Mrigashira Nakshatra
Ruled by Mars · Taurus and Gemini · Deva gana
Mrigashira is the 5th of the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions). It spans 23°20′ Taurus to 6°40′ Gemini of the sidereal zodiac, which places it in Taurus and Gemini. Its ruling planet is Mars, its deity is Soma (the Moon), and its symbol is a deer's head.
Mrigashira nakshatra: personality and nature
Mrigashira is the searching nakshatra. Natives are often described as curious, gentle and charming, with a restless wish to explore ideas, places and people.
Love and relationships
Romantic and playful, but the same restlessness can leave them feeling there is always something more to seek.
Career and work
Research, writing, design, travel, music, fashion and exploration of any kind.
What to watch for
Indecision and scattered focus. As with any placement, the Moon's sign and house, the planets aspecting it and the running dasha change how Mrigashira shows up in a particular chart.
The four padas of Mrigashira
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′ Taurus to 26°40′ Taurus, Leo navamsa.
- Pada 2: 26°40′ Taurus to 0°00′ Gemini, Virgo navamsa.
- Pada 3: 0°00′ Gemini to 3°20′ Gemini, Libra navamsa.
- Pada 4: 3°20′ Gemini to 6°40′ Gemini, Scorpio navamsa.
Mrigashira and the Vimshottari dasha
A person whose Moon is in Mrigashira 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 Mrigashira. 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, Mrigashira counts as Deva gana, Serpent 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. 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 Mrigashira?
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Mrigashira nakshatra: common questions
Mars rules Mrigashira. A Moon here starts the 7-year Mars Mahadasha in the Vimshottari system.
Mrigashira spans 23°20′ Taurus to 6°40′ Gemini of the sidereal zodiac, so it lies in Taurus and Gemini.
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.
Mrigashira is Deva gana, Serpent 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.