The name syllables of the four padas of Chitra are Pe (पे) for the first pada, Po (पो) for the second, Ra (रा) for the third and Ri (री) for the fourth. Padas 1–2 are in Virgo (Kanya) and padas 3–4 are in Libra (Tula), so the name rashi depends on the pada of the syllable: Pe, Po give Virgo (Kanya); Ra, Ri give Libra (Tula). Chitra spans 23°20′ Kanya to 6°40′ Tula in the zodiac; in the Vimshottari order its graha is Mars (Mangal), and its deity is Tvashta (Vishwakarma).
The 4 padas (charan) of Chitra: name letters and rashi
| Pada | Name letter | Rashi | Degrees in the rashi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | पेPe | Virgo (Kanya) | 23°20′–26°40′ |
| 2 | पोPo | Virgo (Kanya) | 26°40′–30° |
| 3 | राRa | Libra (Tula) | 0°–3°20′ |
| 4 | रीRi | Libra (Tula) | 3°20′–6°40′ |
Each nakshatra spans 13°20′ and each of its four padas 3°20′. To find the rashi of any name from its first letter: Rashi by name
Previous nakshatra: HastaNext nakshatra: SwatiAll 27 nakshatras
- Order
- 14th of 27
- In the zodiac
- 23°20′ Kanya to 6°40′ Tula173°20′–186°40′ from the start of Mesha
- Rashi
- Virgo (Kanya): padas 1–2; Libra (Tula): padas 3–4
- Graha (Vimshottari)
- Mars (Mangal)Nakshatras of the same graha: Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta
- Deity
- Tvashta (Vishwakarma)
When the Moon is next in Chitra
- from Saturday, 10 October 2026, 9:43 PM to Sunday, 11 October 2026, 10:33 PM
- from Saturday, 7 November 2026, 4:44 AM to Sunday, 8 November 2026, 5:53 AM
- from Friday, 4 December 2026, 10:23 AM to Saturday, 5 December 2026, 11:49 AM
- from Thursday, 31 December 2026, 4:14 PM to Friday, 1 January 2027, 5:30 PM
- from Wednesday, 27 January 2027, 11:57 PM to Friday, 29 January 2027, 12:33 AM
- from Wednesday, 24 February 2027, 9:39 AM to Thursday, 25 February 2027, 9:33 AM
Times are Indian Standard Time; the Moon enters and leaves a nakshatra at the same moment all over India. They agree with Drik Panchang within 2 minutes. Today’s panchang
Where the lists differ
- Deity: Tvashta in the Brihat Samhita; Vishwakarma in Drik Panchang’s nakshatra list.
- Books and lists write the vowel of some syllables long or short (वू/वु, चू/चु). The Avakahada chakra counts अ-आ, इ-ई, उ-ऊ, ए-ऐ and ओ-औ as one, so the pada stays the same.
Chitra Nakshatra: questions and answers
Which letter should a name begin with in Chitra Nakshatra?
By tradition the syllable of the pada of Chitra that the Moon is in at birth begins the name: Pe (पे) in the first pada, Po (पो) in the second, Ra (रा) in the third and Ri (री) in the fourth. The pada follows from the date, time and place of birth; SanatanBodh’s birth panchang works it out.
What are the 4 padas (charan) of Chitra Nakshatra?
The four padas of Chitra span 3°20′ each: the 1st from 23°20′ to 26°40′ in Virgo (Kanya), syllable Pe (पे); the 2nd from 26°40′ to 30° in Virgo (Kanya), syllable Po (पो); the 3rd from 0° to 3°20′ in Libra (Tula), syllable Ra (रा); the 4th from 3°20′ to 6°40′ in Libra (Tula), syllable Ri (री).
Which nakshatra comes after Chitra?
In the order of the 27 nakshatras Swati (15) comes after Chitra (14), and Hasta (13) comes before it. The Moon passes the nakshatras in this order, one after another.
Which rashi is Chitra Nakshatra in?
Chitra spans 23°20′ Kanya to 6°40′ Tula in the zodiac (173°20′–186°40′ counted from the start of Mesha). Padas 1–2 are in Virgo (Kanya) and padas 3–4 are in Libra (Tula), so the name rashi depends on the pada of the syllable: Pe, Po give Virgo (Kanya); Ra, Ri give Libra (Tula). Each rashi holds nine nakshatra padas: the 108 padas of the 27 nakshatras in 12 rashis.
What are the graha and the deity of Chitra Nakshatra?
In the Vimshottari order the graha of Chitra is Mars (Mangal), which is also the graha of Mrigashira and Dhanishta (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, chapter 46). In the Brihat Samhita (chapter 98) the deity of Chitra is Tvashta (Vishwakarma). Tvashta in the Brihat Samhita; Vishwakarma in Drik Panchang’s nakshatra list.
How long is the Moon in Chitra?
About a day. The Moon’s speed varies, so it takes about 21 to 27 hours to cross the 13°20′, and it comes back to Chitra about 27 days later (our calculation, 2026–27). The moments are the same all over India.
Sources
- Name syllables: Brihad Avakahada Chakram, Nakshatra Prakarana, Shatapada Chakra verses 9–15 (archive.org); Pt. Sitarama Sharma, Ati Brihat Avakahada Chakram (1932), pp. 22–24; Drik Panchang, nakshatra pada swar siddhanta
- Nine nakshatra padas to a rashi: Pt. Sitarama Sharma, Ati Brihat Avakahada Chakram (1932), p. 26; the span of each nakshatra: Drik Panchang’s nakshatra pages (drikpanchang.com/tutorials/nakshatra/)
- Graha: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, chapter 46, verses 12–14 (counted from Krittika: Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus), R. Santhanam’s English translation, vol. 2, pp. 507–508; Drik Panchang’s nakshatra and navagraha pages
- Deity: Varahamihira, Brihat Samhita, chapter 98, verses 4–5, English translation by V. Subrahmanya Sastri and M. Ramakrishna Bhat (Bangalore, 1946), p. 742; Drik Panchang’s nakshatra lists (Swami) and nakshatra pages
- The Moon entering and leaving each nakshatra: SanatanBodh panchang calculation (astronomy-engine, Lahiri ayanamsha); compared with Drik Panchang’s 2026 and 2027 nakshatra lists (New Delhi), every time within 2 minutes (4 October 2026)
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