Ketu Mahadasha: Duration, Antardashas and Remedies
Ketu (केतु) mahadasha lasts 7 years and is the 1st period in the 120-year Vimshottari cycle, after Mercury and before Venus. Find the exact dates of yours below.
Ketu mahadasha at a glance
| Length | 7 years |
|---|---|
| Nakshatras ruled | Ashwini, Magha, Mula |
| Nature | Spiritual liberation / Detachment |
| Element | Earth |
| Governs | spirituality, moksha, detachment, occult, past life karma |
| Body parts | Head, Stomach (during illness) |
| Day · colour · gemstone | N/A (observes Tuesday) · Grey / Smoky · Cat's Eye |
| Deity | Ketu |
Antardashas inside Ketu mahadasha
Each antardasha lasts (mahadasha years × antardasha lord's years) ÷ 120. The sub-periods begin with Ketu itself and follow the Vimshottari order.
| Antardasha | Length | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Ketu–Ketu | 0 yrs 4 mo 27 d | 0 yrs 4 mo 27 d |
| Ketu–Venus | 1 yr 2 mo 0 d | 1 yr 6 mo 27 d |
| Ketu–Sun | 0 yrs 4 mo 6 d | 1 yr 11 mo 3 d |
| Ketu–Moon | 0 yrs 6 mo 30 d | 2 yrs 6 mo 2 d |
| Ketu–Mars | 0 yrs 4 mo 27 d | 2 yrs 10 mo 30 d |
| Ketu–Rahu | 1 yr 0 mo 19 d | 3 yrs 11 mo 18 d |
| Ketu–Jupiter | 0 yrs 11 mo 6 d | 4 yrs 10 mo 25 d |
| Ketu–Saturn | 1 yr 1 mo 10 d | 6 yrs 0 mo 3 d |
| Ketu–Mercury | 0 yrs 11 mo 27 d | 7 yrs 0 mo 0 d |
At what age does Ketu mahadasha run?
It depends on the dasha you were born into, which is set by your birth nakshatra's lord. Because the Moon's exact position decides how much of that first dasha was left at birth, the start is a range:
| Born in a nakshatra ruled by | Ketu mahadasha starts at age | Ends at age |
|---|---|---|
| Ketu | From birth | 0–7 |
| Venus | 93–113 | 100–120 |
| Sun | 87–93 | 94–100 |
| Moon | 77–87 | 84–94 |
| Mars | 70–77 | 77–84 |
| Rahu | 52–70 | 59–77 |
| Jupiter | 36–52 | 43–59 |
| Saturn | 17–36 | 24–43 |
| Mercury | 0–17 | 7–24 |
Ages are approximate ranges; the calculator above gives your exact dates. Windows starting after about age 100 are omitted.
Traditional remedies for Ketu mahadasha
The remedies below are the practices recorded for Ketu in this site's classical-source catalogue. They are devotional disciplines, not guarantees.
Mantras
- Om Ketave Namaha — Chant 108 times daily for 40 consecutive days
- Ketu Beej Mantra — Chant 108 times on Tuesdays
- Ganesha Atharvashirsha — Recite on Tuesdays (Atharva Veda)
Fasting
- Fast on Tuesdays — eat only khichdi (rice + moong dal)
- Eat only vegetarian, sattvic food on the fast day
Donations
- Donate grey cloth, sesame, or blankets
- Give food to dogs or stray animals
- Donate to spiritual or ashram organizations
Full vidhi, mantra text and step-by-step puja: Ketu remedies and mantra guide. For remedies matched to your own chart and life concerns, use the remedy finder.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Ketu mahadasha?
Ketu mahadasha lasts 7 years in the Vimshottari dasha system, which totals 120 years. It follows Mercury mahadasha and is followed by Venus mahadasha.
Which birth nakshatras start with Ketu mahadasha?
Ashwini, Magha, Mula are ruled by Ketu. If your Moon was in one of them at birth, your life began in Ketu mahadasha, with part of its 7 years already elapsed.
What is the first antardasha of Ketu mahadasha?
Ketu–Ketu: every mahadasha begins with the antardasha of its own lord (0 yrs 4 mo 27 d here), followed by the other eight planets in Vimshottari order.
Is Ketu mahadasha good or bad?
There is no single answer. Classical texts read a mahadasha from the planet's sign, house, aspects and the houses it rules in your own chart, and from the running antardasha. This page gives the timing; the planet's general significations are listed above.
How do I find out when my Ketu mahadasha starts and ends?
Enter your birth date, time and place in the calculator on this page. It gives your exact mahadasha and antardasha dates from the Moon's position at birth.