Ages of the Grahas

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Ernst Wilhelm

MATURATION AGES
Jupiter Matures at 16, the Sun at 21, the Moon at 24, Venus at 25, Mars at 28, Mercury at 32,
Saturn at 36, Rahu at 42 and Ketu at 48:

Jupiter 16 Mercury 32
Sun 21 Saturn 26
Moon 24 Rahu 42
Venus 25 Ketu 48
Mars 28

PERIODS OF THE GRAHAS

StNyaepÉaeg< ziznae vy> Sv< ÉaEmaSy iv*aÎznanujNm,

baEx< tu iz]aivixkalmahura mEwuneCDakuiltàv&iÄm!. 4.

stanyopabhogaà çaçino vayaù svaà bhaumasya vidyäddaçanänujanma,
baudhaà tu çikñävidhikälamähurä maithuneccäkulitapravåttim.

zaE³< yuvTv< ivixpUvRdœqòma mXymaÎevguraevRdiNt,

rvevRyae=xaRt! prmaNydSmat! saErejRraÊÉRgkalma÷>. 5.

çaukraà yuvatvaà vidhipürvadöañöamä madhyamäddevagurorvadanti
ravervayo'rdhät paramänyadasmät saurerjarädurbhagakälamähuù

“The Moon’s age is that of consuming milk, one should know that of Mars as the following of teeth
arising, and Mercury the time of learning lessons up to the beginning of sexual agitation. Venus is
youth which is known as that described previously, Jupiter is spoken as that of the middle, the Sun
runs from the half, and from the last great accomplishment is Saturn’s unfortunate time.”
Yavana Jataka of Sphujidhvaja: 39, 4-5

Life has its natural periods during which specific developments occur. Each of these periods is
ruled by one of the Grahas. There are different views in regards to just which age each Graha rules.
Amongst Sanskrit texts, the oldest available text that actually describes the ages of the Grahas is
Spujidhvaja’s Yavana Jataka, the Sutras of which have been given above. The descriptions given by
Yavana Jataka correlate with the specific ages given in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.

Aw ivà insgaRyu> oeqana< kwyaMyhm!,

cNÔar}isteJyakRznIna< ³mzaeBdka. 16.

atha vipra nisargäyuù kheöänäà kathayämyaham,
candrärajïasitejyärkaçanénäà kramaçobdakä.

@kÖy<knoa x&Ty> k«it> p<cazdev ih,

 jNmkalat! ³maj! }eya dzaZcEta insgRja>. 17.
ekadvayaàkanakhä dhåtyaù kåtiù païcäçadeva hi,
janmakälät kramäj jïeyä daçäçcaitä nisargajäù.

“Now, O’ Wise, I shall tell the natural life (Nisargayu) of the planets the Moon, Mars, Mercury,
Venus, Jupiter, the Sun and Saturn in seriatim; one, two, nine, twenty, eighteen, twenty and also fifty
from the time of birth; from that order is also known the Nisargaja (natural) Dasa.”
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: Longevity, 16-17

Moon – Infancy, Age 0 to 1

The Moon rules the period of infancy during which the child’s nourishment is dependent
upon milk and the period during which the child rapidly grows. This is the first year of life. During
this period the child is completly dependent and can do nothing by itself to resist the influence of its
environment. At this time the child is as yet unable to walk. Also during this first year the
consciousness gets more and more anchored in the body. During this important year the self-
consciousness of the child is thus developed in accordance with its environment and in accordance
with its physical well-being.
If the Moon is well situated in the horoscope, the first year is comfortable, the child is healthy,
the body grows to proper proportions and the environment is conducive to the child’s well-being
and happiness. All these things provide for a healthy self-consciousness and a good self-image that
will carry the person through the many difficulties of life that lie ahead.
If the Moon is poorly situated in the horoscope, the child will either suffer physically, suffer a
poor environment in which its needs will not be met, not grow and develop sufficiently or suffer
some other ill fate. Whichever the case may be, the self-consciousness will be developed
surrounding pain and suffering and thus the person will develop a pained self-image and an
uncomfortable mindset. As a result of this, fear, worry and anxiety will more easily invade the mind
throughout the remainder of their lives.

Mars – Teething, Age 1 to 3

Mars rules the period of teething, from the age of one to three, as well as the period of
during which the child learns to walk and run. With the gain of teeth and the ability to walk and run
the child can begin to fend for him or herself – they can at least walk or run away from danger and
live from regular food that needs to be chewed.
Following the develepment of the child’s consciousness through the Moon during the
previous two years, the child begins to assert that which is in its consciousness through Mars. This is
the difficult period for most parents when the child begins to become a handful; the “terrible twos.”
This can likewise be a frustrating period for a child during which they not only suffer the pain of
teething, but during which they often feel frustrated with their inabilities. Their consciousness
having been developed by the Moon becomes frustrated by their poor coordination, inability to
communicate and their inability to be understood. Also during this period the child begins to
become able and must therefore learn that which is acceptable behavior and that which is
unacceptable.
If Mars is well situated in the horoscope, the child shows patience and logically works
through that which it is attempting to do. This is the first step in it developing its abilities. Those
responsible for guiding the child will show patience and understanding while at the same time firmly
disallowing any unacceptable behaviour. This has the affect of the child learning his limits, what is
fair for it to do and what is not, without it being given cause to feel as a “good” or “bad” individual.
 If Mars is poorly situated in the horoscope, the child is impatient and easily frustrated.
Instead of trying to work things out, the child gets angry or whines. Those responsible for guiding
the child will be impatient, be perturbed by the child’s anger and whining and get angry and scold
the child in an ill and frustrated tone. The child will rebel, not learn its limits, feel bad and show little
desire to do what is acceptable.

Mercury – Learning, 3 to 12
Mercury rules the period of learning, skill development and rapidly developing coordination,
which correlates to the ages of three to twelve. This is the period during which education should be
commenced. It is not considered favorable to begin any structured or formal education before this
time, not even the learning of the alphabet. Until the age of Mercury, the child should learn only
what it picks up from observing its environment and that which it is able to logically understand
though its own motivation. Muhurta texts, in fact, state that education should not begin until the
fourth year, allowing the child one year to adjust to the new age.
The age of Mercury provides for the development of the child’s skills and interests. Games,
athletic sports and education are all important for the child during this period. During this period
the child also learns to communicate effectively, not only through speech but also through reading
and writing. Since Mercury is the manager, this is also the period of the child learning how to take
proper care of themselves and that which they own and to solve problems through the application
of their intelligence. The words used in the Sutra to describe Mercury’s age mean, “learning
rules/precepts,” and so the age of Mercury is also the age of learning to live by the rules and laws of
society.
If Mercury is well situated in the horoscope, the child pursues their interests, finds
enjoyment in learning, becomes coordinated and confident in using his or her body, developes
friendships based on mutual interests, communicates effectively and takes care of and improves him
or herself. They also take good care of and improve those things that they own or are responsible
for. They will show skill and intelligence and take interest in following the norms and conducts of
society.
If Mercury is poorly situated in the horoscope, the child will have lackluster interests, not
participate in those things that would hone their coordination, refuse to communicate, have no
desire to do anything productive and not develop healthy friendships. They may not show any
marked skills or intelligence, and if they do, they will not find happiness in pursuing them, though
they may pursue them for various ill or unhealthy reasons. There will be the tendency to break the
conducts and laws of society and problems such as petty thievery, vandalism and various types of
dishonesty may be apparent.

Venus – Passionate Youth, 12 to 32

Venus rules the passionate age of youth that begins with the onset of puberty and lasts until
the following age of recognizing and coming to terms with one’s purpose. During this period, the
fulfillment of simple physical and emotional needs is replaced by the need for intimacy and the
experience of passion. Most importantly, this is the period during which a person will begin to make
decisions that will have life-long ramifications. Decisions such as who they will be with sexually and
what type of career for which they will prepare. Physically, upon the onset of puberty, the body
begins to rapidly grow stronger until the full physical form of adulthood is reached. This is also the
period during which the body is at its strongest. After the age of 32, the strength of the body begins
to decline.
If Venus is well situated in the horoscope, the indivual makes sound decisions that provide
for their betterment and a productive future. They will make decisions to do what really is important
and worthwhile for them. The body will be healthy, strong and vital. If Venus is poorly situated in
the horoscope, the person may make decisions to involve themselves in ill relationships, addictive
substances and other such things which cause mental, emotional and physical harm and which
reduce their chances of having a productive and happy future. Oftentimes these unfortunate
decision have life-long repurcusions such as children before one is ready, drug destroyed minds and
nervous systems, weakened and malnourished bodies, etc. The simple weakness of Venus may cause
the individual to pursue things that are not the most fulfilling and thus they will have regrets later in
life over having not pursued what they really needed in order to feel fulfilled.

Jupiter – Middle of Productive Life, 32 to 50

Jupiter rules the period of joyfully fullfilling one’s duties, the primary child rearing years and
the age of mental maturity during which the individual begins to more realistically see their purpose
in the world. The challenges of child rearing and the mental maturity that grows during this period
helps one to realize and follow one’s ideals and goals and to walk the path in which one believes.
During this period the physical vigor of the body begins to decline and contentment is preferred
over excitement, though the mind becomes more active and able. If Jupiter is well situated in the
horoscope, the individual will pursue their life’s ambition with purpose, consistency, and
contentment. While doing so, they will enjoy the fullfillment of their other responsiblities, enjoy
their children and find happiness in the little things in life. If Jupiter is poorly situated, the individual
will feel first excited and then depressed about their life’s ambitions, or he will have such a great
need to fulfill their life’s ambitions that there is discontent or frustration with not having reached
their goals and the inability to enjoy the many good things that may be in their life. Children, in this
case, will also be experienced with great stress. Additionally, the decline of one’s pysical vigor and
charms will leave them depressed and unhappy on account of their not finding happiness in any of
their mental gifts.

Sun – Middle Age, 50 to 70

The Sun rules the begining of the second half of life – the middle-aged period during which
a person realizes their true greatness and the success of their abilities. This period follows the
primary child rearing years and so is a period of greater personal freedom. If the Sun is well situated
in the horoscope, this will be a period during which the person finds that what they have done
supports who they are and that they can do what they do with honesty and integrity. What they do
is, in fact, nothing more than the duty which is born of their innate nature. Alternately, if their earlier
years where very difficult or confined, this may be the period during which the individual will pursue
their inspirations with great vigor and very rapidly find success with them. In either case, this can
then be a period of true prestige during which one’s actions speak for themselves.
If the Sun is poorly situated in the horoscope, this will be a period during which the
individual finds their life lacking. Though they may have the time to do great things, they have not
lived a healthy life of individuality that would have prepared them to do their best with those things
that they have been inspired towards. Instead, they can only squander their time with trivialities,
such as gambling.

Saturn – Old Age, 70 to 120

Saturn rules the period of old age which begins upon the completion of a person’s last great
accompishment. This is the age of retirement and the age during which the physical body begins to
rapidly decay and during which death has its approach. This is the period of retreating from the
endless activities of the world to instead concentrate on spiritual affairs in preperation for death.
Occasionally, however, this is also a period when true greatness can shine in the person who has
lived his life in accordance with his innate nature and who has not lived a life of continual
compensation for their own inner lacks.
If Saturn is well situated in the horoscope, the person will be able to healthfully accept the
fact of a decaying body and eventual death. Though they may be at death’s door, they will keep on
living a life of inspiration and find happiness and contentment with the good things in their life. In
this case, they may well be the most productive and successful that they have been as they take
advantage of their long life of wisdom-granting experiences.
If Saturn is poorly situated in the horoscope, the person will be pained by fear and distracted
by their physical ailments. In desperation, they will hope for the happinesses that have avoided
them, while ignoring the good things in their life. They may become indifferent to life and learn
nothing or do nothing and only decay without growing personally or spiritually.

AGES AND DASAS

zzaˆ»ÉaEmENdvzu³jIvsUyaRk›puÇa vys> ³me[,

Aa jNmn> àa[É&ta< dzasu }eya ivÉage;u jrapmaNTya>. 3.

çaçäìkabhaumaindavaçukrajévasüryärkaputrä vayasaù krameëa,
ä janmanaù präëabhåtäà daçäsu jïeyä vibhägeñu jaräpamäntyäù.

“The ages in the order of the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, the Sun, and Saturn are to be
understood as supporting life in share with the Dasas from birth until the end of old age.”
Yavana Jataka of Sphujidhvaja: 39, 3

In Vedic Astrology, there are special planetary periods as well as Rasi periods that bring about
the events indicated in the horoscope. These periods are known as Dasas. In conjunction with the
various Dasas, there are the natural periods of the ages of the Grahas as mentioned. Brihat Parashara
Hora Shastra has, in fact, stated that these ages are a Dasa, a Dasa called Nisargaja “natural” Dasa.
These natural periods have a strong influence within the events indicated by the other Dasas. Even
if a Dasa is indicating favorable events, but the Graha ruling the age is afflicted, then life will not be
happy. If a Dasa is indicating unfavorable events, but the Graha ruling the age is well disposed, then
the individual will experience their life more positively than events would incline one to believe.
In the beginning of each age, noticeable changes occur. At the beginning of the Moon’s age, the
child is, or course, born. At the beginning of Mars’ age, the child begins to walk and consume
chewable food and changes in the personality are also marked. At the beginning of Mercury’s age,
communication and curiosity increase. At the beginning of Venus’ age, the body rapidly changes and
grows due to the onset of puberty and the behavior and personality also change dramatically on
account of increased hormone secretions. At the beginning of Jupiter’s age the individual gears
down to what is important in order to fully appreciate and find happiness with life. At the beginning
of the Sun’s age the individual will come to realize that their life has prepared them for a greater task
than they have as yet performed, or that they have squandered many of their talents and abilities, but
that they now have the chance and freedom to develop the parts of themselves that they are most
inspired towards. At the beinning of Saturn’s age the bodies vigor begins to noticeably decline and
having less physical energy to pursue the things of the world, the individual must naturally learn to
find the happiness that is available within themselves.
The middle of each age is the high point of the age. At six months, during the middle of the
Moon’s age, the child’s most rapid period of growth has occured. At two years, the middle of Mars’
age, is the time of greatest teething pain and the highest blind willfullness of the child. At seven and
a half years of age, the middle of Mercury’s age, communication reaches a high level and the most
commonly used intellectual skills such as reading, writing and basic arithmatics are fully useable. At
the age of twenty-two, the middle of Venus’ age, the body becomes fully grown and developed while
physical strength also becomes mature. Twenty-two is also the age where many individuals are ready
to get married or have a long term significant relationship. At the age of forty-one, the middle of
Jupiter’s age, the individual’s understanding of their life comes to a focus. If Jupiter is afflicted, their
life will be felt as quite meaningless and there will be a great effort to do to something to change the
meaningless face of their life. At the age of sixty, the middle of the Sun’s age, a person often reaches
the height of their inspirations. This is a crucial year during which an indiviudal will proceed to do
the greatest things yet or, if the Sun is afflicted, begin to retreat from their activities. At the age of
ninety-five, the middle of Saturn’s age, old age firmly sets in.

ïeóa dza Sve vyis ¢hSy

çreñöhä daçä sve vayasi grahasya...

“The best Dasa of a Graha is in its own age...”

Yavana Jataka of Sphujidhvaja: 39, 8

If the Dasa is indicating events that are in line with the natural developments of the Graha
ruling the age that the native is in, then the native will be able to most enjoy the Dasa and feel at
ease. This may happen when the Dasa lord is also the ruler of the age that the person is in. However,
any time the Dasa is indicating events of like nature as that of the Graha ruling the age, it indicates
an opportune period of life. If the Dasa indicates events that are contrary to the natural
development of the age that the native is in, then the period will be particularly unhappy or stressful
and the native will feel depressed or ill at ease. For example, if an individual in the age of Venus is
running a Dasa of isolation, then many of their personal needs and desires will not be met and
during the time when they should be looking at their options in life they will likely be retreating from
life.

EVALUATING GRAHAS IN THEIR AGES

The most important tool to examine the any age of a Graha are the Avasthas, particularly the
Lajjitaadi Avasthas.
Another effective tool for evaluating the Grahas in their ages is Shad Bala. Each of the six
individual Balas that form Shad Bala has something important to say about a Graha. If any of the
Graha’s individual Balas is weak, then the individual will experience difficulty in respect to the weak
Bala. Shad Bala is a vast subject, an extensive book of which is in the works.
If the lord of the age is in a Dusthana (the 6th, 8th or 12th) there will be difficulties towards
having the best age, though the age can be enjoyable if the Graha is in good Avasthas. If the lord of
the age is in an angle or trine, then there will be consistency and a smooth start towards having a
great age, as long as the Graha’s Avasthas are good.