Pushya Nakshatra
Ruled by Saturn · Cancer · Deva gana
Pushya is the 8th of the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions). It spans 3°20′ Cancer to 16°40′ Cancer of the sidereal zodiac, which places it in Cancer. Its ruling planet is Saturn, its deity is Brihaspati (Jupiter), the guru of the gods, and its symbol is a cow's udder (some texts: a lotus).
Pushya nakshatra: personality and nature
Pushya is traditionally regarded as one of the most auspicious nakshatras. It is associated with nourishment, dependability and dharma, and natives are often described as caring and responsible.
Love and relationships
Devoted and protective, taking commitments seriously, sometimes to the point of being controlling.
Career and work
Teaching, counselling, medicine, administration, agriculture and charitable work.
What to watch for
Rigidity and taking on other people’s burdens. As with any placement, the Moon's sign and house, the planets aspecting it and the running dasha change how Pushya shows up in a particular chart.
The four padas of Pushya
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: 3°20′ Cancer to 6°40′ Cancer, Leo navamsa.
- Pada 2: 6°40′ Cancer to 10°00′ Cancer, Virgo navamsa.
- Pada 3: 10°00′ Cancer to 13°20′ Cancer, Libra navamsa.
- Pada 4: 13°20′ Cancer to 16°40′ Cancer, Scorpio navamsa.
Pushya and the Vimshottari dasha
A person whose Moon is in Pushya begins life in the Saturn Mahadasha, the full length of which is 19 years. How much of it remains at birth depends on how far the Moon has travelled through Pushya. The Mercury 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, Pushya counts as Deva gana, Sheep yoni (male) 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.
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Pushya nakshatra: common questions
Saturn rules Pushya. A Moon here starts the 19-year Saturn Mahadasha in the Vimshottari system.
Pushya spans 3°20′ Cancer to 16°40′ Cancer of the sidereal zodiac, so it lies in Cancer.
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.
Pushya is Deva gana, Sheep yoni (male) 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.