In Kaliyuga the natural life span of a human being is generally taken as 120 years. Therefore, Vimshottari Dasa is considered to be the most appropriate and the best of all Dasas.
According to conception of Dasas in the Hindu system of Astrology the planets produce their effects in accordance with their dignities or indignities and benevolence or malevolence in their major periods (Dasas), sub-periods(Antar Dasas) or sub-sub periods (Pratyantar Dasas) etc.
Beginning from Krittika the lords of Dasas (periods) are the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter. Saturn, Mercury, Ketu and Venus in that order. Thus if the nakshatras from Krittika to the Janma Nakshatra (natal constellation) are divided by nine, the remainder will signify the lord of the commencing Dasa.
The periods Dasas of the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu and Venus are 6, 10, 7, 18, 16, 19, 17, 7 and 20 in that order.
Periods of Dasas
| Constellations / Stars | Dasa Lord | Dasa Period |
| Krittika, Uttarphalguni, and Uttarashada | Sun | 6 years |
| Rohini, Hasta, and Sravana | Moon | 10 years |
| Mrigasira, Chitra, and Dhanista | Mars | 7 years |
| Aridra, Swati, and Satabhisa | Rahu | 18 years |
| Punarvasu, Visakha, and Poorvabhadra | Jupiter | 16 years |
| Pushyami, Anuradha, and Uttarabhadra | Saturn | 19 years |
| Aslesha, Jyeshtha, and Revati | Mercury | 17 years |
| Makha, Moola, and Aswini | Ketu | 7 years |
| Poorvaphalguni, Poorvashada, and Bharani | Venus | 20 years |