The name syllables of the four padas of Mrigashira are Ve (वे) for the first pada, Vo (वो) for the second, Ka (का) for the third and Ki (की) for the fourth. Padas 1–2 are in Taurus (Vrishabha) and padas 3–4 are in Gemini (Mithuna), so the name rashi depends on the pada of the syllable: Ve, Vo give Taurus (Vrishabha); Ka, Ki give Gemini (Mithuna). Mrigashira spans 23°20′ Vrishabha to 6°40′ Mithuna in the zodiac; in the Vimshottari order its graha is Mars (Mangal), and its deity is Chandra (Soma).
The 4 padas (charan) of Mrigashira: name letters and rashi
| Pada | Name letter | Rashi | Degrees in the rashi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | वेVe | Taurus (Vrishabha) | 23°20′–26°40′ |
| 2 | वोVo | Taurus (Vrishabha) | 26°40′–30° |
| 3 | काKa | Gemini (Mithuna) | 0°–3°20′ |
| 4 | कीKi | Gemini (Mithuna) | 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: RohiniNext nakshatra: ArdraAll 27 nakshatras
- Order
- 5th of 27
- In the zodiac
- 23°20′ Vrishabha to 6°40′ Mithuna53°20′–66°40′ from the start of Mesha
- Rashi
- Taurus (Vrishabha): padas 1–2; Gemini (Mithuna): padas 3–4
- Deity
- Chandra (Soma)
When the Moon is next in Mrigashira
- from Thursday, 29 October 2026, 11:12 AM to Friday, 30 October 2026, 9:05 AM
- from Wednesday, 25 November 2026, 8:37 PM to Thursday, 26 November 2026, 5:48 PM
- from Wednesday, 23 December 2026, 7:57 AM to Thursday, 24 December 2026, 4:54 AM
- from Tuesday, 19 January 2027, 6:55 PM to Wednesday, 20 January 2027, 4:18 PM
- from Tuesday, 16 February 2027, 3:26 AM to Wednesday, 17 February 2027, 1:38 AM
- from Monday, 15 March 2027, 9:27 AM to Tuesday, 16 March 2027, 8:13 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
- The “व” (Va) syllables are written with “ब” (Ba) in some lists; the Avakahada chakra counts Ba and Va as one.
- 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.
Mrigashira Nakshatra: questions and answers
Which letter should a name begin with in Mrigashira Nakshatra?
By tradition the syllable of the pada of Mrigashira that the Moon is in at birth begins the name: Ve (वे) in the first pada, Vo (वो) in the second, Ka (का) in the third and Ki (की) 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 Mrigashira Nakshatra?
The four padas of Mrigashira span 3°20′ each: the 1st from 23°20′ to 26°40′ in Taurus (Vrishabha), syllable Ve (वे); the 2nd from 26°40′ to 30° in Taurus (Vrishabha), syllable Vo (वो); the 3rd from 0° to 3°20′ in Gemini (Mithuna), syllable Ka (का); the 4th from 3°20′ to 6°40′ in Gemini (Mithuna), syllable Ki (की).
Which nakshatra comes after Mrigashira?
In the order of the 27 nakshatras Ardra (6) comes after Mrigashira (5), and Rohini (4) comes before it. The Moon passes the nakshatras in this order, one after another.
Which rashi is Mrigashira Nakshatra in?
Mrigashira spans 23°20′ Vrishabha to 6°40′ Mithuna in the zodiac (53°20′–66°40′ counted from the start of Mesha). Padas 1–2 are in Taurus (Vrishabha) and padas 3–4 are in Gemini (Mithuna), so the name rashi depends on the pada of the syllable: Ve, Vo give Taurus (Vrishabha); Ka, Ki give Gemini (Mithuna). Each rashi holds nine nakshatra padas: the 108 padas of the 27 nakshatras in 12 rashis.
What are the graha and the deity of Mrigashira Nakshatra?
In the Vimshottari order the graha of Mrigashira is Mars (Mangal), which is also the graha of Chitra and Dhanishta (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, chapter 46). In the Brihat Samhita (chapter 98) the deity of Mrigashira is Chandra (Soma).
How long is the Moon in Mrigashira?
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 Mrigashira 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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