirguna Ishana is represented by the remaining two grahas; Sun and Venus who are the experiencers of this maya that is stemming from the Gunas. This highlights for us that in essence the Param-atma (Sun) and the Jiva-atma (Venus) are by nature Nir-Guna.
Given that the applicability of the Dasha system as given by Parashara Muni is based on the Hora at birth, this grouping of grahas is confirmed by the understanding how the Horas for the day are calculated. Starting with the hora lord of the day, the 12 divisions of the daytime are progressed by the 6th graha in the Vara chakra order giving us the flowing sequence
This order and the groupings of the grahas confirm that the application of the Dasha is based on the time of birth being in the specific hora duration of the day and not of the division on the Rashi.
Decoding the Order of Grahas
The order is based on how these Gunas are manifested in our solar system
When entering the solar system from outside, we encounter Saturn [Maheshwara]. Saturn is the generator of the Tamas in the solar system.
This is followed by Jupiter [Vishnu]. Jupiter is the generator of the Sattva Guna in the system
And finally, Mars [Brahma], where Mars is the generator of the Rajas Guna in the system
Leading to the final Guna, the Nirguna Sun [Ishana], representing the Param-atma.
Giving us the Guna generation or emanation order from the Param-atma’s perspective
Sun > Mars> Jupiter > Saturn.
The consumption or the application of the Gunas are mapped in the same order with
Venus > Mercury > Moon > Ketu
These are now joined together where the consumption is mirroring the emanation order giving us
Sun > Mars> Jupiter > Saturn | Ketu < Moon < Mercury < Venus
Note: these are not the natural associations of Gunas to Graha that we employ in standard chart analysis. This is a description of how the Gunas are manifested and applied into our solar system.
Primary Equations of the Dasha
Saturn as the Karaka is setting the root number of 29 based on its orbital time in earth years. This gives us the following combinations of Pairs
Brahma [Rajas]
Mars + Mercury = 29
Vishnu [Sattva]
Jupiter + Moon = 29
Maheshwara [Tamas]
Saturn + Ketu = 29
Ishana [Nir Guna]
Sun + Venus = 29
This is depicted in the image of Devi Shodashi as a balance of Brahma and Vishnu on one side [58 Years] and Maheshwara and Ishana [58 Years] on the other side. Each leg of the cot is held up with the same strength of 29 years each. Thus, the 4 pairs of 29 years each gives us a total of 116 years for this Dasha system.
Just as we saw in the Vimshottari dasha system, the inner and outer planets were splitting the total years to 60 years each. Here again we can employ the same principle of conservation of energy where the Inner Planets contribute to 60 years as
Sun + Moon + Venus + Ketu = 60
And the outer planets also contribute to 60 years as
Rahu + Mars + Jupiter + Saturn + Mercury = 60
However, as we do not have Rahu in this Dasha system, we can subtract the natural number for Rahu, 4 from the total as
Mars + Jupiter + Saturn + Mercury = 56
|| ॐ गुरवे नमः ||
Complete the SHodashottari Dasha Series
Fundamentals of the design of the Shodashottari Dasha System and decoding the order of planets based on the knowledge encrypted in the depictions of Devi Shodashi