The name syllables of the four padas of Krittika are A (अ) for the first pada, I (ई) for the second, U (उ) for the third and E (ए) for the fourth. Pada 1 is in Aries (Mesha) and padas 2–4 are in Taurus (Vrishabha), so the name rashi depends on the pada of the syllable: A gives Aries (Mesha); I, U, E give Taurus (Vrishabha). Krittika spans 26°40′ Mesha to 10° Vrishabha in the zodiac; in the Vimshottari order its graha is Sun (Surya), and its deity is Agni.
The 4 padas (charan) of Krittika: name letters and rashi
| Pada | Name letter | Rashi | Degrees in the rashi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | अA | Aries (Mesha) | 26°40′–30° |
| 2 | ईI | Taurus (Vrishabha) | 0°–3°20′ |
| 3 | उU | Taurus (Vrishabha) | 3°20′–6°40′ |
| 4 | एE | Taurus (Vrishabha) | 6°40′–10° |
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: BharaniNext nakshatra: RohiniAll 27 nakshatras
- Order
- 3rd of 27
- In the zodiac
- 26°40′ Mesha to 10° Vrishabha26°40′–40° from the start of Mesha
- Rashi
- Aries (Mesha): pada 1; Taurus (Vrishabha): padas 2–4
- Graha (Vimshottari)
- Sun (Surya)Nakshatras of the same graha: Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha
- Deity
- Agni
When the Moon is next in Krittika
- from Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 3:40 PM to Wednesday, 28 October 2026, 1:27 PM
- from Tuesday, 24 November 2026, 2:03 AM to Tuesday, 24 November 2026, 11:26 PM
- from Monday, 21 December 2026, 1:09 PM to Tuesday, 22 December 2026, 10:46 AM
- from Sunday, 17 January 2027, 10:43 PM to Monday, 18 January 2027, 9:06 PM
- from Sunday, 14 February 2027, 5:38 AM to Monday, 15 February 2027, 4:47 AM
- from Saturday, 13 March 2027, 11:04 AM to Sunday, 14 March 2027, 10:24 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
- For the third pada Drik Panchang and most lists give “उ” (U); both old Avakahada books print “ऊ” (Ū). The Avakahada chakra counts U and Ū as one, so the pada is the same.
- 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.
Krittika Nakshatra: questions and answers
Which letter should a name begin with in Krittika Nakshatra?
By tradition the syllable of the pada of Krittika that the Moon is in at birth begins the name: A (अ) in the first pada, I (ई) in the second, U (उ) in the third and E (ए) 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 Krittika Nakshatra?
The four padas of Krittika span 3°20′ each: the 1st from 26°40′ to 30° in Aries (Mesha), syllable A (अ); the 2nd from 0° to 3°20′ in Taurus (Vrishabha), syllable I (ई); the 3rd from 3°20′ to 6°40′ in Taurus (Vrishabha), syllable U (उ); the 4th from 6°40′ to 10° in Taurus (Vrishabha), syllable E (ए).
Which nakshatra comes after Krittika?
In the order of the 27 nakshatras Rohini (4) comes after Krittika (3), and Bharani (2) comes before it. The Moon passes the nakshatras in this order, one after another.
Which rashi is Krittika Nakshatra in?
Krittika spans 26°40′ Mesha to 10° Vrishabha in the zodiac (26°40′–40° counted from the start of Mesha). Pada 1 is in Aries (Mesha) and padas 2–4 are in Taurus (Vrishabha), so the name rashi depends on the pada of the syllable: A gives Aries (Mesha); I, U, E give Taurus (Vrishabha). Each rashi holds nine nakshatra padas: the 108 padas of the 27 nakshatras in 12 rashis.
What are the graha and the deity of Krittika Nakshatra?
In the Vimshottari order the graha of Krittika is Sun (Surya), which is also the graha of Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Ashadha (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, chapter 46). In the Brihat Samhita (chapter 98) the deity of Krittika is Agni.
How long is the Moon in Krittika?
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 Krittika 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)
Something wrong? Report a mistake
