Chitra Nakshatra
Ruled by Mars · Virgo and Libra · Rakshasa gana
Chitra is the 14th of the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions). It spans 23°20′ Virgo to 6°40′ Libra of the sidereal zodiac, which places it in Virgo and Libra. Its ruling planet is Mars, its deity is Tvashtar (Vishvakarma), the divine architect, and its symbol is a bright jewel.
Chitra nakshatra: personality and nature
Chitra is the creative, striking nakshatra of design and brilliance. Natives are often described as detail-oriented, with a strong eye for form and presentation.
Love and relationships
Charismatic and image-aware, wanting beauty and spark in love.
Career and work
Architecture, design, fashion, engineering, jewellery and the visual arts.
What to watch for
Vanity and perfectionism. As with any placement, the Moon's sign and house, the planets aspecting it and the running dasha change how Chitra shows up in a particular chart.
The four padas of Chitra
Each nakshatra is divided into four padas of 3°20′, and each pada falls in one navamsa (D9) sign, which colours how the nakshatra expresses and matters for marriage reading.
- Pada 1: 23°20′ Virgo to 26°40′ Virgo, Leo navamsa.
- Pada 2: 26°40′ Virgo to 0°00′ Libra, Virgo navamsa.
- Pada 3: 0°00′ Libra to 3°20′ Libra, Libra navamsa.
- Pada 4: 3°20′ Libra to 6°40′ Libra, Scorpio navamsa.
Chitra and the Vimshottari dasha
A person whose Moon is in Chitra begins life in the Mars Mahadasha, the full length of which is 7 years. How much of it remains at birth depends on how far the Moon has travelled through Chitra. The Rahu Mahadasha follows. The Vimshottari dasha system derives from the Moon's nakshatra, so this is why the nakshatra matters for timing.
Compatibility: gana, yoni and nadi
In Ashtakoota (Guna Milan) matching, Chitra counts as Rakshasa gana, Tiger yoni (female) and Madhya nadi. Gana and yoni describe temperament and instinctive compatibility. Nadi carries the most weight, 8 of the 36 points, and scores zero when both partners share the same nadi. Note that Rakshasa is a temperament label in this system, not a moral judgement. These are read from each partner's Moon nakshatra, so the full pair of charts should be considered together.
For informational and self-reflection purposes only. Not financial, medical, legal, or professional advice.
Is your Moon in Chitra?
Your free Kundli shows your Moon's nakshatra, pada and dasha in under a minute.
Chitra nakshatra: common questions
Mars rules Chitra. A Moon here starts the 7-year Mars Mahadasha in the Vimshottari system.
Chitra spans 23°20′ Virgo to 6°40′ Libra of the sidereal zodiac, so it lies in Virgo and Libra.
Pada 1 falls in the Leo navamsa; Pada 2 falls in the Virgo navamsa; Pada 3 falls in the Libra navamsa; Pada 4 falls in the Scorpio navamsa.
Chitra is Rakshasa gana, Tiger yoni (female) and Madhya nadi.
It depends on your date, exact time and place of birth, because the Moon moves through a nakshatra in about a day. Generate a free Kundli to see your Moon's nakshatra and pada.