Nakshatra Reference · नक्षत्र संदर्भ

The 27 nakshatras and Abhijit: deep profiles

Every lunar mansion read the way Bepin Behari reads it in Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology: its symbol, deity, guna pattern at three levels, its basic motivation among dharma, artha, kama and moksha, its caste, its pada lords, and the dual role the same star plays for a soul on the involutionary path and for a soul on the evolutionary path. Abhijit, the dropped 28th mansion and Krishna's own star, closes the set.

How to read a profile. The guna pattern gives the primary, secondary and tertiary flow of sattwa, rajas and tamas through the star: the first nine nakshatras run on rajas, the next nine on tamas, the last nine on sattwa. The motivation names the star's basic impulse. The two readings are not two different stars but one impulse at two stages of the soul: what looks like a flaw in the involutionary reading is usually the same energy, not yet turned toward light.

All 28 profiles at a glance

#NakshatraSpan in signLordDeitySymbolGuna (P / S / T)Motivation
1Ashwini0°00' to 13°20'KetuThe Ashwini Kumaras, the divine physiciansHead of a horseRajas / Rajas / RajasDharma
2Bharani13°20' to 26°40'VenusYama, god of death and keeper of souls between birthsThe yoni, the female generative organRajas / Rajas / TamasArtha
3Krittika26°40' Aries to 10°00' TaurusSunAgni, the god of fireA razorRajas / Rajas / SattwaKama
4Rohini10°00' to 23°20'MoonBrahma, the Creator (Viranchi)A chariot (Sakat)Rajas / Tamas / RajasMoksha
5Mrigashira23°20' Taurus to 6°40' GeminiMarsSoma, the Moon as nectar of immortalityHead of a deerRajas / Tamas / TamasMoksha
6Ardra6°40' to 20°00'RahuRudra, the god of destructionA precious stone; a human headRajas / Tamas / SattwaKama
7Punarvasu20°00' Gemini to 3°20' CancerJupiterAditi, mother of the AdityasA bow; a house or resting placeRajas / Sattwa / RajasArtha
8Pushya3°20' to 16°40'SaturnBrihaspati, adviser of gods and menA flower; a circle; an arrowRajas / Sattwa / TamasDharma
9Ashlesha16°40' Cancer to 0°00' LeoMercuryThe Nagas, the serpent powersA serpentRajas / Sattwa / SattwaDharma
10Magha0°00' to 13°20'KetuThe Pitris, the ancestral progenitorsA palanquin; a house; a chariotTamas / Rajas / RajasArtha
11Purva Phalguni13°20' to 26°40'VenusBhaga, god of fortune and delightThe front legs of a bed; a hammockTamas / Rajas / TamasKama
12Uttara Phalguni26°40' Leo to 10°00' VirgoSunAryaman, god of patronage and honourThe back legs of a bed; a hearthTamas / Rajas / SattwaMoksha
13Hasta10°00' to 23°20'MoonSavitar, the Sun in its regenerative aspectThe open palm of a handTamas / Tamas / RajasMoksha
14Chitra23°20' Virgo to 6°40' LibraMarsTvashtar (Vishwakarma), the celestial architectA pearlTamas / Tamas / TamasKama
15Swati6°40' to 20°00'RahuVayu, the god of windCoralTamas / Tamas / SattwaArtha
16Vishakha20°00' Libra to 3°20' ScorpioJupiterIndra-Agni, king of gods with the fire godA potter's wheelTamas / Sattwa / RajasDharma
17Anuradha3°20' to 16°40'SaturnMitra, god of friendship and covenantA lotus flowerTamas / Sattwa / TamasDharma
18Jyeshtha16°40' Scorpio to 0°00' SagittariusMercuryIndra, king of the godsAn umbrella; an earringTamas / Sattwa / SattwaArtha
19Mula0°00' to 13°20'KetuNirriti, goddess of dissolutionA lion's tail; an elephant's goadSattwa / Rajas / RajasKama
20Purva Ashadha13°20' to 26°40'VenusApas, the cosmic watersAn elephant's tuskSattwa / Rajas / TamasMoksha
21Uttara Ashadha26°40' Sagittarius to 10°00' CapricornSunThe Vishvadevas, the universal godsA small cot; the rods of a bedSattwa / Rajas / SattwaMoksha
22Shravana10°00' to 23°20'MoonVishnu, the PreserverAn earSattwa / Tamas / RajasArtha
23Dhanishta23°20' Capricorn to 6°40' AquariusMarsThe Vasus, the eight elemental godsA mridangam, the drumSattwa / Tamas / TamasDharma
24Shatabhishak6°40' to 20°00'RahuVaruna, keeper of cosmic order and knowledgeOne hundred stars; a thousand-petalled flowerSattwa / Tamas / SattwaDharma
25Purva Bhadra20°00' Aquarius to 3°20' PiscesJupiterAja Ekapada, the one-footed unborn fireA swordSattwa / Sattwa / RajasArtha
26Uttara Bhadra3°20' to 16°40'SaturnAhir Budhnya, the Serpent of the DeepThe twin stars forming a square; the back legs of a cotSattwa / Sattwa / TamasKama
27Revati16°40' to 30°00'MercuryPushan, the nourisher and measurer of the skyA fishSattwa / Sattwa / SattwaMoksha
28AbhijitWithin CapricornBrahma, the CreatorA triangular capNot assignedNot assignedSustaining

The profiles

1. Ashwini अश्विनी

0°00' to 13°20' · Aries (Mesha)

Symbol
Head of a horse
Presiding deity
The Ashwini Kumaras, the divine physicians
Ruling planet
Ketu
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Rajas / Rajas
Basic motivation
Dharma
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. On the downward path the star's raw energy becomes a thirst for sensation and restless physical drive. Power is spent as impulse, and healing energy is turned toward the senses rather than toward others.

Evolutionary expression. On the upward path Ashwini is the great healer: regenerative power, stamina and swift leadership placed in service. Behari calls it the mystic activation of primeval energy in its latency, the first spark of a new cycle.

2. Bharani भरणी

13°20' to 26°40' · Aries (Mesha)

Symbol
The yoni, the female generative organ
Presiding deity
Yama, god of death and keeper of souls between births
Ruling planet
Venus
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Rajas / Tamas
Basic motivation
Artha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. Turned outward, Bharani can sink into excessive indulgence and the hunger to possess. The preservative instinct becomes accumulation, and sensitivity is spent on comfort and pleasure alone.

Evolutionary expression. Turned inward, Bharani is the bridge between the Primeval Source and the manifested event, the vessel that preserves and releases the Golden Egg of creation. It can arouse a deep urge to investigate occult knowledge and guides the soul in material as well as spiritual growth.

3. Krittika कृत्तिका

26°40' Aries to 10°00' Taurus · Aries and Taurus

Symbol
A razor
Presiding deity
Agni, the god of fire
Ruling planet
Sun
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Rajas / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Kama
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. Misused, the razor cuts to destroy: Behari warns that Krittika can turn quarrelsome, selfish and even antisocial, impeding every force that encourages evolution. Desire burns without direction.

Evolutionary expression. Rightly used, the same fire is curative. Krittika heightens the urge to create and to reproduce, and for evolving souls it arouses deeply dedicated divine service. Agni's flame purifies whatever it touches.

4. Rohini रोहिणी

10°00' to 23°20' · Taurus (Vrishabha)

Symbol
A chariot (Sakat)
Presiding deity
Brahma, the Creator (Viranchi)
Ruling planet
Moon
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Tamas / Rajas
Basic motivation
Moksha
Caste (varna)
Sudra

Involutionary expression. On the material side Rohini is the world of sensual illusion: attachment, infatuation and the childlike desire to experience more and more of the same pleasure. Its preoccupation is social progress, wealth and enjoyment.

Evolutionary expression. In spiritual terms Rohini is the Great Deep, the incubator where every seed is preserved and nourished until its time. Behari says it imparts the ability to engineer divine power, and in mystical ecstasy it can guide the soul to an overpowering experience of the Divine.

5. Mrigashira मृगशिरा

23°20' Taurus to 6°40' Gemini · Taurus and Gemini

Symbol
Head of a deer
Presiding deity
Soma, the Moon as nectar of immortality
Ruling planet
Mars
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Tamas / Tamas
Basic motivation
Moksha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. Here the contradiction of the star shows plainly: on the materialistic side Mrigashira expresses itself, in Behari's words, as pure egotism, the concretization of impulse into self-centred form.

Evolutionary expression. On the spiritual level the same star imparts intelligence and the reflection of the eternal in the individual mind. Behari gives the Moon overall control of this asterism: it is the stage where the abstract Divine impulse begins to assume material form without losing its light.

6. Ardra आर्द्रा

6°40' to 20°00' · Gemini (Mithuna)

Symbol
A precious stone; a human head
Presiding deity
Rudra, the god of destruction
Ruling planet
Rahu
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Tamas / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Kama
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. On the material side Ardra expresses itself as conflict: the mind imposes its own version of reality on experience and fights what it finds. Rahu's rulership precipitates the misfortune that illusion brings.

Evolutionary expression. On the evolutionary side the mind becomes the destroyer of illusion itself. Ardra, fresh and moist by name yet ruled by the god of destruction, dissolves material involvement so the soul can see clearly; its quarter lords Jupiter and Saturn link it with occult training and renunciation.

7. Punarvasu पुनर्वसु

20°00' Gemini to 3°20' Cancer · Gemini and Cancer

Symbol
A bow; a house or resting place
Presiding deity
Aditi, mother of the Adityas
Ruling planet
Jupiter
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Sattwa / Rajas
Basic motivation
Artha
Caste (varna)
Vaisya

Involutionary expression. Turned toward the world, Punarvasu intensifies worldly duties and accentuates kama manas, the passional nature in man. The resting place becomes a pause before the next round of desire.

Evolutionary expression. Turned toward the spirit, this is the star of return and renewal: the union of naada, primeval sound, and bindu, the centre of consciousness, crystallizing abstract ideas into form. Behari calls it Visible Infinity, a resting place where Divine energy gathers fresh zeal, and a star that can encourage true discipleship.

8. Pushya पुष्य

3°20' to 16°40' · Cancer (Karka)

Symbol
A flower; a circle; an arrow
Presiding deity
Brihaspati, adviser of gods and men
Ruling planet
Saturn
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Sattwa / Tamas
Basic motivation
Dharma
Caste (varna)
Kshatriya

Involutionary expression. Immersion in materiality is almost complete under Pushya, and even on the spiritual path there can be considerable mental agitation, because rajasic and tamasic tendencies are still present alongside the growing sattwa.

Evolutionary expression. At its best Pushya is vibrant tranquility: full faith in the Divine plan and unflinching confidence in oneself. Jupiter nourishes while Saturn concretizes, so energy stabilizes and grows in an entirely new form. Purification of the psyche and intuitive perception of the Divine plan are its gifts.

9. Ashlesha आश्लेषा

16°40' Cancer to 0°00' Leo · Cancer (Karka)

Symbol
A serpent
Presiding deity
The Nagas, the serpent powers
Ruling planet
Mercury
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Rajas / Sattwa / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Dharma
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. The serpent has a venomous face: Behari describes natives who can display crude selfishness and treacherous, venomous proclivities, who cannot bear humiliation and who hide their motives from others.

Evolutionary expression. The same serpent is esoteric wisdom. Ashlesha is an intense energy capable of great spiritual attainment, deeply philosophical, austere and self-reliant, with hidden knowledge of the finer forces of Nature. It imparts radical transformation, after which an entirely different condition of existence prevails.

10. Magha मघा

0°00' to 13°20' · Leo (Simha)

Symbol
A palanquin; a house; a chariot
Presiding deity
The Pitris, the ancestral progenitors
Ruling planet
Ketu
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Rajas / Rajas
Basic motivation
Artha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. Those still strongly attracted to earthly pleasures undergo servitude under Magha, and its swift action checked by stasis breeds psychological tension and frustration. Its natives are often misunderstood and suspected as to their integrity.

Evolutionary expression. For the evolved, Magha gives great power and glamour and prestigious status: idealism amidst material surroundings. Ruled by the Pitris, it sustains and assists the evolutionary impulse, and its primary urge is metempsychosis, the soul's onward transmigration.

11. Purva Phalguni पूर्व फाल्गुनी

13°20' to 26°40' · Leo (Simha)

Symbol
The front legs of a bed; a hammock
Presiding deity
Bhaga, god of fortune and delight
Ruling planet
Venus
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Rajas / Tamas
Basic motivation
Kama
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. If the soul is still under materialistic influence, Behari warns, Purva Phalguni can lead to debauchery, gambling and black magic: fortune's smile spent on appetite.

Evolutionary expression. At its best this is dynamic creative energy with grace and self-reliance: the king arrives, the war is waged, the religious observances begin. It bestows victory and domination and the readiness to plunge into activity in discharge of one's responsibilities.

12. Uttara Phalguni उत्तर फाल्गुनी

26°40' Leo to 10°00' Virgo · Leo and Virgo

Symbol
The back legs of a bed; a hearth
Presiding deity
Aryaman, god of patronage and honour
Ruling planet
Sun
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Rajas / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Moksha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. On the materialistic side its impact is felt as a great attraction to black magic and to power used for its own sake; ambition without righteousness hardens into domination.

Evolutionary expression. On the spiritual side Uttara Phalguni bestows ambition for righteous struggle: the courage and endurance of seasoned fighters confident of their inner strength and of the final victorious outcome. It produces tangible output from nebulous ideas, and no difficulty can withhold its progress.

13. Hasta हस्त

10°00' to 23°20' · Virgo (Kanya)

Symbol
The open palm of a hand
Presiding deity
Savitar, the Sun in its regenerative aspect
Ruling planet
Moon
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Tamas / Rajas
Basic motivation
Moksha
Caste (varna)
Vaisya

Involutionary expression. Those on the materialistic side of growth find themselves, in Behari's stark image, in conditions of penury, somehow eking out a subsistence: the hand that should sustain others cannot yet sustain itself.

Evolutionary expression. Guided on the path of renunciation, Hasta natives receive opportunities for public service and become leaders of a renaissance. The star's primeval impulse is duration, wherein lies Time: immense self-reliance, control over outgoing energy, and the power to sustain the community like its Vaisya caste implies.

14. Chitra चित्रा

23°20' Virgo to 6°40' Libra · Virgo and Libra

Symbol
A pearl
Presiding deity
Tvashtar (Vishwakarma), the celestial architect
Ruling planet
Mars
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Tamas / Tamas
Basic motivation
Kama
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. Behari is blunt: those still attracted to materiality under Chitra may live, in his phrase, the life of a pig in the mud, smug, self-contented and self-indulgent, good for nothing despite their gifts.

Evolutionary expression. For the aspirant, Chitra is the celestial architect at work: the pearl extracted from the oyster, hidden perfection externalized through painful chipping away of attachments. It builds a new society and produces wonder-workers, leaders and honest philanthropists.

15. Swati स्वाति

6°40' to 20°00' · Libra (Tula)

Symbol
Coral
Presiding deity
Vayu, the god of wind
Ruling planet
Rahu
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Tamas / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Artha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. Impinging on those still struggling with the materialistic side of life, Swati is intensely pleasure-seeking, and leaves a vague, airy dissatisfaction with the world around oneself whatever happens.

Evolutionary expression. For persons on the evolutionary path the same passion becomes intense devotion to work, family or anything expressing higher values. Swati is a chalice through which the Divine spirit flows to the physical level, held in equilibrium between the inner urge to expand and the material sheaths that restrict it.

16. Vishakha विशाखा

20°00' Libra to 3°20' Scorpio · Libra and Scorpio

Symbol
A potter's wheel
Presiding deity
Indra-Agni, king of gods with the fire god
Ruling planet
Jupiter
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Sattwa / Rajas
Basic motivation
Dharma
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. For those engrossed in the material aspects of life, Vishakha brings restrictions, restlessness and the emptiness at the core that shows outwardly as infidelity, broken promises and minimizing the contribution of others.

Evolutionary expression. For the spiritual person the potter's wheel is transformation itself: the star can impart tapas, the purificatory austerities. Its first three quarters give Indra's affluence and comfort; its last, in Scorpio, gives Agni's trials, which are essential for every kind of transformation.

17. Anuradha अनुराधा

3°20' to 16°40' · Scorpio (Vrishchika)

Symbol
A lotus flower
Presiding deity
Mitra, god of friendship and covenant
Ruling planet
Saturn
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Sattwa / Tamas
Basic motivation
Dharma
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. The inner motive of Anuradha is friendliness, but its outer expression can fail to reveal it: primary and tertiary tamas make the expression grossly materialistic even while the heart aims at harmony.

Evolutionary expression. Under Mitra, who brings men together, earlier efforts succeed and hidden powers begin to open up. Latent yogic powers manifest, there is emotional purification, and the aspirant craves union with the Master. Courageous endurance in the service of Divine love is its keynote.

18. Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठा

16°40' Scorpio to 0°00' Sagittarius · Scorpio (Vrishchika)

Symbol
An umbrella; an earring
Presiding deity
Indra, king of the gods
Ruling planet
Mercury
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Tamas / Sattwa / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Artha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. For individuals still attracted to worldly values, the power and status this star bestows make them arrogant, conceited and dangerously proud. Kundalini force without control is a hazard, not a blessing.

Evolutionary expression. For those on the spiritual path, Jyeshtha opens the floodgates of Divine benediction. The Serpent Power rightly developed unveils hidden spiritual knowledge, bestows honourable status, and qualifies the individual to embark upon an entirely new direction.

19. Mula मूल

0°00' to 13°20' · Sagittarius (Dhanu)

Symbol
A lion's tail; an elephant's goad
Presiding deity
Nirriti, goddess of dissolution
Ruling planet
Ketu
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Rajas / Rajas
Basic motivation
Kama
Caste (varna)
Butcher

Involutionary expression. On the path of materialism Mula becomes cruel and possessive: the craving for indulgence violently resists any impediment, mental balance is disturbed, and the root star's ruthlessness is turned on other people.

Evolutionary expression. Rightly met, Mula is the end of materialism and the beginning of the spiritual process. Its primary impulse is mumukshattwa, the urge for liberation: past karma is eradicated, tamasic tendencies are transformed, and the transmutation of animality into sympathy and altruism takes place.

20. Purva Ashadha पूर्वाषाढ़ा

13°20' to 26°40' · Sagittarius (Dhanu)

Symbol
An elephant's tusk
Presiding deity
Apas, the cosmic waters
Ruling planet
Venus
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Rajas / Tamas
Basic motivation
Moksha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. To an unripe mind, the grace of this asterism produces pride and conceit: the discovery of one's valuable qualities becomes a reason for self-importance rather than gratitude.

Evolutionary expression. Purvashadha is God's grace as a star: discovery of new possibilities, externalization of latent faculties, divine wisdom flashing and intuitive faculties sharpened. Venus sensitizes the recipient to intuition and the higher forces of nature, purifying and spiritualizing life's conditions.

21. Uttara Ashadha उत्तराषाढ़ा

26°40' Sagittarius to 10°00' Capricorn · Sagittarius and Capricorn

Symbol
A small cot; the rods of a bed
Presiding deity
The Vishvadevas, the universal gods
Ruling planet
Sun
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Rajas / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Moksha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. The universalizing process is painful: personal defences break down, old values and supports crumble, and the entire life may seem barren and without any core. Some turn to penance and austerity to obtain supernatural powers rather than peace.

Evolutionary expression. At its height Uttara Ashadha produces cosmic unity: the individual loses personal considerations and thinks in terms of oneness, earthly in action but moved in every act by a spiritual goal. It builds the faculties that later enable the soul to attain its final rest.

22. Shravana श्रवण

10°00' to 23°20' · Capricorn (Makara)

Symbol
An ear
Presiding deity
Vishnu, the Preserver
Ruling planet
Moon
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Tamas / Rajas
Basic motivation
Artha
Caste (varna)
Outcaste

Involutionary expression. If someone is still on a materialistic path, Shravana develops in him the qualities he needs for experience, but the Moon in Saturn's sign works in an uncongenial milieu: listening is replaced by isolation, almost like an outcaste among his friends.

Evolutionary expression. Shravana is the Great Silence on which the entire scheme of manifestation subsists. Listening, after subjugating personal emotion and thought, attunes the soul to Naada, the cosmic sound, and to meditation and one-pointedness. It sustains the established order against every opposing force.

23. Dhanishta धनिष्ठा

23°20' Capricorn to 6°40' Aquarius · Capricorn and Aquarius

Symbol
A mridangam, the drum
Presiding deity
The Vasus, the eight elemental gods
Ruling planet
Mars
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Tamas / Tamas
Basic motivation
Dharma
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. For ordinary men of the world, Behari warns, Dhanishta brings untold miseries and deprivations: those unprepared for its impact may be burned up by it and deprived of their material conveniences.

Evolutionary expression. For the prepared, Dhanishta is the hollow reed through which Divine music is played without distortion. Many adepts and seers are born under it. In Capricorn the person purifies and universalizes himself; in Aquarius he becomes a martyr in the name of God, revealing the unifying principles in life.

24. Shatabhishak शतभिषा

6°40' to 20°00' · Aquarius (Kumbha)

Symbol
One hundred stars; a thousand-petalled flower
Presiding deity
Varuna, keeper of cosmic order and knowledge
Ruling planet
Rahu
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Tamas / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Dharma
Caste (varna)
Butcher

Involutionary expression. Under the combined trials of Saturn and Rahu, the individual consciousness linked to materialism becomes lonely and depressed under the stress of purification. Shatabhishak people are rarely happy with themselves; life is a duty, not a gratification.

Evolutionary expression. Varuna directs the mysterious power of wisdom toward practical results, and a radically new light shines through the native's life. The star leads to the blending of individual consciousness with the universal, the experiencing of Infinity, borne with the ruthlessness of a butcher and the strength of a demon.

25. Purva Bhadra पूर्व भाद्रपद

20°00' Aquarius to 3°20' Pisces · Aquarius and Pisces

Symbol
A sword
Presiding deity
Aja Ekapada, the one-footed unborn fire
Ruling planet
Jupiter
Pada lords (Behari)
Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Sattwa / Rajas
Basic motivation
Artha
Caste (varna)
Brahmin

Involutionary expression. Those on the materialistic path become self-centred, maniacal, rebellious, antisocial and conceited: self-reliance curdles into eccentricity and disregard for the opinion of others.

Evolutionary expression. For those on the path of spirituality, Purva Bhadra is an irresistible urge to work for universal principles without any consideration for personal welfare. Aja Ekapada, the unborn transcendent energy, lets the individual stand completely alone, fearless, needing no external support.

26. Uttara Bhadra उत्तर भाद्रपद

3°20' to 16°40' · Pisces (Meena)

Symbol
The twin stars forming a square; the back legs of a cot
Presiding deity
Ahir Budhnya, the Serpent of the Deep
Ruling planet
Saturn
Pada lords (Behari)
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Sattwa / Tamas
Basic motivation
Kama
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. Not the detachment of an enlightened mind but passionate involvement of an emotional nature characterizes its lower expression: the urge toward transformation produces thirst and considerable dissatisfaction with every worldly relationship.

Evolutionary expression. At its depth, Uttara Bhadra is the passivity of primeval darkness from which all creation has arisen. It enables the individual to comprehend the wisdom concealed in different forms of manifestation; whatever happens, there is growth and expansion of consciousness, and cooperation with the Divine plan despite hardship.

27. Revati रेवती

16°40' to 30°00' · Pisces (Meena)

Symbol
A fish
Presiding deity
Pushan, the nourisher and measurer of the sky
Ruling planet
Mercury
Pada lords (Behari)
Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn, Jupiter
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Sattwa / Sattwa / Sattwa
Basic motivation
Moksha
Caste (varna)
Not assigned by Behari

Involutionary expression. In everyday life Revati expresses itself in quietude and equanimity, but nothing in it can be maintained in concrete form: its basic impulse is dissolution, the desire to merge with the infinite, which the unready experience as the melting away of what they try to hold.

Evolutionary expression. Revati is the great womb in which the Sun lies dormant until the next cycle of manifestation: it links the end with the beginning. All three levels are pervaded by sattwa, complete integration of urge and expression, and the individual is reborn in wisdom, outward-turned and considerate of the feelings of others.

28. Abhijit अभिजीत · Bonus: the 28th star

21°07' Uttara Ashadha to 5°47' Shravana (sidereal span within Capricorn) · Capricorn (Makara)

Symbol
A triangular cap
Presiding deity
Brahma, the Creator
Ruling planet
(outside the Vimshottari sequence)
Pada lords (Behari)
Not applicable
Guna pattern (primary / secondary / tertiary)
Not assigned
Basic motivation
Creative impulse; sustaining the established order
Caste (varna)
Vaisya

Involutionary expression. Behari is candid that Abhijit's association with destructive activities is not conducive to success, and that apart from its special uses its effect is not likely to give favourable results. It is a star with a narrow gate.

Evolutionary expression. Yet this is the star Lord Krishna named as his own. Presided over by Brahma, it carries a creative impulse and supports benevolent, universalizing undertakings intended for the general good; it is still consulted for coronation, waging war and long journeys.

Data drawn from Bepin Behari, Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology, Part I Chapter 3, with the guna scheme of his introduction and the classification notes of Part IV. Where Behari does not assign a field (some castes, a few symbols), the card says so or uses the standard classical value; the build notes on file record which is which.

Frequently asked questions

What is a guna pattern?
Behari teaches that each nakshatra carries all three gunas at once: a primary flow that dominates, a secondary flow beneath it and a tertiary flow on the surface. Ashwini is rajas at all three levels, pure activity. Revati is sattwa at all three, complete harmony. Most stars mix the three, which is why two people of the same nakshatra can live it so differently.
What does involutionary and evolutionary mean here?
Involution is the soul's descent into matter, gathering experience; evolution is the return journey toward spirit. Behari gives every nakshatra a dual role: the same impulse expresses one way while the soul is descending and another, related way when it is ascending. The profiles quote both, so a difficult reading is never the last word on a star.
Why is Abhijit included if it is not one of the 27?
The older circle had 28 mansions. Abhijit, spanning the junction of Uttara Ashadha and Shravana in Capricorn, was dropped from everyday use, but Krishna named it as his own nakshatra, its deity is Brahma, and it is still consulted for coronations, war and long journeys. We include it as a bonus profile, clearly marked.
How do I find my own nakshatra?
Your janma nakshatra is the mansion the Moon occupied at your birth. Cast your free kundali on this site and it shows your nakshatra, its pada, your Moon sign and your current dasha together.

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