Using the Horoscope of Nikolai Gumilev as an Example

To understand how planetary periods are calculated, let’s look at a real chart—that of Russian poet Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilev.

🌓 Step 1: Locate the Moon

In Gumilev’s birth chart, the Moon is at 26°46’ Leo (Simha), which places it firmly within the Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra.

📍Uttara Phalguni spans from 23°40’ Leo to 10°00’ Virgo.

So, at 26°46’, the Moon is situated within the body of the nakshatra, not at its beginning or end.

🔱 Step 2: Identify the Planetary Ruler of the Nakshatra

Every nakshatra is ruled by one of the nine planets (Navagraha).

The ruler of Uttara Phalguni is the Sun (Surya).

Thus, the first Mahadasha in Gumilev’s life is ruled by the Sun.

But—because the Moon is not at the very beginning of the nakshatra—the Sun’s Mahadasha won’t be experienced in full.

⏳ Step 3: Determine the Length of the Sun’s Dasha

The Sun’s total Mahadasha lasts 6 years, or 2,160 days in Vimshottari terms.

In Jyotish, we use a Vedic solar year of 360 days, where 1 month equals 30 days. This makes calculations simpler and more aligned with cosmic rhythm.

🧮 Step 4: Calculate the Remaining Days

Since the Moon is already partway through the nakshatra, we calculate how far along it is, and how many degrees remain before it exits Uttara Phalguni.

Once we know the percentage of the nakshatra that remains, we apply that same percentage to the Sun’s 6-year Mahadasha, to know how many days (or years) of the Sun’s influence are still left to experience.