In Vedic astrology (Jyotish), the zodiac is divided into 27 lunar mansions called Nakshatras, each spanning an arc of 13°20' (totaling 360°). Each Nakshatra carries distinct planetary rulers, deities, symbols, and core psychological/life themes.
1. Ashwini (0°00' – 13°20' Aries)
- Planetary Ruler: Ketu
- Deity: Ashwini Kumaras (The Golden Celestial Physicians)
- Symbol: Horse’s head
- Significations: Speed, agility, spontaneous action, rejuvenation, and natural healing abilities. People influenced by Ashwini are energetic initiators, quick thinkers, and driven by a need for swift problem-solving and movement.
2. Bharani (13°20' – 26°40' Aries)
- Planetary Ruler: Venus
- Deity: Yama (Lord of Death, Justice, and Dharma)
- Symbol: Yoni (Female reproductive organ)
- Significations: The cycle of birth, transformation, and death; bearing heavy burdens, restraint, discipline, and profound desire. It governs creativity, moral accountability, and intense emotional depth.
3. Krittika (26°40' Aries – 10°00' Taurus)
- Planetary Ruler: Sun
- Deity: Agni (God of Sacred Fire)
- Symbol: Razor, blade, flame
- Significations: Purification, sharp intellect, cutting away illusions, and decisive digestion of truth. Combines martial drive with nurturing, protective instincts (fostering life like the Pleiades foster Kartikeya).
4. Rohini (10°00' – 23°20' Taurus)
- Planetary Ruler: Moon
- Deity: Brahma / Prajapati (The Creator)
- Symbol: Chariot, ox cart, temple
- Significations: Sensuality, beauty, agriculture, material prosperity, fertility, and artistic charm. Known for magnetic allure, high aesthetic taste, and nurturing growth, with a potential tendency toward possessiveness.
5. Mrigashira (23°20' Taurus – 6°40' Gemini)
- Planetary Ruler: Mars
- Deity: Soma (Chandra / Moon God of Nectar)
- Symbol: Deer's head
- Significations: The perpetual search for truth or pleasure, curiosity, gentleness, travel, and restlessness. Highly analytical, investigative, and perceptive, but can suffer from indecisiveness or chasing mirages.
6. Ardra (6°40' – 20°00' Gemini)
- Planetary Ruler: Rahu
- Deity: Rudra (Storm God, the destructive/transformative aspect of Shiva)
- Symbol: Teardrop, diamond
- Significations: Emotional storms, sudden transformation, intellectual upheaval, research, and tears of sorrow turning into wisdom. Governs overcoming crisis, raw truth, and breakthrough insights.
7. Punarvasu (20°00' Gemini – 3°20' Cancer)
- Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
- Deity: Aditi (Cosmic Mother of the Gods, Boundlessness)
- Symbol: Bow and quiver of arrows
- Significations: Return of light, renewal, second chances, benevolence, and resilience. Reflects optimism, spiritual philosophy, domestic safety, and the ability to bounce back from any setback.
8. Pushya (3°20' – 16°40' Cancer)
- Planetary Ruler: Saturn
- Deity: Brihaspati (Guru of the Devas)
- Symbol: Udder of a cow, lotus, circle
- Significations: The supreme nourisher; duty, discipline, spiritual wisdom, ritual, and emotional grounding. Highly auspicious for sustainable endeavors, giving advice, mentorship, and building institutions.
9. Ashlesha (16°40' – 30°00' Cancer)
- Planetary Ruler: Mercury
- Deity: Nagas (Serpent Deities of Wisdom and the Underworld)
- Symbol: Coiled serpent
- Significations: Intuition, mysticism, psychology, strategic cunning, clinging nature, and hidden motives. Associated with profound hypnotic or healing power, venomous defense, and uncoiling Kundalini energy.
10. Magha (0°00' – 13°20' Leo)
- Planetary Ruler: Ketu
- Deity: Pitris (The Ancestors)
- Symbol: Royal throne, palanquin
- Significations: Lineage, ancestral karma, regal authority, traditional pride, and honor. Connects deeply to hereditary gifts, leadership, dignified conduct, and maintaining legacy.
11. Purva Phalguni (13°20' – 26°40' Leo)
- Planetary Ruler: Venus
- Deity: Bhaga (God of Prosperity, Luck, and Marital Bliss)
- Symbol: Front legs of a bed, hammock, couch
- Significations: Rest, relaxation, romantic passion, luxury, social warmth, and celebration. Emphasizes recreation, theatrical arts, comfort, and harmonious partnerships.
12. Uttara Phalguni (26°40' Leo – 10°00' Virgo)
- Planetary Ruler: Sun
- Deity: Aryaman (God of Patronage, Contracts, and Chivalry)
- Symbol: Back legs of a bed
- Significations: Committed relationships, philanthropy, contracts, social leadership, and helpfulness. Balances noble authority with service to society and upholding covenants.
13. Hasta (10°00' – 23°20' Virgo)
- Planetary Ruler: Moon
- Deity: Savitar (The Sun God as Awakener/Impeller)
- Symbol: Open hand, fist
- Significations: Manual dexterity, craftsmanship, healing touch, comedy, detail-oriented work, and shrewd bargaining. Governs manifesting thoughts into tangible reality using the hands and sharp intellect.
14. Chitra (23°20' Virgo – 6°40' Libra)
- Planetary Ruler: Mars
- Deity: Vishwakarma / Tvashtar (The Celestial Architect)
- Symbol: Bright jewel, pearl
- Significations: Aesthetic design, architecture, visual allure, engineering, structural planning, and sparkling individuality. Driven by outer polish, perfection in form, and charismatic appeal.
15. Swati (6°40' – 20°00' Libra)
- Planetary Ruler: Rahu
- Deity: Vayu (God of Wind and Prana)
- Symbol: Shoot of a young plant bending in the wind, coral, sword
- Significations: Flexibility, independence, diplomacy, business acumen, trade, and breathwork. Adaptable and restless, with an innate ability to scatter seeds far and survive turbulent conditions.
16. Vishakha (20°00' Libra – 3°20' Scorpio)
- Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
- Deity: Indragni (Alliance of Indra, King of Gods, and Agni, Fire)
- Symbol: Triumphal decorated arch, potter’s wheel
- Significations: Focused ambition, intense drive to achieve goals, rivalry, fixated willpower, and celebration of victory. Represents relentless effort toward a single target, though sometimes marked by jealousy.
17. Anuradha (3°20' – 16°40' Scorpio)
- Planetary Ruler: Saturn
- Deity: Mitra (God of Friendship, Measure, and Alliances)
- Symbol: Lotus, row of offerings, staff
- Significations: Devotion (Bhakti), collaborative success, organizational harmony, loyalty, and rising above difficult origins like a lotus in mud. Excellent for foreign travel and deep occult explorations.
18. Jyeshtha (16°40' – 30°00' Scorpio)
- Planetary Ruler: Mercury
- Deity: Indra (King of the Gods)
- Symbol: Circular amulet, earring, umbrella
- Significations: Seniority, protective authority, courage against odds, defense of dependents, and pride. Prone to rivalry and isolation, but carries great inner strength and occult depth.
19. Mula (0°00' – 13°20' Sagittarius)
- Planetary Ruler: Ketu
- Deity: Nirriti (Goddess of Dissolution and Calamity)
- Symbol: Tied bunch of roots, elephant’s goad
- Significations: Uprooting illusions, getting to the absolute root of an issue, fundamental research, upheaval, and radical truth. Demolishes old structures to make room for core spiritual evolution.
20. Purva Ashadha (13°20' – 26°40' Sagittarius)
- Planetary Ruler: Venus
- Deity: Apas (Cosmic Waters)
- Symbol: Winnowing basket, elephant tusk
- Significations: Invincibility, declaration of truth, fluid adaptability, purification, and persuasive speech. Believes deeply in its cause, showing steady confidence, pride, and natural popularity.
21. Uttara Ashadha (26°40' Sagittarius – 10°00' Capricorn)
- Planetary Ruler: Sun
- Deity: Vishwadevas (Universal Virtues and Principles)
- Symbol: Small bed, elephant tusk
- Significations: Unassailable victory, ethical endurance, duty, pragmatism, and universal integrity. Governs long-term, institutional successes earned through patience and moral alignment.
22. Shravana (10°00' – 23°20' Capricorn)
- Planetary Ruler: Moon
- Deity: Vishnu (The Preserver of the Cosmos)
- Symbol: Ear, three footprints
- Significations: Active listening, preservation of oral tradition, continuous learning, organizational duty, and broad perspective. Associated with education, media, communication, and patient comprehension.
23. Dhanishta (23°20' Capricorn – 6°40' Aquarius)
- Planetary Ruler: Mars
- Deity: Eight Vasus (Deities of Material Elements and Abundance)
- Symbol: Drum (Mridanga / Damaru), flute
- Significations: Wealth, rhythm, music, timing, martial coordination, and high social status. Unites drive and social awareness, with a strong sense of group cohesion and ambition.
24. Shatabhisha (6°40' – 20°00' Aquarius)
- Planetary Ruler: Rahu
- Deity: Varuna (God of Cosmic Waters, Oaths, and the Night Sky)
- Symbol: Empty circle, 100 physicians, 100 flowers
- Significations: Concealment, holistic healing, pharmacology, solitude, research, and cosmic law. Governs medical breakthroughs, solitary contemplation, and veil-piercing vision.
25. Purva Bhadrapada (20°00' Aquarius – 3°20' Pisces)
- Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
- Deity: Aja Ekapada (One-Footed Cosmic Serpent / Lightning Deity)
- Symbol: Swords, front legs of a funeral cot, two-faced man
- Significations: Ascetic intensity, sudden flashes of transformation, dual nature, detachment from material illusion, and willingness to sacrifice for truth. Carries serious spiritual gravitas.
26. Uttara Bhadrapada (3°20' – 16°40' Pisces)
- Planetary Ruler: Saturn
- Deity: Ahirbudhnya (Serpent of the Ocean Depths)
- Symbol: Back legs of a funeral cot, twins, snake in the deep
- Significations: Deep wisdom, emotional stillness, meditation, stability under pressure, and enduring benevolence. Governs restraint, psychological mastery, and connection to collective consciousness.
27. Revati (16°40' – 30°00' Pisces)
- Planetary Ruler: Mercury
- Deity: Pushan (The Shepherd God of Journeys and Lost Things)
- Symbol: Pair of fish swimming in opposite directions, drum
- Significations: Safe passage, guidance, compassion, psychic sensitivity, endings, and ultimate transcendence. Governs nourishment of living creatures, safe travels, artistic imagination, and peaceful completions.
