Nakshatras
Mrigashira nakshatra
Mrigashira is the 5th of the 27 nakshatras, spanning 23°20′ Taurus to 6°40′ Gemini in the sidereal zodiac. Its ruling planet is Mars, its deity is Soma, the Moon’s nectar, and its symbol is a deer's head. Jyotish associates it with searching and curiosity — the restless seeker following a scent.
| Number | 5 of 27 |
|---|---|
| Span | 23°20′ Taurus – 6°40′ Gemini |
| Sign | Taurus and Gemini |
| Ruling planet (dasha lord) | Mars |
| Deity | Soma, the Moon’s nectar |
| Symbol | a deer's head |
| Gana (temperament) | Deva |
| Nadi | Madhya (Pitta) |
| Yoni (animal) | Serpent |
| Naming syllables | Ve, Vo, Ka, Ki |
| Other nakshatras of Mars | Chitra and Dhanishta |
Because Mars rules Mrigashira, someone whose Moon was here at birth begins life in the Mars mahadasha, for the part of it that remains according to how far the Moon had travelled through the nakshatra.
Each nakshatra has four padas (quarters) of 3°20′. The pada decides the navamsa — the ninth-harmonic chart Jyotish reads for marriage and inner strength — and the syllable a name traditionally begins with. Mrigashira's padas fall in the Leo, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio navamsas.
Its gana is Deva, its nadi Madhya (Pitta) and its yoni the serpent — three of the eight factors Guna Milan compares when matching two charts (nadi alone carries 8 of the 36 points).
| Pada | Span | Navamsa | Syllable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23°20′ Taurus – 26°40′ Taurus | Leo | Ve |
| 2 | 26°40′ Taurus – 30°00′ Taurus | Virgo | Vo |
| 3 | 0°00′ Gemini – 3°20′ Gemini | Libra | Ka |
| 4 | 3°20′ Gemini – 6°40′ Gemini | Scorpio | Ki |
Questions
Which planet rules Mrigashira nakshatra?
Mars. It is Mars's nakshatra in the Vimshottari sequence, so a birth Moon in Mrigashira starts life in the Mars dasha.
What are the name letters for Mrigashira nakshatra?
By pada: 1 — Ve, 2 — Vo, 3 — Ka, 4 — Ki. A name traditionally begins with the syllable of the pada the Moon occupied at birth.
What is the deity of Mrigashira?
Soma, the Moon’s nectar.
Which zodiac sign is Mrigashira in?
Mrigashira runs from 23°20′ Taurus to 6°40′ Gemini in the sidereal zodiac used by Vedic astrology, so it spans Taurus and Gemini.
What are the nadi and yoni of Mrigashira?
Nadi Madhya (Pitta); yoni serpent. Both are compared in Guna Milan: nadi is worth 8 of the 36 points, yoni 4.
In Plutto
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