Sookshma and Prana Dashas

sanskrit: सूक्ष्मदशा (Sookshma Dasa) / प्राणदशा (Prana Dasa)

Definition

The Sookshma Dasa is the fourth and finer sub-division of the Vimsottari timeline, sitting just below the Pratyantara Dasa: each Pratyantara splits into nine Sookshmas, one for every graha (planet). The Prana Dasa is the fifth and finest level of all, sitting below the Sookshma and measured in ghatikas, palas and vipalas (small Indian units of time). Each Sookshma in turn splits into nine Pranas, one per planet, pinpointing timing within the planetary-period hierarchy.

In Tradition

Both BPHS (in Kapoor's translation) and the Uttara Kalamrita (in Sastri's translation) reach these finest sub-periods by the same arithmetic: you take a level's span, multiply it by the Dasa years of the graha in question, and divide by 120 to get the next, finer level. Both treat these levels as the tools for the most exact timing the system can give within a planetary period.

In Practice

A jyotishi (Vedic astrologer) reaches for these levels for fine-grained timing once the broader Mahadasa, Antardasa and Pratyantara Dasa are settled. In BPHS, the Sookshma Dasa of each graha holds the nine Prana Dasas, so a heading like "Rahu-Venus" means the Prana Dasa of Venus running inside the Sookshma Dasa of Rahu. You read the effect jointly from the Sookshma lord and the Prana lord, and from whether those two lords are benefic or malefic to each other. The Uttara Kalamrita gives the Sukshma duration in days, ghatikas and vighatikas. BPHS directs that you predict only after judiciously weighing all five levels together.

Historical Origin

These sub-periods are attested in the Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (Chapters 62-63, ascribed to Maharshi Parasara) in the translation of Gouri Shankar Kapoor, and in the Uttara Kalamrita (Chapter VI, ascribed to Kalidasa) in the translation of Prof. P. S. Sastri. The two diverge on how far the ladder descends: BPHS sets out both the Sookshma and the Prana levels, while the Uttara Kalamrita names the Sukshma as its finest division.

Further Reading

  • Maharshi Parasara, Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (BPHS), Ch.62 Sl.1-82
  • Maharshi Parasara, Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (BPHS), Ch.63 Sl.1-83
  • Kalidasa, Uttara Kalamrita, Ch.VI