The Nakshatras

The nakshatras are one of the elements of Vedic Astrology that has no counterpart in Tropical Astrology. Like the rashis (signs), these sections of the zodiac are based on the actual constellations. Each nakshatra has a star that signifies it in the sky.

As stated before, in Jyotish one is known by one's lunar nakshatra, rather than the Western Sunsign. The moon moves from one nakshatra to another in approximately 24 hours, so each 24 hour period is marked by a different lunation.

The nakshatras are also widely used in Muhurta, Vedic Horary Astrology. In much the same way as a Tropical astrologer would advise not having surgery under a Scorpio Moon, or avoiding a Mercury Retrograde or Moon Void-of-Course for signing a contract, a Jyotishi would counsel not getting married under this or that moon.

Nakshatra Rashi degrees Lord Deity Activity Process Motion Gender Nadi (Pulse) Nature Quality Tattva Nakshatra
Ashwini 00AR00-13AR20 Ketu the Ashvini Kumaras Passive Create Level Male Vata Light, Swift Tamasic Earth Ashwini
Bharani 13AR20-26AR40 Venus Yama Balanced Maintain Down Female Pitta Fierce, Severe Rajasic Earth Bharani
Krittika 26AR40-10TA00 Sun Agni Active Dissolve Down Female Kapha Sharp, Soft Rajasic Earth Krittika
Rohini 10TA00-23TA20 Moon Brahma Balanced Create Up Female Kapha Fixed Rajasic Earth Rohini
Mrigashirsha 23TA40-06GE40 Mars the Moon Passive Maintain Level Neuter Pitta Mild, Tender Tamasic Earth Mrigashirsha
Ardra 06GE40-20GE00 Rahu Rudra Balanced Dissolve Up Female Vata Sharp, Dreadful Tamasic Water Ardra
Punarvasu 20GE00-03CA20 Jupiter Aditi Passive Create Level Male Vata Movable Sattvic Water Punarvasu
Pushya 03CA20-16CA40 Saturn Brihaspati (Jupiter) Passive Maintain Up Male Pitta Light, Swift Tamasic Water Pushya
Ashlesha 16CA40-30CA500 Mercury Sarpas Active Dissolve Down Female Kapha Sharp, Dreadful Sattvic Water Ashlesha
Magha 00LE00-13LE20 Ketu the Pitris Active Create Down Female Kapha Fierce, Severe Tamasic Water Magha
Purva Phalguni 13LE20-26LE40 Venus Bhaga or the Shiva Lingam Balanced Maintain Up Female Pitta Fierce, Severe Rajasic Water Purva Phalguni
Uttara Phalguni 26LE40-10VI00 Sun Aryaman Balanced Dissolve Down Female Vata Fixed Rajasic Fire Uttara Phalguni
Hasta 10VI00-23VI20 Moon Surya (the Sun) Passive Create Level Male Vata Light, Swift Rajasic Fire Hasta
Chitra 23VI20-06LI40 Mars Tvashtri, the celestial architect Active Maintain Level Female Pitta Mild, Tender Tamasic Fire Chitra
Swati 06LI40-20LI00 Rahu Vayu, the wind Passive Dissolve Level Female Kapha Movable Tamasic Fire Swati
Vishakha 20LI00-03SC20 Jupiter Indragni, 2 deities Active Create Down Female Kapha Sharp, Soft Sattvic Fire Vishakha
Anuradha 03SC20-16SC40 Saturn Mitra Passive Maintain Level Male Pitta Mild, Tender Tamasic Fire Anuradha
Jyeshtha 16SC40-30SC00 Mercury Indra Active Dissolve Level Female Vata Sharp, Dreadful Sattvic Air Jyeshtha
Mula 00SG00-13SG20 Ketu Nirriti Active Create Down Neuter Vata Sharp, Dreadful Tamasic Air Mula
Purva Ashadha 13SG20-26SG40 Venus Apah Balanced Maintain Down Female Pitta Fierce, Severe Rajasic Air Purva Ashadha
Uttara Ashadha 26SG40-10CP00 Sun the 10 Vishvadevas Balanced Dissolve Up Female Kapha Fixed Rajasic Air Uttara Ashadha
Shravana 10CP00-23CP20 Moon Vishnu Passive Create Up Male Kapha Movable Rajasic Air Shravana
Dhanishtha 23CP20-06AQ40 Mars the 8 Vasus Active Maintain Up Female Pitta Movable Tamasic Ether Dhanishtha
Shatabhisha 06AQ40-20AQ00 Rahu Varuna Active Dissolve ? Neuter Vata Movable Tamasic Ether Shatabhisha
Purva Bhadrapad 20AQ00-03PI20 Jupiter Ajaikapada Passive Create Down Male Vata Fierce, Severe Sattvic Ether Purva Bhadrapad
Uttara Bhadrapad 03PI20-16PI40 Saturn Ahirbudhnya Balanced Maintain Up Male Pitta Fixed Tamasic Ether Uttara Bhadrapad
Revati 16PI40-30PI00 Mercury Pushan Balanced Dissolve Level Female Kapha Mild, Tender Sattvic Ether Revati
Nakshatra Rashi degrees Lord Deity Activity Process Motion Gender Nadi (Pulse) Nature Quality Tattva Nakshatra

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