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Yogini Dasha Calculator
Find your current yogini period — the 8-yogini, 36-year Vedic timing system that runs parallel to Vimshottari.
Lahiri ayanamsa · Swiss-grade ephemeris · Classical Kala / B.V. Raman tradition
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What is Yogini Dasha?
Yogini Dasha is an 8-period, 36-year Vedic timing system, named after eight yoginis — divine female forms — each associated with a ruling planet. It runs parallel to Vimshottari Dasha and is used as a secondary overlay in classical Vedic timing.
While Vimshottari (120 years) is the primary system most astrologers use, Yogini gives a finer timing read for shorter windows — its periods range from 1 to 8 years, more granular than Vimshottari's 6 to 20.
The 8 yoginis
Mangala (Moon, 1 yr) — auspicious, gentle. Nurturing themes.
Pingala (Sun, 2 yr) — visible, dignified. Authority and identity.
Dhanya (Jupiter, 3 yr) — fortunate, expansive. Wisdom and opportunity.
Bhramari (Mars, 4 yr) — restless, energetic. Action and courage.
Bhadrika (Mercury, 5 yr) — sharp, communicative. Intellect and trade.
Ulka (Saturn, 6 yr) — demanding, structural. Discipline and slow rebuilding.
Siddha (Venus, 7 yr) — benefic, refined. Beauty and relationship.
Sankata (Rahu, 8 yr) — turbulent, unconventional. Obsession and breaking patterns.
How the starting yogini is determined
The yogini cycle that opens at birth is determined by which group your birth nakshatra falls into. Nakshatras 1-3 (Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika) open with Mangala. Nakshatras 4-6 open with Pingala. And so on through Sankata, which covers the last six nakshatras (Shravana through Revati).
Once the starting yogini is set, the rest of the sequence follows in fixed order. The amount of the first yogini already elapsed at birth depends on how far the Moon had travelled through the birth nakshatra. Find yours in the Nakshatra Calculator.
Yogini vs Vimshottari — when to use which
Both systems are valid. Most Vedic astrologers use Vimshottari as the primary timing tool — it's longer (120 yrs), more nuanced, and has antardasha and pratyantar sub-layers that give very fine timing. Yogini sits alongside it as a secondary check. When the two systems agree on a theme, the timing is considered very strong. When they disagree, the Vimshottari read usually takes precedence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Yogini Dasha?
Yogini Dasha is an 8-period, 36-year Vedic timing system used alongside Vimshottari Dasha in some classical traditions. Each yogini is a divine female form associated with a planet, and each rules a specific number of years (1 to 8). The full cycle repeats roughly every 36 years.
How is Yogini Dasha different from Vimshottari?
Vimshottari is the 9-planet, 120-year cycle that most Vedic astrologers use as their primary timing tool. Yogini is shorter (36 years) and uses 8 yoginis instead of 9 planets. Many astrologers run both side-by-side — Vimshottari for the long arc, Yogini for the finer overlay. They confirm or modulate each other.
What are the 8 yoginis?
Mangala (Moon, 1yr), Pingala (Sun, 2yr), Dhanya (Jupiter, 3yr), Bhramari (Mars, 4yr), Bhadrika (Mercury, 5yr), Ulka (Saturn, 6yr), Siddha (Venus, 7yr), and Sankata (Rahu, 8yr). The years sum to 36. After Sankata, the cycle restarts with Mangala.
How is my starting yogini determined?
From your birth nakshatra. Nakshatras are grouped into 8 sets — each set is associated with one yogini. Once we know your janma nakshatra, the starting yogini follows automatically, and the rest of the sequence runs in fixed order.
Is Siddha yogini the best, and Sankata the worst?
Classical sources do treat them that way — Siddha (Venus) is considered the most benefic, Sankata (Rahu) the most challenging. But like all Vedic timing, the actual experience depends on how those planets sit in your natal chart. A well-placed Rahu can make a Sankata period generative; a poorly-placed Venus can make a Siddha period rocky.
How accurate is Yuktai's Yogini Dasha calculator?
We use astronomy-engine for precise sidereal Moon positioning with Lahiri ayanamsa, then apply the classical nakshatra-group rule for the starting yogini. The math matches what a traditional Vedic astrologer would compute. Note that several schools differ slightly on the nakshatra-group boundaries — we use the most widely-cited Kala / B.V. Raman convention.
Should I use Yogini Dasha or Vimshottari?
Both. Vimshottari is the primary system — start there. Yogini is a secondary overlay that gives a different angle, especially on shorter time windows (since its periods are 1-8 years, vs Vimshottari's 6-20). Reading them together is the classical practice.
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