NAKSHATRA

The Solar zodiac consists of 12 Sun signs. The Lunar Zodiac consists of 27 Moon signs called
Nakshatras. These Lunar signs give an added ability to differentiate the effects of the solar signs
as well as a deeper look into the psyche of an individual.
To understand how and when to first start looking at nakshatras I put this together for a lecture
in Washington DC, October 17, 2004:
What to look at first when looking at a chart
Beginners always ask what to look at when, dumbfounded by the plethora of techniques of Vedic
Astrology. So where and when does one look at the nakshatra. The seasoned astrologer is
looking at multiple aspects of the chart simultaneously. It is not a linear method when looking at
a chart. It is a multi-dimensional, multi-tasking analyzing process. This is a very generalized list
of what I look at when I first see a chart and how/where I look at the nakshatra.
Start with a Ganesh mantra and then a Surya mantra, and Parampara mantra if applicable (or
diksa mantra if relative).
-Lagna and Lagnesh (placement and situation)
-Planets in houses (quickly see placements, dont interpret-just feed the information into the
mind so you know positions)
-Planets conjunct (yogas, see degrees for how tight the conjunction)
-Look at Moons nakshatra (from here you put on colored shades to view the rest of the
chart. Other events will be interpreted through the color of this shade.)
-Look at AK (charakarakas/charakaraka replacements ) , Arudha Lagna (placement of
arudhas)
-Look for curses and blessings/uplifting yogas (curse of graha, kalasarpa, mahapurusha
yoga, parivartana- to get a general state of the planets and there involvements)
-Pachanga Lords: (take lord of the Moons nakshatra and look at it in the rasi, how is it placed
to see health, see tithi for relationship, vara for energy, yoga for social connections, karana for
works. This will give an idea of what needs to be focused on in the chart).
-Check which dasas apply in the chart and then check dasas that are running
presently.
-Look at navamsa trines (and other houses) to see bhagya.
-Make a few statements to confirm the chart, rectify if its not correct, dont move

forward until you are sure the chart is correct or you may make inaccurate predictions. Predict
the past before the future.
-Assess the issues of the native from the information just scanned (and consulting if
in-person, with Prasna if not in-person) and then begin to apply techniques relative to
the individuals issues.
-Begin the real reading of the chart.

Nakshatra

Translation

1 Ashwini

The horses
head

Diety

Body
Part

sex Guna

The Ashwins

Upper
feet

RRR

RRT

2 Bharani

The bearers

Yama

Lower
feet

3 Krittika

The razor

Agni

Head

RRS

4 Rohini

Female deer

Prajapati (lord of
creation)

Forehead

RTR

5
Mrigashirsha Antelopes head

Soma

Eyebrows

RTT

6 Ardra

The moist

Rudra

Eyes

RTS

7 Punarvasu

Return of the
light

Aditi

Nose

RSR

8 Pushya

The nourisher

Brihaspati

Face

RST

9 Ashlesha

The serpent

Sarpa, Nagas

Ears

RSS

TRR

TRT

10 Magha

The beneficient

Pitris (anscestors)

Lips &
chin

11 P.
Phalguni

Earlier fig tree

Bhaga (Sun of
bliss)

Right
hand

12 U.
Phalguni

Later fig tree

Aryaman (Sun as
beloved or helper)

Left
hand

TRS

13 Hasta

The hand

Savitar (Sun of
inspiration)

Fingers

TTR

14 Chitra

The brilliant

Twashtar
(Vishwarkarma)

Neck

TTT

15 Swati

The sword

Vayu

Chest

TTS

16 Vishaka

The two
branches

Indrangni

Breast

TSR

17 Anuradha

Subsequent
success,
following
devotion

Mitra (divine
friend)

Stomach M

TST

18 Jyeshta

The eldest

Indra (lightening/
perception)

Right
side

TSS

19 Mula

The root

Nirriti

Left side

SRR

Apas

Back

SRT

Vishwadevas (all
21 U. Shadha The later victory the gods combined) Waist

SRS

22 Shravana

The earlier
20 P. Shadha victory

The famous

Vishnu

Genitals

STR

The most
famous or most
23 Dhanishta wealthy

Vasus, (bright
ones), (gods of
light)

Anus

STT

24 Satabisha

Varuna

Right

STS

Has a hundred

medicines

25 P. Bhadra

The earlier
auspicious one

The later
26 U. Bhadra auspicious one

27 Revati

The rich or
splendorous

thigh
AjaEkapat (not
born one)

Left
thigh

SSR

Ahir Budhnya
(movement of
stillness)

Shins

SST

Pushan (Sun as
nourisher)

Ankles

SSS

Nakshatras are used for Muhurta (picking the

best time):
Nakshatras and Ayurveda
The use of nakshatras is integrated with other aspects of the panchanga. Below are
recommendations regarding medicine. According to Muhurta-Chinta-Mani (2.15), the time a
person first takes their medicine should be nakshatras of the qualities of Laghu, Mridu, and
Chara or the nakshatra of Moola. The best ascendant is that of dual signs with the presence of
benefics like Venus, the Moon, Jupiter, and Mercury. There should be no planets in the twelfth,
seventh or eighth houses from the ascendant. Friday, Monday, Thursday, Wednesday and
Sunday are auspicious days for starting new medicine [in that order]. Any tithi is good except
rikta tithis and amavasya. It is also inauspicious to start medicine in the nakshatra of ones birth.
Ashwini- taking medicine, making medicine, beginning actions to improve health
Bharani- hatha yoga, driving out evil influences, purification like fasting or silence
Rohini- taking medicine, massage, longevity and rejuvenation practices, planting
Mrigashiras- treatment of disease (convalescence), rasayana therapies, gardening
Ardra- phsychological cleansing, exorcism, harsh actions like surgery
Punarvasu- taking medicines and all healing therapies
Pushya- taking medicines, healing therapies, herbal baths, picking herbs
Ashlesha- inoculations, surgery
Purva Palguni- illnesses that occur here may be difficult to overcome
Uttara Phalguni- healing and disease treatment
Hasta- treatment of disease
Chitra- taking and making medicine, collecting herbs
Swati- disease treatment, planting, gathering, making medicine
Vishaka- taking medicine, starting healing therapies
Anuradha- treatment of disease
Jyeshta- harsh actions like surgery, not the last quarter of this nakshatra

Mula- harsh actions like surgery, gardening

Purva Shadha- preparing medicines
Uttara Shadha- treatment of disease
Shravana- taking herbs, medicine and doctors presciptions
Dhanishta- learning medicine, treatment of disease
Shatabisha- curative measures started now will be more effective, rasayana
Uttara Bhadra- healing and treatment of disease, planting and gardening
Revati- healing and treatment of disease
Nakshatras for putting on Gemstones and Remedial measures
Ashwini- (buying new jewelry) and putting on gemstones
Rohini- wearing expensive jewelry for the first time, empowering sacred objects
Punarvasu- remedial measures, making or obtaining new jewelry
Pushya- remedial measures, putting on new gems
Uttara Phalguni- putting on new jewelry
Hasta- putting on gems
Chitra- spiritual rituals, making and putting on gemstones
Swati- sowing new seeds (physically and metaphysically), putting on new gems
Vishaka- (making)
Dhanishta- religious performances, putting on gems
Uttara Bhadra- putting on gems
Revati- commission or buying a new piece of jewelry, putting on gems (not the last quarter of
this nakshatra)

One is advised to read Muhurta-Chinta-Mani in order to learn more about muhurta and the
use of the nakshatras.