Introduction to Nakshatras
© Sarajit Poddar
The nakshatras are the apparently fixed bodies
in the Zodiac, where the planetary system
moves with them placed in the background.
Among the Rasi and the nakshatras, the
former is overlorded by the Sun, whereas the
latter is overlorded by Moon. This implies that
the Rasi shows the environment we would be
placed with at different times in our life and
what we get out of it, on the other hand, the
nakshatras govern the different state of mind
we shall be having at various times. Even the
actual events are important in our life, taking a
person-centric view point; our reactions to
them also matter equally. Hence the study of
the nakshatras is well warranted.
There are two nakshatra schemes, one of
which uses 27 Nakshatras and the other uses
28 nakshatras, which include the Abhijit
Nakshatra, an intercalary nakshatra. Both the
schemes are useful in their own right. While 27
nakshatra scheme is used for all day to
analysis, such as analysis of birth chart,
analysis of dasas, using Navatara chakra etc;
the 28 nakshatra scheme is used for analysis
of few chakras such as sarvatobhadra chakra,
the sannadi chakra etc. The Nakshatras are
reckoned from beginning with Aries which
coincides with the beginning of Ashwini.
There are four padas (quarters) of each
nakshatra, each measuring 3d 20m making
the total duration of the nakshatra to be 13d
20m. Thus there are 108 padas across the
zodiac and each map to 1 Navamsa. However,
since the duration of 1 sign is 30 degrees, the
nakshatra cannot be mapped exactly on the
Rasis. However, it is interesting to see that 9
nakshatras can be mapped to 4 Rasis. From
this we can derive the basis of dividing the
zodiac of 12 Rasis and 27 nakshatras into 3
parts each measuring 120 degrees. This is the
basis for the Navatara Chakra, where the
nakshatras are divided into three groups of 9
each, starting either from the Janma or Lagna
Nakshatra.
While we see the mapping of the 9 Nakshatras
on 4 Rasis, we see that there are few
nakshatras which would fall across two Rasis
such as Krittika, which falls in Aries and
Taurus; Mrgashiras, which falls across Taurus
and Gemini and so on. There are others which
would fall in 1 rasi such as Ashwini, Bharani,
Rohini etc. Even though this looks haphazard
and erratic, there is a hidden meaning behind
it. To understand the meaning, we need to
know the tattvas (primordial elements) ruling
the Rasis and the Nakshatra padas. Beginning
from Aries, the Rasis are ruled by Fire, Earth,
Air and Water in a cyclical manner. Thus Aries,
Leo and Sagittarius are the fiery signs; Taurus,
Virgo & Capricorn are the earthy signs and so
on. This is the same pattern which repeats for
the nakshatra padas, which means that the
first pada is governed by fire element, 2nd by
earth, 3rd by air and the 4th by water. This
cycle repeats across the nakshatras.
The beauty of the mapping of the Nakshatra
with the rasi is that, among the 9 nakshatra
padas which fall in a rasi, the tattva of the first
and the last pada belongs to the tattva of the
sign. So the first and last pada of Aries would
be Fiery, the first and last pada of Taurus
would be Earthy and so on. Seeing this from
another perspective, the while seen among
the three groups of 4 signs (starting from
Aries, Leo and Sagittarius), the 1st sign starts
from 1st pada of a nakshatra and ends with
the 1st pada of a nakshatra (for example, Aries
starts with 1st pada of Ashwini and ends with
the 1st pada of Krittika). Similarly, the 2nd
sign (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) start with 2nd
pada of a nakshatra and end with the 2nd
pada of another nakshatra (for example,
Taurus starts with 2nd pada of Krittika and
ends with 2nd pada of Mrgashiras); 3rd sign
Gemini starts with 3rd pada of Mrgashiras and
ends with 3rd pada of Punarvasu and the 4th
sign Cancer start with 4th pada of Punarvasu
and end with 4th pada of Aslesha.
The lordship of each cycle of 9 nakshatras, as
per Vimshottari dasa scheme, starting from
Ashwini is Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu,
Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury. It is worthy to note
that the 3 of the 9 nakshatras, which fall in the
junction of signs (rasi sandhi), are ruled by
Sun, Mars and Jupiter, the three best friends
on the Deva's side! The other Nakshatras
which fall inside the signs are ruled by Ketu,
Venus, Moon, Rahu, Saturn & Mercury. What
can be made out of these two categories of
the planets?
Classification of Nakshatra
Fixed Nakshatras
Rohini, Uttar-phalguni, Uttar-ashadha and
Uttar-bhadrapada are supposed to be fixed
nakshatras and they are favourable for
activities which are related to establishing
something permanent such as coronations,
laying the foundations of cities, sowing
operations, planting trees.
Soft Nakshatras
Chitta, Anuradha, Mrigasira and Revati are soft
nakshatras. They are favourable for soft or
artistic activities such as wearing new apparel,
learning dancing, music and fine arts, sexual
union and performance of auspicious
ceremonies.
Light Nakshatras
Ashwini, Pushya, Hasta and Abhijit are light
nakshatras, and they are favourable for light
and sportive activities such as putting
ornamentation, pleasures and sports,
administering medicine, starting industries and
undertaking travels.
Sharp Nakshatras
Moola, Jyestha, Ardra and Aslesha are sharp
nakshatras in nature and they are favourable
for sharp, piercing and painful activities such
as incantations, invoking spirits, for
imprisonment, murders, and separation of
friends.
Mobile Nakshatras
Sravana, Dhanishta, Satabhisaj, Punarvasu and
Swati are mobile nakshatras and they are
auspicious for mobile activities such as
acquiring vehicles, for gardening and for going
on procession.

Dreadful Nakshatras
Purva-phalguni, Poorvashadha and
Poorvabhadra, Bharani and Makha are dreadful
nakshatras and they are favourable for
nefarious schemes, poisoning, deceit,
imprisonment, setting fire and other evil
deeds.

Mixed Nakshatras
Krittika and Visakha are mixed nakshatras and
during their influences, works of day-to-day
importance can be undertaken.

Inauspicious Nakshatras
Beginning from the third quarter of Dhanishta
and ending with the last part of Revati, the
time is held to be unsuitable for any kind of
auspicious work. This period goes under the
special name of Nakshatra Panchaka and when
these stars are ruling, one should avoid
journey towards the south, house repairing or
renovation, collecting fuel and cattle fodder or
acquiring cots and beds.

Auspicious Nakshatras
Of all the twenty-eight constellations, the pride
of place appears to have been given to
Pushya, the 8th star.

Nakshatras
1. Ashwini
2. Bharani
3. Krittika
4. Rohini
5. Mrgashiras
6. Ardra
7. Punarvasu
8. Pushya
9. Aslesha
10. Makha
11. Purva-phalguni
12. Uttara-phalguni
13. Hasta
14. Chitra
15. Swati
16. Visakha
17. Anuradha
18. Jyestha
19. Moola
20. Purva-ashadha
21. Uttara-ashadha
22. Sravana
23. Dhanishta
24. Satabhisaj
25. Purva-bhadrapada
26. Uttara-bhadrapada
27. Revati