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I won't work with Chara or Naaraayan Dashaa any more and I cannot recommend it, but everybody has the liberty to draw his own and perhaps different conclusions.

Chara or Naaraayan Dashaa
[BPHS, Ch. 46, 6-11]
O Brahmin! Some Maharishi have made a mention of Kaal and Chakra Dashaa, but they have recognized the Kaal Chakra Dashaa, as supreme. The other kinds of Dashaa, propagated by the sages, are Chara, Sthir, Kendra, Kaarak, Brahm Graha, Mandook, Shool, Yogaardh, Drig, Trikon, Raashi, Panch-swar, Yoginee, Pind, Naisargik, Asht-Varga, Sandhyaa, Paachak, Taaraa etc. But in our view all these Dashaa are not appropriate.

[Note by Revati: Parashara states that all the 'other kind of Dashaa' (almost all Raashi Dashaa!) - except Chakra and Varnad Dashaa - are not 'appropriate' in his view. Nevertheless he explains them in chapter 46.]

[Jaimini Sutras, Adhyaaya 1, Pad 1]
SU. 25. In all odd signs the counting must be in the right direction.

SU. 26. In even signs the counting must be in the reverse order.

SU. 27. In some places or signs this does not apply.

SU. 28. Many of the writers are of opinion, that the Raashi Dashaa (period of the sign) extends over such number of years which are counted from the Raashi to the place where its Lord is located.

SU. 34. Divide Raashi Dashaas by 12 and distribute the same to the 12 Raashi in proportion to the Raashi Dashaa periods to get its sub-periods. The counting should be from right to left if Lagna is odd sign and vice versa if even.

Calculation of Raashi Dashaa/ 9th from Lagna: commencing from odd or from even signs
[Jaimini Sutras, Adhyaaya 2, Pad 3]
SU. 28. If the 9th from Lagna happens to be incorporated in an odd sign, take the Raashi Dashaa in the regular order. If it happens to be incorporated in an even sign, take the Raashi Dashaa in the inverse order or backwards. The commencement of the Dashaa should be from the Lagna. Ketu in these cases is considered as a benefic.

Dwaar Raashi (Paka Raashi): Raashi, which commences Dashaa
[Jaimini Sutras, Adhyaaya 2, Pad 4]

SU. 2. The Raashi which commences the Dashaa or period is called the Dwaar Raashi or the door for the subsequent Raashi Dashaa.
[Note by Translator - This Dashaa is called also Paka Raashi.]

Bhog Raashi: Counting signs from Lagna to Dwaar Raashi
SU. 3. Count as many signs from Dwaar Raashi as Dwaar Raashi is removed from Lagna. This will be the Bhog Raashi.

Results of Dashaa to be told, dependant on planetary strength
SU. 6. The results in these Dashaa will have to be foretold, by the strength of the planets and by the sources of strength and weakness of the Paka and Bhog Raashi.

Predicting of the Stronger of Lagna or the 7th, males and females
SU. 7. These results have to be carefully predicted from Lagna or the 7th, whichever is the stronger of the two. For males preference should be given to Lagna and for females the 7th should be preferred provided it is strong.

Dashaa commences with movable sign: regular order
SU. 8. If the Dashaa commences with a movable sign or Chandra Raashi, then the order of the Raashi Dashaas will be regular in a horoscope.

Dashaa commences with fixed sign: successive order
SU. 9. If the Dashaa commences in the fixed sign or Sthir Raashi, then the 6th and 7th, etc., from it will be the successive Dashaa.

Dashaa commences with common (dual) sign: order is Kendra-Panaphar-Aapoklim
SU. 10. If the Dashaa Raashi commences in a common sign, then the successive Raashi Dashaa will be determined by the Kendra, Panaphar and Aapoklim Raashi from it.

Planets in Kendra, Panaphar and Aapoklim become Lords of Navaansh Dashaa
SU. 11. Those who are in Kendra, Panaphar and Aapoklim from the Kaarak become the lords of the Navaansh Dashaa.

Raashi in Kendra from Lagna furnish first Dashaa
SU. 12. Those Raashi which are in Kendra from Lagna furnish the first Dashaa.

Kaarak will be moving between Lagna and the 7th
SU. 13. The Kaarak will be moving between the Lagna and the 7th.

Results depending on strengths and weaknesses of Dashaa Planets
SU. 14. The results of all these will be determined, as detailed in the previous sutras, by the examination of the sources of strength and weakness to the planets, to the lords of the Dashaa and to the Raashi.

Results from Kaarak and from 1st/3rd/7th and 9th Raashi
SU. 26. Results must be predicted from the Kaarak or lords of events and also from the 1st, 3rd, 7th and the 9th Raashi.

Kaarak occupies odd sign: regular Dashaa; occupies even sign: backwards
SU. 31. If the Kaarak occupies the odd sign, then proceed for the subsequent Dashaa in the regular way, but when he is in an even sign, then go backwards for the Raashi Dashaa.

Kaarak occupies even sign: backwards
SU. 32. If the Kaarak Raashi falls in even signs, then count backwards.

Same Results for Antar-Dashaa, forward or backwards counting
SU. 34. These details above mentioned in the various sutras should also be ascribed to the Antar-Dashaa or sub-periods among the major Dashaa in the forward and backward counting.

Raashi, Yuti with or aspected by Benefics, or its Lord with strength
SU. 35. If the Raashi has beneficial aspects and conjunctions, or if its lord has similar sources of strength or is exalted, then all the results will be beneficial.

Chara Dashaa

[BPHS, CH. 46, Sl. 158 - 167]
158-166. Now I will tell you about the working out of the Dashaa years of Vrishchik and Kumbh. If both the Lords of the two Raashi, Vrishchik and Kumbh, are placed in their own Raashi, their Dashaa will be of 12 years. Otherwise the Dashaa will be of the number of years, indicated by the number, counted from that Raashi to the Raashi, occupied by its Lord. If one Graha be in his own Raashi and the other in any other Raashi, the Dashaa will be of the number of years counted, from the above first Raashi to the other. If the Lords are in different Raashi, the counting is to be done up to the Raashi, which is stronger.

The Raashi, which has a Graha, placed in it, is considered more powerful than the Raashi without a Graha in it. If both are with Grahas in them, the one with more Graha would be considered more powerful. If both Raashi are occupied by an equal number of Grahas, the strength of the Raashi itself should be taken into account.

The principle for considering the Bal (strength) of the Raashi is, that the Fixed Raashi is considered stronger than the Movable one and the Dual Raashi is considered more powerful than the Fixed Raashi. If there is equality in the strength of the Raashi, then to determine the number of years of Dasha counting should be done up to the Raashi with bigger number.

If one Raashi is occupied by a Graha in exaltation, the counting should be done up to that Raashi only. In addition 1 should be added in the number of years in the case of a Raashi with an exalted Graha and 1 should be deducted from the number of years in the case of a Raashi with a Graha in debilitation. The prediction should be made after calculating the Dashaa in this manner.

167. If the Raashi in Dharma Bhaav is in an odd Pada, the counting should be from the Raashi in the Lagna onwards. The counting would be in the reverse order, if the Pad is even. The Dashaas of Raashi have to be fixed, keeping this in view.

For Example. In the above Tulaa is the Raashi in Dharm Bhaav in an odd Pad. Amongst the Lords of Lagna, Shani and Raahu, Raahu is associated with a Graha. Therefore Raahu is more powerful than Shani. Therefore counting should be done up to Raahu. Kumbh is in even Pada, therefore counting has to be done from Kumbh up to Raahu in the reverse order, by which the Chara Dashaa for Kumbh would come to 8 years. Mesh is in odd Pad. Therefore the Chara Dashaa for Mesh will be one year. The Dashaa of other Raashi should be calculated in the same manner.

Chara / Naaraayan Dashaa
(c) 2008 by Revati

Chara - or nowadays Naaraayan Dashaa - belongs to the most used Dashaa systems after Vinshottaree Dashaa. It is a Raashi Dashaa, therefore Raashi, their Ansh and planets in them are of utmost importance.

There are a multitude of calculation possibilities for calculating correct Chara Dashaa sequence, the two most appreciated methods are 'Paraashar method' (as described in BPHS) and 'Naaraayan' Dashaa (based on Jaimini Sutras), which is elaboration of Sanjay Rath, SJC astrologer. It is interesting to note that obviously Paraashar himself did not have a good opinion with regard to almost all Raashi Dashaas (except Chakra and Varnada Dashaa), he taught that they all are 'not appropriate' in his view. Nevertheless, the logics behind Chara Dashaa construction - see next paragraph - seems to be convincing and deserves closer studies.

In my view Naaraayan Dashaa can be neglected and Chakra and Varnada Dashaa (together with Mool Dashaa and Nakshatra Dashaas) use is highly preferable. Another important point is that Antar-dashaas and Pratyantar-dashaas of Naaraayan/ Chara Dashaa are not in accordance with the calculation rules given in BPHS.

*The true Chara Dashaa is: Chakra Dashaa.*

Mahaa-Dashaa Sequence:
Chara Dashaa is based on the idea of a particular relationship among a Raashi/ Bhaav and his planetary Lord.

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